RSVP and spotlight on two jurors for the Water Symposium - September 21, 2021

We are only six weeks away from our next Water Symposium in which a group of five distinguished jurors will select the next recipient of the International Water Prize! As part of our preparation, we want to share some information on each of our jurors. We begin with Merrell-Ann Phare and Callist Tindimugaya.

Merrell-Ann Phare is a leading proponent of water equity for indigenous Canadians.

Merrell-Ann is a Canadian lawyer with specialties in water rights and water law; serves on the International Joint Commission (U.S. and Canada – Boundary Waters agreement, 1909) lawyer, writer, strategist, negotiator, and relationship-builder who worked extensively in and with indigenous organizations on environmental, land, water, rights, and governance issues. 

She is the author of the book “Denying the Source: The Crisis of First Nations Water Rights” and co-author of “Ethical Water”. She is a member of Smart Prosperity, the Forum for Leadership on Water and is a recipient of the Clean 50 Award. She is legal counsel and advisor to several First Nation governments and regularly speaks on governance, water, and rights issues. Merrell-Ann is also the co-host of "Porcupine", a smart and entertaining podcast on reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians.

Dr. Tindimugaya has helped manage and address the challenges of transboundary water resources.

Dr. Callist Tindimugaya is a Water Resources Specialist that has been working with the Ministry of Water and Environment in Uganda for over 30 years. Currently, he is the Head of the Department for Water Resources Planning and Regulation with overall responsibility for ensuring sustainable and equitable utilization and protection of water resources of Uganda.  Callist has represented Uganda for over 15 years in international and transboundary water resources programs and initiatives such as the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI), Inter Government Authority on Development (IGAD), and UNESCO’s International Hydrological Program. He is also the Regional Coordinator of the Nile Basin Capacity Building network, established for building capacity in Integrated Water Resources Management.

Callist received his doctoral degree from University College London, where he studied the movement and storage of groundwater in Ugandan aquifers.  His research assessed two productive aquifers using environmental tracers and aquifer responses to hydraulic stress.  A better understanding of the relationship between the geomorphology and hydrogeology of deeply weathered environments can help set realistic targets for water security in groundwater-dependent communities

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The seventh OU International WaTER Symposium will be held on Tuesday evening, September 21, 2021, 6:30 - 9:00 pm in the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom of the University of Oklahoma. In the evening's program, which includes a banquet dinner, the five jurors will share some of their own research and experiences in the field through short presentations and a panel discussion on pertinent water issues of our day.

The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP here.

Dr. Robert Nairn addresses the 2018 Water Symposium and Prize announcement.

International Water Prize Announcement and Symposium

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 | 6:30 - 9:00 PM

OKLAHOMA MEMORIAL UNION