Students and experts on water issues in the Middle East will present a one-day conference to discuss the important water security and humanitarian implications of the Syrian refugee crisis from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 at the Nebraska Innovation Campus Conference Center.

The conference, “Water Scarcity, Human Security and Democratization: Aspects and Impacts of the Syrian Crisis,” will focus on the impacts in Jordan.

Jordan is one of the driest countries in the world and its scarce water supply is disappearing through its aging infrastructure. How does a country that needs every drop of water in its sandy soil absorb 1 million Syrian refugees? This is the situation four undergraduate students and three staff members of the Robert B. Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska examined during a weeklong study tour of Jordan in March.

The team met with several leaders of non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and researchers with University of Jordan to learn about the solutions they are developing to improve water security in the region. They also visited Za’atari refugee camp, the largest temporary settlement site in Jordan, housing nearly 80,000 former Syrian residents.

The students will discuss what they learned during their experience in Jordan as part of the conference program and photos and videos from the trip will be displayed during the conference.

The event will also feature a variety of speakers and panel discussions providing perspectives from governmental and nongovernmental agencies, as well as academia.

Keynote speakers include, among others: - Khaldon Khashman, secretary general, Arab Countries Water Utilities Association - Anders Jagerskog, counselor, Regional Development Cooperation, Water Resources, Embassy of Sweden in Jordan - Clive Lipchin, director, Center for Transboundary Water Management, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Israel

The Water for Food Institute’s study tour students include: - James Garza, Global Studies - Maiya Shahwan, Global Studies - Morgan Spiehs, College of Journalism and Mass Communications - Maddie Thorn, Global Studies

This event is free and open to the public. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

For more details on the conference, including the full agenda, click here.