WEF Nexus Workshop, 2017

July 11 – 16, 2017
Nakhon Phanom University, Thailand
The water, energy and food (WEF) systems in Asia have been disrupted by frequent floods and droughts, rapid urbanization, land use and land cover changes, and proliferation of hydropower dams construction. The inhabitants of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) are facing creeping, but inescapable, challenges related to the natural and human induced changes that have disrupted flows of ecosystem services. The interrelated issues of water security, energy security, and food security challenge regional development and sustainability of the rural communities. Assessing tradeoffs and synergies WEF nexus will be key to socially and ecologically appropriate livelihood improvements for these communities.
Michigan State University, Nanjing Agricultural University and Nakhon Phanom University (NPU), Kasetsart University, with partners from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as the MAIRS (Monsoon Asia Integrated Research for Sustainability) and GLP (Global Land Program) - North America Nodal Office, joined efforts to establish an Asia Hub that is dedicated for innovative international partnership to address emerging issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on the WEF Nexus issues in Asia. An international Workshop on Asia WEF Nexus will be held from July 11-15, 2017 at Nakhon Phanom University, Thailand (http://rdi.npu.ac.th/web/workshopwef).
The major objectives of the workshop include:
· Present latest WEF Nexus research findings and ongoing activities
· Launch of new international initiatives:
  • Asia Hub Initiative – Concept, goals, objectives, implementation strategies & opportunities.
  • MAIRS Asia WEF Nexus Working Group
  • New NASA IDS Project – Project design, objectives, planned activities and opportunities to participate (The project focuses on hydropower dams, land use, climate change and their impacts on distant wetland ecosystems and rural communities)
· Solicit and finalize research papers for a special issue in Journal of Water
Organizers and Sponsors:
· Michigan State University Center for Global Change & Earth Observations (CGCEO)
· Michigan State University Center for Advanced Studies and International Development (CASID)
· Michigan State University Office of China Programs (OCP)
· Nanjing Agricultural University
· Nakhon Phanom University (NPU) Research & Development Institute (RDI)
· Kasetsart University (KU)
· Mahidol University (MU)
· Monsoon Asia Integrated Research for Sustainability (MAIRS)
· Global Land Program (GLP) - North America Nodal Office
· Zhejiang University Institute of Islands and Coastal Ecosystems
· Zhejiang University Academy of Water Science and Environmental Engineering