SedNet conference 2015. Call for Abstracts!
SedNet Conference 2015
9th International SedNet conference, 23-26 September 2015, Kraków, Poland
Solving societal challenges: working with sediments
Hosted and co-organized by the Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection, AGH University of Science and Technology
Sediments and society – what is the connection? Sediments – unseen or unnoticed most of the time – have a variety of impacts on human activities and vice versa, particularly along rivers. If the river is used for shipping, too much sediment may become an obstacle. The foundations of bridges may become unstable if too little sediment is available, creating a safety risk. After flooding, sediments are distributed over flood plains and with increased construction in natural flood plains these sediments add to the clean-up efforts and may become a health issue if contaminated. Even more dangerous are the mud and debris flows that can occur during larger floods.
Our aquatic resources are linked to sediment with its many and sometimes conflicting ecosystem services: recycling of nutrients, providing habitats for fish, adsorbing pollutants… But different ecosystem services are accompanied by different interests. How to deal along a watershed with too much or too little sediment? What to do about contaminated sediment that is mobile and may be taken downstream with the next flood? Or what about the contamination that stays in place but affects the local ecology and regional communities? Does contaminated mean “dangerous”? What is “too much” or “enough” sediment in a river and does it justify e.g. dredging or sand exploitation or are there alternatives?
Different countries have different experiences with the quantity and quality of sediments in their rivers, and with dealing with the challenges that arise from there. The role, attributed function and perception of sediments influence the way it is managed in a river system. At the core of the SedNet conference in 2015 will be the link between sediment and society, and the exchange of knowledge and respective experiences on an international level. Sediments are an integral part of the river system. Is this role acknowledged in a sufficient way?
Call for Abstracts (download)
SedNet would be pleased to receive abstracts for oral or poster presentation, addressing one or more of the following topics:
– Sediments and society
– Valuing sediments and their services
– Sediment quality and perception
– Understanding sediment fluxes and budgets on a river basin scale
– Restoring sediment continuity (WFD)
– Best practices in sediment management
– Dredged material management in rivers and lakes
– Building with dredged material
– Sediment management in mountainous regions
– Sediment in historical and recent mining areas
– Sediment issues in Poland
Abstracts on these topics will preferably point out the link between society and sediments and relate to its ecosystem functions. Also process-related studies of sediment transport and budget in rivers are welcome that help to understand the sediment-water-soil system. The meaning of effect-oriented research will be a topic as well as the identification of future challenges and perspectives.
Abstracts will be selected by the SedNet Steering Group either for platform presentation or for poster presentation.
Click here for the template for submission of abstracts to the SedNet Secretariat: marjan.euser@deltares.nl
Deadline
Deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 January 2015.
Conference Fee
Regular fee: 400 euro
Students: 100 euro
VAT not included.
If a student has submitted an abstract that has been selected for oral presentation, then his/her fee is waived.
Registration, Travel and Accommodation
Information about registration, travel and accommodation will be provided in detail in the Preliminary Conference Program.