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ICSRF 25
Iwa Symposium On Lake And
Reservoir Management

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IWA Symposium on Lake and Reservoir Management

About

Join global water experts, researchers, and practitioners at the IWA Symposium on Lake and Reservoir Management, an official side event of the International Conference on Sustainable Innovation and Resilient Futures (ICSIRF 2025). This symposium brings focused attention to one of the world’s most urgent and complex sustainability challenges—the integrated and resilient management of lakes and reservoirs.
Date and Time to: 30th September 2025, 2:00PM to 6:30PM

Organised by the IWA Lake and Reservoir Management Specialist Group

Lakes and reservoirs are lifelines for ecosystems and human communities alike. Yet they are increasingly under threat from pollution, climate change, and unsustainable use. The International Water Association’s Lake and Reservoir Management Specialist Group leads global efforts to develop and share innovative, science-based solutions for sustainable water body management.

Symposium Highlights

Advancing Integrated Water Management

Explore how lake and reservoir management can be seamlessly integrated into water treatment operations using cutting-edge science and interdisciplinary strategies.

Responding to Urgent Challenges

Tackle pressing issues such as eutrophication, climate impacts, and diffuse pollution, especially in rapidly developing regions where water quality and availability are under stress.

Innovations in Monitoring and Modelling

Discover the latest in hydrodynamic modelling, biogeochemical analysis, microbial research, and in situ nutrient control strategies.

From Ecosystem Health to Human Health

Discuss how reservoirs function as both protectors and potential pathways for pathogens and contaminants, linking reservoir science to broader “One Water” and public health frameworks.

Global Collaboration for Local Impact

Network with scientists, engineers, resource managers, and policy experts to foster practical, context-sensitive solutions.

Who Should Attend

Researchers, water utility professionals, environmental scientists, policy makers, and anyone involved in managing water bodies and water supply systems.

Schedule

Date & Time : 30th August 2025 (Saturday), 2.00 am- 6.30 pm
Registration : Common registration for the conference
Venue : Amba Hall, Amritapuri Campus
Participants : Students, Faculty, Researchers, Water utility professionals, Environmental scientists, Policy makers, and anyone involved in managing water bodies and Water supply systems.

TimeSpeakerTopic
2.00 – 2.05 pmWelcome Address
Dr. S. N. Jyothi,
Associate Dean, Amrita School of Engineering
2.05 – 2.15 pmDr. Naresh Singhal,
Professor – Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland		About IWA Lake and Reservoir Management Specialist Group
2.15 – 2.55 pmDr. Manoj P. Samuel
Executive Director, CWRDM		Water and Land Management Strategies to Mitigate Climate Change
2.55 – 3.20 pmDr. Vineeth Ajith,
Amrita School for Sustainable Futures, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham		Jivamritam Project – A Sustainable Solution for Water Quality, Distribution, & Conservation
3.20 – 4.10 pmDr. George K. Varghese,
Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, NIT- Calicut		Lake Pollution- Lakes as Archives of Past Pollution
4.10 – 4.30 pmTea Break
4.30 – 5.05 pmDr. B. Soundharajan,
Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore Campus, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham		Reservoir Management Strategies for Pumped Storage and Energy Security
5.05 – 5.35 pmDr. John C. Mathew,
Environment Programme Manager, Directorate of Environment and Climate Change, Government of Kerala		Integrated Management & Conservation of Wetlands in India
5.35 – 6.10 pmEr. Sreekala S.,
Chairman, Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)		Lake Pollution – Challenges and Solutions
6.10 – 6.30 pmPanel Discussion

Speakers

Professor- Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Auckland

Dr. Naresh Singhal

Prof. Naresh Singhal is an environmental engineer passionate about water and wastewater quality and treatment technologies. He holds degrees from IIT Bombay (B.Tech), Louisiana State University (M.S.), and Princeton University (Ph.D.). Since 1996, he has served at the University of Auckland in roles including Associate Dean (Postgraduate), Faculty Staffing Committee member, Program Director for Environmental Engineering, and Founding Director of the Water Research Institute. He has secured grants from the Royal Society of New Zealand’s Marsden Fund and NZ’s Endeavour Fund. Passionate about research, teaching, and service, his current work focuses on climate change, antimicrobial resistance, emerging contaminants, greenhouse gas emissions from treatment processes, and resource recovery from sewage. He has authored over 152 publications, delivered numerous keynote talks, and actively contributes to the International Water Association, Water New Zealand, and Engineering New Zealand. 

Associate Professor in Politics/International Relations

Dr. Maria Armoudian

Dr. Maria Armoudian is Associate Professor of Politics/International Relations, Director of the University of Auckland Sustainability Hub, and Co-Director of Nga Ara Whetu: Centre for Climate, Biodiversity and Society. She is the founding host and producer of the radio program The Scholars’ Circle, and author of three acclaimed books: Lawyers Beyond Borders: Advancing International Human Rights through Local Laws and Courts; Kill the Messenger: The Media’s Role in the Fate of the World; and Reporting from the Danger Zone: Frontline Journalists, Their Jobs and an Increasingly Perilous Future. She has published extensively on human rights, environmental politics, communication, and governance. Prior to Auckland, she served six years as Commissioner in Los Angeles and eight years in the California State Legislature, focusing on environmental sustainability, governance, and corporate reform. 

Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM), Executive Director

Dr. Manoj P Samuel

Dr. Manoj P. Samuel is the Executive Director of the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kozhikode, and a distinguished expert in water resources and agricultural engineering. With academic qualifications including a Ph.D. in Soil and Water Conservation Engineering, M.Tech from IIT Kharagpur, and an MBA in Marketing Management, he has significantly contributed to the development of sustainable water technologies and decision support systems. A recipient of numerous national and international awards, Dr. Manoj has over 150 publications, several patents and copyrights, and continues to serve in prominent advisory and leadership roles in national and international scientific bodies. He has also guided multiple postgraduate and doctoral students and played a key role in national projects like NAIP, NICRA, and World Bank-aided initiatives. His research interests span hill hydrology, rainwater harvesting, renewable energy, and post-harvest fishery technologies.

Chairman, Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)

Er. Sreekala

Er. Sreekala S. is the current Chairperson of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board and the first woman to hold this position since the Board’s inception in 1974. With a B.Tech in Civil Engineering and an M.Tech in Environmental Engineering, she has a long and distinguished career in the Board, having served in every technical position from Assistant Engineer to Chief Environmental Engineer. Er. Sreekala has been an active participant and speaker at over 100 workshops and seminars across the country, and has significantly contributed to implementing key environmental action plans in Kerala, including those related to waste management and river conservation. Her commitment and leadership were recognized with the International Women’s Day award from the Nehru Peace Foundation in 2015.

Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, India

Dr. George Kuttiparichel Varghese

George holds a Bachelors in Civil Engineering, Masters in Environmental Engineering, a PhD in Environmental Forensics, and a postgraduate diploma in Environmental Law. His primary research area is Environmental Forensics, with interests in Environmental Risk Assessment, Environmental Law & Policy, and Environmental Modeling. He has guided eight PhD and about 40 postgraduate projects and has over 130 publications in journals, conferences, and symposia. He is an investigator of several funded projects, a reviewer for international journals, and Associate Editor of Detritus (Scopus indexed), the journal of the International Waste Working Group. He serves on the Pollution Control Committee of the UT of Lakshadweep and the National Network of Experts for Contaminated Site Remediation (MoEFCC), and is a CPCB-accredited ash disposal auditor. He consults for government and industry on environmental management and is a member of MRSC, INEF, and IWWG.

Associate Professor
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham

Dr. B. Soundharajan

Dr. B. Soundharajan is an Associate Professor of Civil Engineering at Coimbatore Campus, with over 14 years of experience in water resources engineering. He holds a Ph.D. from IIT Madras and has expertise in reservoir operation, sustainable irrigation, climate change impacts, hydrological extremes, and the water-energy-food nexus. Dr. Soundharajan has led and contributed to several national and international research projects funded by DST, SERB, DAAD, NWO, and the Swedish Research Council. His academic journey includes post-doctoral research in the UK and teaching roles in Ethiopia and the USA. With over 35 peer-reviewed publications, his research is interdisciplinary and solution-driven. He has received multiple recognitions, including the TWAS-UNESCO Associateship. Actively fostering global collaborations, he also plays a key role in organizing international conferences and workshops on water sustainability and disaster management, promoting impactful science and policy engagement.

Environmental Manager

Dr. John C. Mathew

Dr. John C. Mathew is an environmental manager specializing in wetland and aquatic ecology, ecosystem monitoring and modelling, and remote sensing & GIS applications. He holds a B.Sc. in Zoology, a Master’s in Environment Management, and a Ph.D. in Environment Science and Management (Aquatic Ecology and Remote Sensing & GIS applications) from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. With over 25 years of experience, he has worked as a Scientist, Project Officer, Senior Research Fellow, Guest Faculty, and currently serves as Environment Program Manager at the Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, Environment Department, Government of Kerala, where he has additional charge as Ramsar Site Manager of Vembanad-Kol Wetland Complex. His contributions include leading 10 major projects funded by MoEFCC, DST, UGC, WWF, World Bank, ISRO, and others, supervised over 70 students, and served as coordinator for initiatives like Rainwater for Humanity with Brown University, USA. He has authored 33 publications, delivered 18 invited talks, and written a WWF-funded documentary on mangroves. Recognized as a Wetland Manager and Direct Trainer by the Government of India, he is an active member of professional bodies, including the Indian Society of Remote Sensing and the Indian Society of Geomatics, and has co-founded environmental organizations such as Environment Science Postgraduates Association (ESPA) and the Kumarakom Nature Club. Passionate about research, education, and conservation, his work continues to focus on wetland management, ecosystem sustainability, and community-based wise-use initiatives.

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