China Report | The establishment of the China Committee on Water Biosafety of the International Water Association opens a new chapter in international cooperation on water biosafety

On May 20, under the guidance of the International Water Association (IWA), the Water Biosafety Summit Forum jointly held by the Ecological Environment Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Water Environment Group and the editorial department of Water&Ecology and the seminar on the establishment of the IWA China Committee on Water Biosafety were successfully held. The conference announced the official establishment of the China Committee on Water Biosafety of the International Water Association (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") and the launch of the Water&Ecology series. Researcher Hu Chengzhi, Deputy Director of the Ecological Environment Center, and Li Hong, Director of IWA Asia Pacific Region, Academician Qu Jiuhui and Academician Joan Rose, Honorary Chairman of the Committee, Professor Gertjan Medema and Researcher Wang Aijie, as well as Chairman Liu Gang, Vice Chairman Professor Chu Wenhai from Tongji University, and Vice President Zhang Lujing from China Water Environment Group, attended the meeting. Members from all over the country and teachers and students from the Ecological Environment Center attended the meeting both online and offline.

In the speech segment, Researcher Hu Chengzhi, on behalf of the organizers, welcomed two experts from afar, as well as online and offline committee members. He stated that the establishment of a committee based on the achievements and experience accumulated by Chinese scholars in water biosafety is of great significance for promoting research in the field of water quality in China, which is consistent with the goal of co founding the Water&Ecology journal by Academicians Qu Jiuhui and Joan Rose. Director Li Hong's speech stated that the International Water Association encourages interdisciplinary international cooperation and provides professional assistance for Chinese scientists and water industry practitioners to showcase their achievements internationally. The establishment of the committee is a successful example of promoting research and development in China's water field, and it will definitely play its positive role.

Hu Chengzhi, Deputy Director of the Ecological Environment Research Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

Li Hong, Director of IWA Asia Pacific

At the establishment ceremony of the committee, researcher Liu Gang, the chairman of the committee, introduced the background and significance of founding the Water&Ecology journal and the establishment of the China Committee on Water Biosafety. He pointed out that the journal will provide a high-end platform for exchanging and publishing cutting-edge achievements, and the committee will also promote the development of science and technology in the field of water biosafety in China, and provide an international platform for showcasing excellent research results. Vice Chairman of the committee, Zhang Lujing, showcased the progress of China Water Environment Group in the utilization of sewage resources and public health monitoring based on sewage. She also released the committee logo on site, consisting of the initials "Microbial Safety of Water" (M.S. Water), and selected the water god Luo Shen from ancient Chinese mythology as the image background. The perfect integration of science and art reflects the committee's purpose of protecting the source of life.

Liu Gang, Chairman of the Committee and Deputy Director of the Key Laboratory of Drinking Water, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Zhang Lujing, Vice Chairman of the Committee and Vice President of China Water Environment Group

Logo of China Committee on Water Biosafety

During the conference forum, Joan Rose, Honorary Chairman of M.S. Water, Academician of the National Academy of Engineering, and Professor at Michigan State University, delivered a report titled "Imperative Science for Health Related Water Microbiology.". She pointed out that water is the core of a healthy Earth, as well as the key to sustainable development and global security goals. Nowadays, the world is facing multiple threats such as emerging and constantly evolving pathogens, climate change, extreme events, disasters, land use, coastal pressure, and lack of infrastructure. For water microbiology research related to health, the urgent task is to identify the microbial communities, global systems, and distribution characteristics in clean water, and to combine mathematical and microbiological research to promote engineering innovation in quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) and microbial water safety.

Joan B Rose, Academician of the National Academy of Engineering and Professor at Michigan State University

Gertjan Medema, a consultant member of the committee, chief scientist at KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands, and professor at Delft University of Technology, delivered a report titled "Wastewater virus sweeping the world". During the outbreak of the COVID-19, he introduced epidemiological research methods into sewage monitoring, made positive contributions to curbing the spread of the virus, and therefore won the Lee Kuan Yew Water Award in 2024. He pointed out that sewage is a mirror of society and has important significance in public health. It can be used to control infectious diseases, antibiotic resistance, illegal drugs, etc. through sewage monitoring. His research and insights are of great significance for understanding and responding to global water security challenges.

Gertjan Medema, Chief Scientist at KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands and Professor at Delft University of Technology

Seminar on-site report Wastewater gone viral

After the report, the attendees had in-depth communication and discussion, and the meeting was successfully concluded in a lively atmosphere.

Discussion and exchange

Group photo of the Chinese Committee on Water Biosafety of the International Water Association (from left: Zhang Lujing, Liu Gang, Qu Jiuhui, Joan Rose，Gertjan Medema， Wang Aijie, Chu Wenhai)