Conferences

Stakeholder conference of the competence center water management

More than 100 experts from science, the water sector, municipalities, industry, and policy gathered in Magdeburg on 5 June 2026 for the stakeholder conference of the Competence Center for Water Management. The conference focused on ongoing projects and concepts addressing climate-resilient water management, sustainable drinking water supply, and water-sensitive urban development. During an interactive gallery walk, participants discussed current initiatives and contributed practical expertise to their further development, one of them was a study by UFZ that calculates the unsealing potential of a city district in Halle. The outcomes of the conference will help shape the network’s future priorities and support the advancement of innovative solutions for water-related challenges.

IFAT Munich - the world's leading trade fair for environmental technologies

This year’s IFAT—originally launched as a trade fair for wastewater technology—took place in Munich from 4 to 7 May 2026. Today, it attracts visitors and exhibitors from around the world and has evolved into a key platform for the circular economy.

The need to align the water cycle much more closely with the principles of the circular economy was emphasized by both Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, and Carsten Schneider, Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment.

Currently, only a small fraction of consumed or treated wastewater is reused, with additional losses occurring due to leakages in distribution systems.

Further topics discussed at the “Water Forum” included digitalization in the water sector, PFAS in water, innovative concepts for urban spaces, the KARL project, as well as initiatives in Africa.

We look forward to presenting results from the Helmholtz Water Initiative at IFAT 2028.

EGU 2026

The 2026 EGU General Assembly took place in Vienna from May 3 to 8, 2026, bringing together scientists from around the world to discuss the latest research in Earth system sciences. Representatives from the Helmholtz Water Initiative were also in attendance, presenting their research and using the conference as an opportunity for professional exchange and networking within the international water sector.

Ralf Merz presented the paper “Scaling Up Buckets – Using Large-Scale Data to Build a Regional Hydrological Model.” The presentation focused on the development of regional hydrological models based on large-scale datasets to better represent water balances and human impacts on the water cycle.

Daniela Peña-Guerrero presented the study “Fast-responding near-natural hydrological systems as early markers of socio-economic drought impacts.” The research examines how fast-responding hydrological systems can be used as early warning indicators of socio-economic drought impacts, thereby helping to improve drought early warning systems.

Ted Talk at Helmholtz Future Forward

On April 22, the new Helmholtz President, Martin Keller, and the new Helmholtz Executive Director, Sabine Helling-Moegen, hosted the Helmholtz Future Forward event at the Helmholtz headquarters in Berlin. During the evening event, attended by approximately 300 guests from the fields of science, politics, industry, and society, one question took center stage: How can the societal benefits of research be made more clearly visible? Martin Keller emphasized that excellent science in Germany can only remain strong in the long term if people are made to understand the concrete difference it makes in their lives. That is why there is a constant focus on reflecting on the progress Helmholtz has made in recent years and how these results are having a tangible impact on society, everyday life, and the future. The Helmholtz Water Initiative, which was presented this evening by Dr. Larisa Tarasova (UFZ), also aims to achieve significant societal impact while maintaining scientific excellence (presentation link).  

SOLVE at "Tag der Hydrologie 2026" (Hydrology Day)

From 4 to 6 March 2026, the SOLVE team was represented at “Tag der Hydrologie” in Kassel. Under the theme "Water Resources Under Pressure," the conference brought together researchers and practitioners to discuss current challenges in hydrology, including issues of water quality, water balance under increasing hydrological extremes, and adaptation measures for sustainable water management.

For SOLVE, the conference provided a valuable opportunity for exchange, to engage in ongoing discussions within the hydrological community and to learn about perspectives from research and practice. These insights contribute to the further development of approaches that combine scientific findings with practical solutions for sustainable water management.
 

The discussions will be continued and deepened at the SOLVE kick-off meeting on 23–24 March 2026 in Halle.

Stakeholder consultation in Brussels

Prof. Dr. Dietrich Borchardt, spokesperson for the Helmholtz Water Initiative, attended the European Ocean Days in Brussels on 4 March 2026. As a panel participant, he took part in the session on closing knowledge gaps and building capacity to develop solutions for restoring and protecting the water cycle. An initiative for stakeholder participation within the framework of the EU Water Resilience Strategy in Brussels.