Report on the Launching Symposium for Journal of Hydro-environment Research

January， 2007
By Dr. K M Lam

The Asia Pacific Division (IAHR-APD) will soon have its own official journal. The Journal is named Journal of Hydro-environment Research. It is the result of a collaboration between Elsevier, IAHR, IAHR-APD and the Korea Water Resources Association (KWRA). The journal provides an international platform for the dissemination of research and engineering applications related to water and hydraulic problems in the Asia-Pacific region. The journal is the brain-child of a team of Asia-Pacific water experts, whose vision is to provide a forum for promising young Asian researchers to develop and contribute to new knowledge and thinking on the world stage. Journal of Hydro-environment Research is financially sponsored by the KWRA and has taken two years from conception to the final publisher agreement with Elsevier. Professor J.H.W. Lee and Professor I.W. Seo are the editors of the Journal. The first issue of the Journal is expected to appear in April 2007.

A Launching Symposium for the Journal was organised on January 18-19, 2007 at The University of Hong Kong (HKU). Over thirty members of the International Advisory Board and Associate Editors attended this busy two-day event. These renowned Asia water experts came from countries including India, Iran, Korea, Japan, Singapore, UK, USA, and Greater China (Mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan). The Symposium commenced with the official launching ceremony of the Journal. This was officiated by Professor Paul Tam, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Ir C.K. Wong, Director of Drainage Services of the Government of Hong Kong, Dr. Christopher George, Executive Director of IAHR and Dr. H.S. Woo, Vice-President of the KWRA. In the afternoon, the participants went on a technical visit to watch the exquisite migratory birds on the wetlands in the Mai Po Nature Reserve, a RAMSAR site next to Deep Bay along the Hong Kong -Shenzhen Border - a water body facing immense environmental pressures arising from extremely rapid urban development.

The aims of the Symposium are to invite papers for the inaugural issue and line up papers for coming issues and is to hold discussion amongst members of the Journal team. Over 20 excellent papers were presented in the morning of day 1 and on day 2. The presentations reflected the range and uniqueness of many Asia Pacific water problems, as well as the commitment of the editors to launch a high quality international journal with APD characteristics. The technical session concluded by a hour-long discussion and sharing of views on the aims of the Journal, the expected paper types and standards, and other aspects towards the success and directions of the Journal. In the evening, all participants relaxed and enjoyed a wonderful dinner during which the APD favour was highlighted surprisingly by a belly dance performance. The Symposium was sponsored by the Croucher Laboratory of Environmental Hydraulics through a donation from the Croucher Foundation.