A three-day workshop on the topic of „Flood Pollution Assessment and Impact Knowledge Transfer“ took place at IIT Madras in Chennai from 22nd to 24th of February. The event was co-organized by the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre (ABCD-Centre) and the Indo-German Centre for Sustainability (IGCS) and brought together international experts, local actors, and students, from various disciplines to synergise interdisciplinary expertise, practical fieldwork, and laboratory analyses to address the pressing issue of flood-induced pollution.
The workshop fascilitated knowledge transfer and collaboration between science, industry, government, and civil society to study the processes of transport, distribution, deposition, dilution, and enrichment of pollution during riverine and marine flood events, along with their ecotoxicological hazards. Participants gained hands-on experience in sampling strategies, methods, and analysis techniques, allowing them to better understand the complex processes involved in flood pollution and its impacts on ecosystems. The program also included a field trip to collect sediment and water samples from three sites in Chennai for laboratory analyses that covered grain size, trace elements, microplastics, and microbial assessment, including resistant bacteria.
The event benefited participants by providing access to advanced knowledge and practical training from international experts. Furthermore, scientists gained valuable feedback from local actors to align their research with real-world challenges. Additionally, the workshops helped political and administrative decision-makers understand viable, economically feasible, and socially acceptable solutions for water and climate change adaptation. Ultimately, this workshop aimed to develop transfer strategies that are socially acceptable, technically viable, and economically feasible, contributing to more effective water and climate change adaptation efforts.
