February 18, 2021, Boston, MA – After close consultation with our Australian Government partners, we’ve made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 IDRA World Congress initially scheduled for November 7-11, 2021. The new date is May 29- June 2, 2022, to ensure an in-person event and protect our community’s health and safety. Accordingly, we have modified the extended abstract submission deadline to September 15, 2021. The Congress remains in the magnificent city of Sydney, Australia, at the International Convention Center Sydney (ICC Sydney), a spectacular location and state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2016 at the world-famous Darling Harbour.
“Team Sydney is looking forward to welcoming the IDRA global community to our special part of the world in 2022,” said BESydney CEO, Lyn Lewis-Smith.
“The pandemic has changed so much, but not our human need for shared knowledge and experience to achieve real progress. Nothing beats the connections made face to face and in-person. Australia is a COVIDSafe destination, and I commend the IDRA for its collaborative approach working with our expert team to create the best Congress experience for all.”
The IDRA World Congress is supported by the University of Technology Sydney – Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, Australian Water Association, the Government of New South Wales, Sydney Water, Sydney Desalination Plant, UNESCO Centre for Membrane Science and Technology at the University of New South Wales, and the Water Services Association of Australia. The 2022 IDRA World Congress and Exhibition will provide knowledge-sharing and interaction for participants on a plethora of both technical and business topics, related to the use of desalination and water reuse solutions to ensure a secure water future.
“While we are disappointed to make this announcement, providing a safe in-person event for all delegates and ensuring the invaluable scientific and business engagement is of utmost importance to the IDRA. The IDRA would like to thank the Australian and New South Wales Governments for their support and guidance in this decision to postpone the event to 2022. IDRA is looking forward to working with the entire Australian desalination and water reuse stakeholder community to develop the World Congress and welcome participants. Our thanks go out to our current corporate sponsors Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC), Dupont, ROPV, Almar Water Solutions, and those to come. Additionally, we are thankful to the confirmed exhibitors we have to date: SWCC, Dupont, ROPV, Almar Water Solutions, Acciona Agua, Danfoss, EBRO Armaturen, Toyobo, Sulzer, Beaudrey, Kyowakiden Industry Co., American Water Chemicals, and H. Butting GMBH, representing 30% of the show floor. We also thank the thirty-four volunteers who serve on the IDRA World Congress Technical Program Committee, lending their expertise to curate a four-day, four-track, peer-reviewed program,” said Shannon McCarthy, IDRA Secretary General.
The Congress centerpiece is its robust Technical Program covering all aspects of desalination and water reuse as solutions to ensure water sustainability. With more than 300 papers among ten technical topics and multiple sub-topics, the Technical Program will explore a broad range of desalination and water reuse technologies, practices, and experiences worldwide. The program’s knowledge-sharing aspect recognizes that resources and requirements can vary based on location, climate conditions, and natural resources. New to the World Congress is the IDRA Innovation Forum, a pitch-based competition limited to eight teams with a monetary award.
Australia significantly increased its desalination investment during the country’s Millennium drought from 2006-2012, adding over $16 billion worth of infrastructure investment. As Australia enters yet another drought period in places reporting the lowest recorded rainfall levels, more significant investment in desalination and water reuse will be required to keep up with additional water demand. This latest investment will come with a continued sustainability focus, building on the track record of mostly wind-powered, renewable energy offset at many of Australia’s large-scale desalination plants.
Through its biennial World Congress and Exhibition, the IDRA upholds its global commitment to sustainability and raises awareness of water’s value, protecting the environment, and conserving natural resources. It is the ideal forum to advance goals that ensure clean water sources for future generations.
For more information about the 2022 IDRA World Congress: Charting Resilient Water Solutions, please visit wc.idadesal.org