The Stockholm Water Prize Laureates Seminar: Global Sanitation – How Can Science Contribute?

Thursday 21 August
Morning Seminar

Convenors: Stockholm Water Foundation (SWF) and Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)

Event Summary and Conclusions

The seminar was carried out as short presentations by six Stockholm Water Prize Laureates, followed by a panel discussions supported by comments and questions from the audience. The discussion was facilitated by Mr. Andras Szollosi-Nagy, UNESCO. The six Laureates were Mogens Henze (SWP Winner in 1992), Sven Erik Jörgensen (2004), Barbara Frost (1995), Peter Wilderer (2003), Perry McCarthy (2007) and Tony Allan (2008).

Peter Wilderer started the seminar by stating that science cannot contribute but that scientists can contribute by providing existing knowledge and by exercising research on issues where we lack knowledge. Among important research issues today is how to make reuse of water safe, acceptable and affordable. Reuse of water is the link between water supply and sewerage.

Mogens Henze concluded in his presentation:

• Science cannot contribute to alleviate the sanitation crisis

• New scientific findings will not change the world of sanitation
• Science has not neglected sanitation issues in the past
• Aid organizations and international organizations use research results
• There is no missing link between science and sanitation

Henze also remarked that there are far too many organizations worldwide addressing their pet issues (about 200 organizations at the WWW!).

Barbara Frost, Water Aid, put the question: “The science is clear, the economic arguments are sound – so why is it that the MDG for sanitation will not be reached?” She underlined her conclusions and message by some very aggravating figures and facts. What is needed is:

• Global sanitation action plan and global sanitation taskforce
• Commitment that no credible national sanitation plan should fail due to lack of finance
• Local action – EWP coalitions in developing countries calling on their governments to deliver

Perry McCarty focused on the problem of the world’s groundwater resources and the accelerating risk of their contamination. We have to regard both pathogens and toxic chemicals. Prevention of contamination is always much cheaper and much more effective than remediation. Research must be complemented by communication and regulation.

Sven Erik Jörgensen emphasized the need for understanding and developing models for systems analysis, integrating water sanitation, water supply and waste water treatment in a way that offers an optimum solution for ecological water management. Jörgensen’s three concluding bullets were:

• Integration
• Consider the entire spectrum: cleaner technology, eco-technology and environmental technology
• Use models to find the best solutions

Tony Allan stated that the role of science is Prediction, Explanation and To influence society and the political economy. He defined three kinds of scientific knowing:

1. To predict: Modelling Sciences
2. To explain: Social & politics theory
3. To influence: Activist science

Allan regarded all three kinds of science as needed but strongly stressed the importance of the activist scientists which he called “the angels” – people that make a difference and produce real results. He also had found that Constructed knowledge (ideas of society on say sustainability) always will overwhelm observed science.
Allan concluded by comparing politicians and scientists:

• Politicians were invented to deal with ambiguity which is always associated with uncertainty
• Modeling scientists deal with risk which can be captured with the numbers and the language of probability
• Politicians know what the game is about and accept the excitement of uncertainty
• Most scientists avoid the excitement of uncertainty.

Seminar Programme         09:00-12:00, Room K21

Chair: Prof. Leif Anderson, Stockholm Water Foundation and University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Co-chair: Dr. Blanca Elena Jiménez Cisneros, UNAM, Instituto de ingeniería Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico

Moderator: Professor Andras Szollosi-Nagy, UNESCO

Presentation from the event

Please scroll down and find the link from the programme