IAH World Groundwater Congress 2024

After Wuhan and Cape Town, the IAH World Groundwater Congress returns to Europe for its 51st edition. For the first time in 30 years, it will be held in Switzerland again, organized by the Swiss Society of Hydrogeology (SSH) and the Centre for Hydrogeology and Geothermics of the University of Neuchâtel (CHYN). During the week-long event from 8-13 September 2024 at the Davos Congress Centre, delegates from academia, government and industry will share the latest findings on groundwater, present innovative solutions and discuss pressing societal challenges.

In a rapidly changing world, groundwater is a vital resource that is under increasing pressure. To anticipate future trends, we need to improve our understanding of how groundwater interacts with rivers, lakes, ecosystems and the cryosphere, and how it responds to extreme events, building on rapid methodological advances. Sustainable groundwater management strategies must take into account the many interactions within the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus and can only be developed in close cooperation between countries, sectors and stakeholders. At the Congress, we will facilitate interactions beyond the scientific community, involving members of industry, public administration, international organizations and development agencies to share knowledge and discuss these challenges.

The IAH World Groundwater Congress is well known for its inclusive approach welcoming participants with a broad background from all continents. We build on this spirit and provide new opportunities for interaction and dialogue. In addition to short presentations in parallel sessions covering all major groundwater fields, we will hold plenary debates around key groundwater challenges, organize side-events and short courses. We will organize sessions on topics of particular relevance to Switzerland and offer opportunities to showcase Swiss groundwater expertise to an international public. Evening events and mid-week excursions will provide additional opportunities for networking, taking advantage of the scenic surroundings.