 Seminar by Mário Franca at the Wuhan University (China)On 16 October, Mário Franca gave a seminar titled “Transport Mechanics of Debris in Rivers and Urban Floods: Plastic Pollution and Risk Management” at the Research Group of Prof. Junqiang Xia of the School of Water Resources & Hydropower Engineering of the Wuhan University in China. He presented highlights of our recent research on debris transport, from plastic pollution in rivers to the role of floating debris in urban flood risk, and shared a roadmap for integrating debris dynamics into flood risk management. Link to the presentation: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/416235778_Transport_Mechanics_of_Debris_in_Rivers_and_Urban_Floods_Plastic_Pollution_and_Risk_Management |
 JFRM Paper Award 2025The publication Urban flood drifters (UFD): Identification, classification and characterisation, co-authored by Mário Franca and colleagues Arnau Bayón from the Universitat Politècnica de València and Daniel Valero from Imperial College London, was distinguished as the Journal of Flood Risk Management Best Paper Award 2025, an award supported by the British Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). See the news here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/page/journal/1753318x/homepage/best-paper-award |
 Visit to the Future Water Institute at the University of Cape TownAs part of her current research project, Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) in Mediterranean-Climate Regions: Drivers, Enablers, Barriers, and Lessons from Real-World Implementation, Dr. Abby Ortega visited the Future Water Institute at the University of Cape Town from 15–17 September. In addition to giving a seminar presentation, she visited an NbS research and innovation site that includes a plant nursery, a locally managed urban garden, and a decentralised NbS water treatment and reuse system for irrigation and edible crops. As Cape Town is located in a Mediterranean-climate region, the visit also provided an opportunity to conduct field observations and semi-structured interviews, offering valuable insights into NbS implementation in practice. |
 Climate Change and Mental Health: Exploring the Resilience-Building Potential of Urban Green SpacesFrom 8–10 September, the workshop Climate Change and Mental Health: Comparative Risk Pathways, Vulnerability, and Resilience, organised by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina and the Academy of Science of South Africa, took place in Pretoria, South Africa. Dr. Abby Ortega from our institute participated in one of the panel discussions, presenting Nature-based Solutions and Mental Health: Exploring the Resilience-Building Potential of Urban Green Spaces. The three-day workshop brought together researchers from diverse fields and culminated in a joint policy brief translating scientific evidence into actionable recommendations for integrating mental health into climate change policies. |
 25. JuWi-TreffenAm 09.-11.09.2026 fand das 25. Treffen junger Wissenschaftler*innen deutschsprachiger Institute für Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft (JuWi) statt, das dieses Jahr vom Institut für Wasserbau und Wasserwirtschaft der Universität Duisburg-Essen ausgerichtet wurde. |
