6 Aug 2025
This workshop was successfully held on July 31–August 1, 2025, in Munich, organized by Dr. Olabisi S. Obaitor, Department of Geography, LMU Munich in collaboration with IAHS Urban Water Working Group.
The International Workshop on Leveraging Technology and Societal Innovation in Urban Water Management was successfully held on July 31 and August 1, 2025, at the Carl Friedrich von Siemens Stiftung in Munich. The workshop was organized by Dr. Olabisi S. Obaitor from the Teaching and Research Unit Human-Environment Relationships, Department of Geography at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich, in collaboration with the IAHS Urban Water Working Group.
Over the course of two days, participants were engaged and inspired by a series of keynote presentations. Prof. Dr. Mathias Garschagen (LMU) provided a comprehensive overview of current progress and gaps in urban climate change adaptation. Prof. Mario Schirmer (EAWAG, Switzerland) shared cutting-edge research on large-scale managed aquifer recharge in urban environments. Dr. Felix Bachofer (German Aerospace Center - DLR) presented tools for risk-informed planning in Central Vietnam, and Jun. Prof. Dr. Valerie Graw (Ruhr-University Bochum) examined tipping points in urban water systems.
In addition to the keynotes, the workshop featured a broad range of research presentations showcasing innovative approaches to urban water management. Topics included urban flood modeling, the impact of rapid urbanization on groundwater quality, the use of climate data and AI to monitor water dynamics, participatory planning, nature-based solutions in design education, and open-access data infrastructure for improved collaboration.
The success of the workshop was made possible by the LMU Excellence Initiative, through its PostDoc Fund, which supported the participation of 14 scholars, including nine representatives from the Global South. The Carl Friedrich von Siemens Foundation also provided generous support by hosting the event at its prestigious venue in Munich.