The first big project of WU and IHE Delft is organizing a competition during the UN Water Conference 2023 in New York.
The preparations for this challenge are done in close collaboration with our partner and client of this case: the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
During this competition youngsters around the world will be challenged to find solutions to the pressing water and other climate related issues. All teams will be guided by experts and young professionals from the field of water management and sustainability. Renowned global Universities will supply teams with relevant and up-to-date information about the current state of the climate in their relevant academic field. Teams will work on topics relating water pollution, shortage of water, water abundancies, water security and water management. During the development of their climate solutions, teams will be supported and enthused with national and international events together with athletes in watersports. By combining academia, experts from the field and the excitement of sports, youngsters will develop their knowledge in an exciting and a-political environment.
The top five teams will pitch their solution at the UN Water Conference 2023 in New York. But the mission doesn’t stop there. The legacy of the UN Water Conference will have top priority. Our goals are listed below:
• Offer a development track after the UN Water Conference to offer the winning team (or teams) an opportunity to further develop their climate solutions.
• Create an online educational program for school children around the world.
• Build the international Wavemakers community in collaboration with alumni from YEP, IHE Delft. Alumni that travel back home or continue their career abroad after their educational program in Delft, can apply their knowledge in their next home country.
• Create a network of partners that create real change in terms of climate change. We aim to make companies and governments active partitioners in this competition.
Above mentioned goals are top priority to create long lasting collaborations between parties that want to contribute to find climate solutions. It will enthuse school children to fight climate change, be it with small or big impact.
