MEDRC Water Research Forum

The MEDRC Water Research Forum aims to bring together MEDRC Fellows and industry experts from all sides of the water sector to discuss important, local, regional, and global water challenges in a collaborative environment, while showcasing innovative ideas and research. The Forum is an evolution of the MEDRC Fellowship Alumni Events, connecting MEDRC Fellows with water sector experts and facilitating knowledge transfer.

Forum participants include a balanced representation of members of academia, government, and the private sector, as well as MEDRC Fellowship Alumni and current Fellows. The Forum will be held as a series of events, with individual events held in Jordan and Palestine, with one in Gaza, and one in the West Bank. The Forum will work to develop dialogue and a community of experts around the MEDRC Water Research Fellowship program. It will serve to promote the academic research of Fellows, and facilitate knowledge transfer between MEDRC Fellows and the water sectors professionals of Jordan and Palestine, while providing opportunities for discussion on important local, regional, and global water issues.

The Forum format will feature Researcher Showcase presentations, given by the most outstanding researchers from MEDRC’s Water Research Fellowship program, both current students and Alumni. Researcher showcases will be adjoined by high-level expert Discussion Panels on curated topic areas, within an overall annual Forum theme.

The Forum’s theme and the Discussion Panel topics will be collaboratively developed by a Student Steering Committee, made up of selected MEDRC Fellows, and under the guidance of MEDRC and a Higher Committee, made up of selected representatives of government and participating universities. The Researcher Showcase participants will be selected by the Higher Committee, with input from the academic advisors, university professors, and the Student Steering Committee’s executive positions.

Panel discussions will feature a moderator with prepared questions, offered in an open and free flowing discussion format, with an interactive audience Q&A session at the end.

Forum Committees

The MEDRC Water Research Forum will be organized by a Student Steering Committee made up of selected MEDRC Fellows serving as volunteers, with several key elected executive positions. The student committee will be responsible for proposing an overall Forum theme, curating discussion panel topics, nominating participants from various areas of the water sector, selecting panel moderators, and managing event logistics. MEDRC and its partners agree to provide logistical support and oversight as necessary to facilitate this, and maintain all final approval authority for the Forum components.

The Student Steering Committee will be assisted by MEDRC, government and local partners, and the participating universities via a Higher Committee. The Higher Committee will help to guide students’ efforts and provide logistical support, such as official requests or invitations as necessary. Higher Committee members will be selected by MEDRC and its partners, and are subject to change, based on agreement from all parties.

The Student Steering Committee will consist of student volunteers, with an elected executive team, consisting of the below roles:

Key Student Positions

Student Chair – point of contact and the most senior student position responsible for the Forum

Treasurer – responsible for Forum budget management and spending

Marketing Manager – responsible for advertising and dissemination

Technology Manager – responsible for all IT & AV requirements

Students submit applications to join the Student Steering Committee to MEDRC and the appropriate partners, indicating their interest to be considered for the executive positions. Nominees will be selected via the Higher Committee, and students will elect their executive representatives from the chosen nominees.