CAS-Climate: Conference: Travel Grant for Participating in Water Research and Innovation Workshop Organized by the UNESCO Megacities Alliance for Water and Climate

尽管欧洲-北美区域（ENAR）特大城市的水文、社会文化、环境、经济、技术、监管和运营条件各不相同，但合作和经验共享对于大都市地区创新气候适应战略具有巨大潜力。大城市水与气候联盟（MAWaC）是联合国教育、科学及文化组织（UNESCO）的一个项目，旨在促进大城市在水资源管理和气候变化领域的合作。该计划为特大城市提供了一个宝贵的平台，以分享经验，确定研究和开发需求，并展示城市水生态系统恢复力的创新解决方案。MAWaC将于2024年3月13日至15日在伦敦举办水研究与创新（WRI）研讨会。研讨会将汇集来自欧洲和北美地区大城市的研究人员、从业人员和代表，包括芝加哥、纽约、洛杉矶、伦敦和巴黎。研讨会将总结创新解决方案的早期监测结果及其生态，社会和经济影响。它还将提供机会，讨论和学习当地和国际伙伴的各种经验。此外，研讨会还将邀请各方探讨在气候复原力倡议方面开展合作的机会。该差旅补助金支持美国研究人员参与研讨会的讨论、网络建设和头脑风暴。具体而言，世界资源研究所研讨会将实现以下目标：（i）鼓励特大城市之间的合作努力，以应对气候挑战;（ii）讨论如何为世界资源研究所当前和未来的举措汇集资源和经验;（iii）加速开发针对城市环境的创造性适应解决方案。作为研讨会的成果，将为以下五个关键领域制定一项战略：（一）雨水管理-最佳做法，建模监测;（二）综合水资源管理，循环经济促进气候适应;（三）治理政策，新法规影响气候适应城市规划;（四）基础设施资产管理-建模创新技术解决方案;以及（五）研究伙伴关系，创新生态系统，社区参与，建设具有抗灾能力的城市的公共教育。让美国代表团参加研讨会将大大有助于实现MAWaC的目标和大都市可持续发展目标。交流思想，最佳实践和研究成果将使美国利益相关者能够制定应对气候变化的美国特大城市水资源管理弹性战略。研讨会的一个关键成果将是强调城市间合作的重要性，并突出利用资源和专门知识加快创新气候适应技术的整合和部署的好处。国际参与者将设计合作研究项目和试点创新解决方案，这些项目将在讲习班期间最后确定。美国代表团参加研讨会将加强MAWaC ENAR国家之间的联系，促进合作，知识共享和探索潜在的联合倡议。美国代表团中将有大量的早期职业研究人员和学生，为他们提供了在其学科界限之外以更有意义的方式建立网络和发展职业生涯的机会。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Despite varying conditions in Euro-North American Region (ENAR) megacities - hydrological, socio- cultural, environmental, economic, technological, regulatory, and operational - the collaboration and sharing of experience hold significant potential for innovative climate adaptation strategies in metropolitan areas. The Megacity Alliance for Water and Climate (MAWaC) is a program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) aimed at fostering collaboration among megacities in the area of water management and climate change. This program provides a valuable platform for megacities to share experiences, identify research and development needs, and showcase innovative solutions for the resilience of metropolitan water ecosystems. MAWaC will organize a Water Research and Innovation (WRI) workshop in London from March 13-15, 2024. The workshop will bring together researchers, practitioners, and representatives from megacities in the Europe and North America Region, including Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, London, and Paris. The workshop will summarize the early monitoring results of innovative solutions and their ecological, social, and economic impacts. It will also provide the opportunity to discuss and learn from the diverse experiences of local and international partners. Additionally, the workshop will be an invitation to explore opportunities for collaboration on climate resilience initiatives. This travel grant supports participation of U.S. researchers in discussions, networking, and brainstorming at the workshop.Specifically, the WRI workshop will serve the following objectives: (i) encourage collaborative efforts among megacities to address climate challenges; (ii) discuss ways of pooling resources and experiences for current and future WRI initiatives; (iii) accelerate the development of creative adaptation solutions for urban environments. As a result of the workshop, a strategy will be developed for the following five key areas: (i) stormwater management – best practice, modeling & monitoring; (ii) integrated water resources management, recycling & circular economy for climate adaptation; (iii) governance policy, new regulations impacts & climate adaptation urban planning; (iv) infrastructure assets management – modeling & innovative technology solutions; and (v) research partnerships, innovation ecosystems, community engagement & public education for resilient cities. Bringing the US delegation to the workshop will significantly contribute to achieving MAWaC's goals and the Metropolitan Sustainable Development Goals. The exchange of ideas, best practices, and research findings will allow US stakeholders to develop resilient strategies for managing water in US megacities in the face of climate change. A key outcome of the workshop will be to emphasize the importance of inter- city collaboration and to highlight the benefits of leveraging resources and expertise to accelerate the integration and deployment of innovative climate adaptation technologies. International participants will design projects for collaborative research and pilot innovative solutions, which will be finalized during the workshop. Participation of the US delegation in the workshop will strengthen ties between MAWaC ENAR countries and facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and exploration of potential joint initiatives. There will be a significant presence of early career researchers and students in the US delegation, providing them with the opportunity to network and develop their careers outside of their disciplinary boundaries in a more meaningful manner.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.