KISR, IAEA join forces to strengthen groundwater protection across region

The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) launched Sunday a regional meeting on “Enhancing Groundwater Protection Using Nuclear Technology in Light of Climate Change and Pollution Challenges,” in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The meeting will continue until Thursday. In a press statement, KISR said the meeting is being held under the Regional Cooperation Agreement for Arab States in Asia for Research, Development and Training in Nuclear Science and Technology (ARASIA), bringing together experts and specialists from several Arab countries.

The meeting forms part of a regional project focused on assessing pollution and the effects of climate change on water resources through nuclear techniques, with the aim of developing groundwater vulnerability maps and identifying protection zones. Kuwait is serving as the project’s lead coordinator. Around 20 specialists and representatives from Kuwait, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Syria, Oman, the UAE and Yemen are participating, along with IAEA Technical Officer in Isotope Hydrology Dr Reem Al-Tarabulsi and international expert from Spain Dr Iñaki Fadio Pérez.

The meeting opened with a welcoming address by Dr Habiba Al-Manea, the institute’s National Liaison Officer with the IAEA. The opening session was chaired by Dr Khaled Hadi, Acting Executive Director of KISR’s Water Research Center, with the participation of Dr Reem Al-Tarabulsi, representing the IAEA. KISR said the meeting aims to facilitate the exchange of scientific expertise and knowledge in groundwater protection and promote the use of nuclear and isotopic technologies to assess the effects of pollution and climate change on water resources.

Discussions will also address emerging challenges facing water resources, as well as ways to strengthen their sustainability and improve management practices across participating countries. The institute emphasized that hosting the regional meeting highlights the importance of cooperation and the exchange of scientific and technical expertise in addressing growing threats to water resources. It added that the initiative supports regional efforts to protect groundwater, strengthen sustainable water management and safeguard vital water resources for future generations.