Prof. Martin Griffiths, a senior expert on water resources management and protection, also a guest professor of both Cranfield University and King's College London, visited IWHR on May 17, 2017, meeting with IWHR President Kuang Shangfu and lecturing at the institute’s Global Vision Forum on water issues and modern management in both UK and Europe.
In his warm, Dr. Kuang thanked the British professor for visiting and reviewed IWHR’s cooperation with EU countries within the framework of China-EU Water Platform. The president spoke highly of Prof. Griffiths in making excellent contributions to water policy and management, and hoped he could enhance exchange and cooperation with IWHR, introduce to IWHR more talented experts and research teams, enlighten the institute about areas for cooperation, and contribute to addressing water issues that concern both China and the European countries.
Dr. Griffiths gave a brief self-introduction on his technical background and working experience, and reviewed the exchange and cooperation he has conducted in recent years with Chinese governmental agencies and research institutes in water resources strategies, policies and management. Prof. Griffiths reaffirmed his willingness to work on policy optimization, technical exchange and knowledge sharing between China and the EU.
After the meeting, Dr. Griffiths lectured at IWHR’s Global Vision Forum that was chaired by IWHR’s Chief Engineer Prof. Gao Zhanyi, giving a report on Water Strategy, Planning and Delivery, Overview of Water Regulation – The Regulatory Cycle. With analyses on the major water pressure facing the world as well as the status quo and issues of water resources in both Europe and China, he put forward the objectives of water resources and environment management and proposed a regulatory cycle that centers on permit system which is deemed to be very important, shared the British experience in water environmental law enforcement and punishment, and gave suggestions on progressive environmental improvement based on China’s national conditions.
Heated discussion followed between the lecturer and the audience, in particular on topics such as the balance between economic development and pollution control, water efficiency improvement at the user end, and the impact of research upon policy making and management.
