The PAW Congress is dedicated to exploring the interconnected dynamics of the Food-Water-Energy nexus through the unifying lens of data. In 2024, we explored how integrated approaches in this field can effectively address socio-cultural challenges on both local and global scales. We celebrated the remarkable achievements with our partners and harnessed the insights gained to pave the way for future innovations and directions. Together, are charting a course towards sustainable solutions that resonate across communities worldwide.

From policymakers, researchers and artists, to entrepreneurs, scientists and the general public—PAW 2024 provided an exchange of innovative ideas, strategies and collaborative efforts focused on re-examining the solutions required to address the Decade of Action and implementation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

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Congress Program

There are a number of optional tours available free of charge to registered attendees of the PAW 2024 International Congress.

To register your attendance at any of these tours, please email the International Office at international.office@usask.ca with your contact information and the tours you would like to attend. Additional details will be returned to you with your tour confirmation email.


Start Time End Time Activity Location
7:30am 8:30am Registration Garry Room, Marquis Hall
8:30am 9:30am Welcome Garry Room, Marquis Hall
9:30am 10:15am

Opening Keynote Speaker: Dr. Daniela S Jones, Assistant Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department and Data Science Academy Director of Agricultural Analytics, North Carolina State University, USA

Topic: Crossing Boundaries: Data-Driven Approaches to the Food-Water-Energy Nexus for Sustainable Development

Summary: This talk will explore the critical role of data in addressing the interconnected challenges of food production, water management and energy systems. Dr. Daniela S. Jones will highlight how innovative, data-driven approaches can optimize resource use, improve sustainability, and solve socio-cultural issues both locally and globally. Drawing on her transdisciplinary research, Jones will present case studies such as the optimization of bioenergy supply chains, the application of AI in agricultural phenotyping, yield predictions, remote resource assessments and nutrient management in water-vulnerable regions. The talk will demonstrate how leveraging geospatial data, machine learning and advanced analytics can drive impactful solutions within the Food-Water-Energy nexus, contributing to a more resilient and sustainable future.

Garry Room, Marquis Hall
10:15am 10:30am Break Garry Room, Marquis Hall
10:30am 12:00pm

Plenary Panel: Food, Water, and Energy 2.0: Data-Driven Approaches and How They Are Motivating New Solutions and New Opportunities

Summary: The panel will discuss how data (data science innovations, new forms of computing, AI, mathematics, big data, small, data, etc.) are changing how we understand, use, and protect food, water and energy.

Moderator: 

  • Dr. Steven Rayan, Professor and Deputy Head, Mathematics and Statistics; Director, Centre for Quantum Topology and Its Applications (quanTA); Director, Interdisciplinary Programming, College of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 

Panelists:

  • Dr. Saurabh Biswas, Living Skies Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Community Appropriate Sustainable Energy Security (CASES) Initiative – University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Genya Crossman, Quantum Strategy Consultant – IBM Quantum, Germany
  • Dr. Carsten Mann, Vice-Dean, Faculty of Forest and Environment – Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Germany
  • Dr. Malabika Pramanik – Professor, Department of Mathematics – University of British Columbia; Scientific Director, Banff International Research Station (BIRS), Canada

Garry Room, Marquis Hall
12:00pm 1:00pm Lunch Garry Room, Marquis Hall
1:00pm 2:30pm Student Poster Session Garry Room, Marquis Hall
2:30pm 3:00pm Break Garry Room, Marquis Hall
3:00pm 4:30pm

Concurrent Sessions:

Sustainable Rural Communities at the Nexus

Moderator:

  • Dr. Robert Henry, Associate Professor, College of Arts and Science – University of Saskatchewan, Canda

Panelists:

  • Dr. Rachel Engler-Stringer, Professor, Community Health and Epidemiology – University of Saskatchewan, Canda
  • Viktoria Schuler, Project Manager HR Services – Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council, Canada
  • Dr. Heike Walk, Head of Department, Transformation Governance – Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development, Germany

 Equity and Social Inclusion for Resilience in the Nexus

Moderator: 

  • Dr. Patti McDougall, Deputy Provost – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 

Panelists: 

  • Drs. Alice Bouman-Dentener – Co-Founder Cansu Global, Netherlands 
  • Elizabeth (Liz) Duret, Senior Consultant, Inclusion, Diversity and Anti-Racism, Human Resources – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 
  • Dr. Patti McDougall, Deputy Provost – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 
  • Dr. Maureen Reed, Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 
  • Dr. Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Executive Director, Global Institute for Water Security – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 

Arts 211, Arts Building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Garry Room, Marquis Hall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
4:30pm 6:00pm Break
6:00pm 8:00pm Congress Reception Dreher Room, Willows Golf & Country Club

All times are CST. Program subject to change.

 

Start Time End Time Activity Location
8:00am 9:00am Registration Desk Open; Light Breakfast and Networking Garry Room, Marquis Hall
9:00am 9:45am

Keynote Speaker: Drs. Alice Bouman-Dentener, Co-Founder Cansu Global, Netherlands

Topic: Water and Social Justice: two sides of the same coin

Summary: With a rapidly expanding and developing global population, freshwater demands are soaring and water scarcity is on the rise, acerbated by the impact of climate change on the hydrosphere. While having access to sufficient, safe and affordable water was recognized as a Human Right in 2010 through UN resolution A/RES/64/292 is, it remains an illusion for over two billion people on our planet (26 per cent of the human population).

In the 46 years between the UN Water Conference of 2023 and the first global water conference of Mar del Plata in 1977, the proportion of the global population with access to safely managed water has doubled to 70% (5.6 billion people). However, this impressive figure conceals the persisting inequalities between rich and poor, urban and rural regions, social groups and genders.

Not having access to sufficient and safe water condemns people to a situation of continuous morbidity and social exclusion, impedes their development and lowers their self-esteem. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aims to leave no one behind, but the conditions for the decentralized and inclusive water action that is needed to ensure marginalised people‘s health, dignity and empowerment are not in place.

Historically, water management is compartmentalised and focused on technical aspects, resulting in partial solutions for the most obvious water challenge. If we want to achieve water security for all, we have to leave the path of reductionism and address water for sustainable social and economic development in a holistic and systemic way, at the lowest appropriate level, and with the full and equal participation of all stakeholders, including the social groups that continue to be marginalised. Academia plays a central role by providing the comprehensive and unbiased data and knowledge base for informed decision-making at all levels.

The marginalisation of Indigenous Peoples extends to ignoring their traditional ecological knowledge, their deep understanding of water as the “lifeblood of Mother Earth” (Grand Chief Philip Steward) and their sound water stewardship practices. It is prudent to listen and learn, and to marry technological innovation with ancient wisdom; so that solutions to water challenges are appropriate for the local circumstances, leave no one behind and preserve the environment that we ultimately depend on for our survival.

Garry Room, Marquis Hall
9:45am 10:15am Break Garry Room, Marquis Hall
10:15am 11:45am

Concurrent Sessions:

First Nation Data Sovereignty - A National and Regional Perspective 

Moderator:

  • Dr. Dawn Wallin, Associate Vice-President Research (Engagement) – University of Saskatchewan, Canda

Panelists:

  • Erin Corston, Director and Executive Lead, National Data Champion Team, FNDGS – First Nation Information Governance Centre, Canda
  • Gonzague Guéranger, Implementation Lead, National Data Champion Team, FNDGS – First Nation Information Governance Centre, Canda
  • Murall Bird, Director of Information Governance / Regional Implementation Lead, FNDGS – Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Canada 
  • Dinesh Khadka, Researcher Analyst and Regional Implementation Tam, FNDGS – Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, Canada

Sustainable Crop Production at the Nexus

Moderator:

  • Dr. Angela Bedard-Haughn, Dean and Professor, College of Agriculture and Bioresources – University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Panelists:

  • Murad Al-Katib, President and Chief Executive Officer – AGT Foods and Ingredients, Inc., Canada
  • Dr. Margot Hurlbert, Professor and Canada Research Chair, Tier 1, Climate Change, Energy, and Sustainability Policy, Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy – University of Regina, Canada
  • Dr. Mehmet Tulbek, President – Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc., Canada

Water Security for Food Security – Research Gaps and Opportunities

Moderator:

  • Dr. Corinne Schuster-Wallace, Executive Director, Global Institute for Water Security – University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Panelists:

  • Dr. Melissa Arcand, Associate Professor, College of Agriculture and Bioresources – University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Dr. Warren Helgason, Associate Professor, College of Engineering – University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Dr. Curtis Pozniak, Professor and Director, Crop Development Centre – University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Dr. Nancy Tout, Chief Scientific Officer, Global Institute for Food Security – University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Garry Room, Marquis Hall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geology 255, Geology Building

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arts 106, Arts Building

 

 
11:45am 12:45pm Lunch Garry Room, Marquis Hall
12:45pm 2:00pm

Concurrent Sessions:

Water Security for Energy Security – Research Gaps and Opportunities

Moderator:

  • Dr. Kerry Anne Mazurek, Associate Professor, Civil, Geological, and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering – University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Panelists:

  • Dr. Grant Ferguson, Centennial Enhancement Chair in Groundwater-Energy-Food Nexus, School of Environment and Sustainability and Joint Appointment with College of Engineering – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 
  • Dr. Xiaodong Liang, Canada Research Chair in Technology Solutions for Energy Security in Remote, Northern, and Indigenous Communities and Professor, College of Engineering – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 
  • Dr. Oscar Zapata, Assistant Professor, School of Environment and Sustainability – University of Saskatchewan, Canada 

Garry Room, Marquis Hall

 

 
1:00pm 2:30pm

Concurrent Sessions:

Sustainable Livestock Production at the Nexus

Moderator:

  • Dr. Terry Fonstad, Associate Vice-President Research (Ethics and Infrastructure) – University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Panelists:

  • Dr. Scott Wright, Director, Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence – University of Saskatchewan, Canada
  • Jenna Sarich, Technical Consultant and Analyst – Canadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Canada
  • Dr. Christy Morrissey, Professor, College of Arts and Science – University of Saskatchewan, Canada

Agriculture 2C61, Agriculture Building
2:30pm 2:45pm Break Garry Room, Marquis Hall
2:45pm 3:30pm Congress Closing Session Garry Room, Marquis Hall

All times are CST. Program subject to change.

Please join the University of Saskatchewan International Office as they host a pre-PAW International Congress session, "Developing and Maintaining Sustainable Research Partnerships in Germany" to provide an opportunity to learn more about USask’s current collaborations in Germany and make new connections between researchers already working in and/or interested in working in Germany. The DAAD Toronto Office Senior Manager will be joining the session to deliver a presentation on research and mobility funding opportunities for researchers, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. 

daadworkshopgraphic

Audience: This event is for all leaders, faculty, staff, researchers, PhD students and postdoctoral fellows with a history of collaboration in Germany, and/or an interest in pursuing collaborations and partnerships in Germany. This is an in-person event only. 

Agenda: An agenda will be circulated by email one week prior to those who have RSVPed. 

Other: Light refreshments and snacks will be provided.  

Resources: We will be compiling a slide deck to overview at the event, and which can be shared with attendees following the event that contains information about the current research and collaborations between USask and partners in Germany. If you are currently collaborating with partners in Germany, we request you to complete the attached slide template and return it to our office by October 1, 2024 so that it can be included (please send to international.office@usask.ca). 

Please RSVP by emailing international.office@usask.ca by October 7th, 2024. Please note that registration for this workshop is complimentary and seperate from registration for the PAW Congress.  

 

Keynote & Plenary Speakers

Dr. Daniela S. Jones

Dr. Daniela S. Jones is an assistant professor in the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State University (NC State), where she also serves as the data science academy director of agricultural analytics. She holds a joint faculty appointment with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and is the director of the Agricultural Data Science Certificate program at NC State. Additionally, she is a graduate faculty in the Operations Research Program, and in the Center for Geospatial Analytics.

Jones specializes in developing large-scale, heterogeneous, geo-temporal data-intensive machine learning and optimization models to enhance the sustainability of intensifying agricultural systems. Her biofuels research focuses on the feasibility of harvesting, preprocessing, storing and delivering agricultural waste for energy conversion to mitigate environmental impacts. She also collaborates with industry partners to process agriculture data from various sources such as gene expression, management practices, ground-based sensors, drone imagery, weather stations and satellite sensors. This comprehensive data spans the entire agricultural lifecycle—from planting and growing to harvesting and packing—allowing her to identify factors that impact produce yield in both quantity and quality.

Jones earned her PhD in biological and agricultural engineering with a concentration in energy systems from Texas A&M University, where she was an Alfred P. Sloan Scholar and received a certificate in business management. She also holds a Master’s and Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering with a focus on operations research and a minor in mathematics from Mississippi State University. During her academic career, she interned at Idaho National Laboratory and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on biofuels and renewable energy projects. Prior to her current role, Jones was a postdoctoral associate at Duke University, where she conducted quantitative and qualitative research on student interventions and supported programming for educational and career development workshops, as well as community development events for underrepresented students in the biosciences.

 

Drs. Alice Bouman-Dentener

Drs. Alice Bouman-Dentener graduated as a biologist/ethologist from Utrecht University in the Netherlands. In the course of her international career, she has developed a focus on water governance, social inclusion and gender. She has had a prominent role in shaping the water and gender agenda during the Water for Life Decade 2005–2015 and continuing into the current Water for Sustainable Development Action Decade, where she serves as a Member of the International Advisory Committee of the Dushanbe Water Process.

Bouman-Dentener founded the Women for Water Partnership (WfWP) in 2004 and served as its president for 10 years, during which period WfWP developed into the leading women’s civil society network in the water domain spanning close to 100 countries. WfWP member organisations have an impressive track record of empowering women and leading water for sustainable development action in their communities and countries. Other prominent roles in the water for sustainable development domain include vice-chair and chair ad interim of the Global Water Partnership Intergovernmental Organization (GWP), chair of the European Water Stewardship Members Council and member of the International Steering Committee of the Young Water Solutions Fellowship Programme. She is the vice-president of the Water Research and Training Centre International Foundation (WRTC).

Most recently, Bouman-Dentener co-founded Cansu Global uniting academia, private sector and governments as critical enablers for water inclusive, climate smart and gender sensitive development action.

Bouman-Dentener has been the women’s representative in the Delegation of the Kingdom of The Netherlands to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA, 1999), the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD, 2002), and the Beijing + 15 Forum of the EU-Presidency (2010). She is a longstanding member of the Advisory Board of Gender Concerns International (GCI).

Bouman-Dentener was proclaimed action hero of the UN Water for Life Decade in 2015 and knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau in April 2016. She is the first laureate of the HRH Prince Mohammad bin King Faisal (I) El-Hashemite Award.

Dr. Saurabh Biswas

Dr. Saurabh Biswas is a transdisciplinary sustainability scientist studying the interplay or nexus of engineered systems, social injustices and poverty, participatory democracy and sustainable development. His research is motivated by the question of how energy systems and sustainability challenges mutually shape each other. With a focus on climate vulnerable and historically marginalized communities, Biswas’ research explore the nexus at varying levels of complexity – from individual to institutional actors, in traditional communities to cosmopolitan cities, and from simple technological fixes to sophisticated technology ecosystems.

He currently works with First Nations and Indigenous communities in Northern Canada on pathways to envision appropriate energy futures leading to just and sustainable outcomes. Other ongoing projects include co-editing a handbook on Arctic energy transitions and a collaboration with energy access practitioners to develop participatory decision processes that enhance the social acceptance of energy projects. Prior to USask, Biswas was a scientist at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the USA. He has a PhD in sustainability science from Arizona State University and a masters in energy systems engineering. He is also the co-founder of ‘Let Communities Lead’, an open-access knowledge repository of civic leadership and innovations by communities for sustainable energy futures.

Genya Crossman

Genya Crossman is fascinated by the human side of quantum computing, pondering how users interact with this cutting-edge technology and the collaborations it sparks. In her role as a quantum strategist at IBM Quantum, she examines the convergence of technical advancements and ecosystem developments to understand the broader quantum computing landscape. Previously, she supported enterprises in employing quantum solutions to meet their business objectives and, as a hardware engineer, she played a pivotal role in designing and fabricating some of the earliest commercially available quantum computers. Crossman holds dual master's degrees in computational and applied mathematics from the Technical University of Berlin and Delft University of Technology, along with a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Dr. Carsten Mann

Prof Dr. Carsten Mann is professor for Sustainable Forest Resource Economics and academic director of the Biosphere Reserve Institute (BRI) at the University for Sustainable Development in Eberswalde, Germany. He holds a PhD in forest and environmental policy and a habilitation in resource economics. His research specializes on ecosystem service governance, policy assessment and system innovation by combining concepts of social-ecology and ecological economics with those of sociology, policy and institutional analysis. Particularly, the transfer of scientific results in environmental policy and management practice is of central interest for his work.

Dr. Malabika Pramanik

Dr. Malabika Pramanik is a professor of mathematics at University of British Columbia. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in statistics from the Indian Statistical Institute, and her PhD in Mathematics from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001. Before joining UBC in 2006, Pramanik held positions at University of Wisconsin, University of Rochester and California Institute of Technology. She is currently the scientific director of Banff International Research Station (BIRS) and is on the board of directors of the Pacific Institute for the Mathematical Sciences (PIMS).

Pramanik’s research interests cover areas of mathematical analysis such as Euclidean harmonic analysis, partial differential equations and several complex variables. She is the recipient of many awards and honours for her research, teaching and service. Among these awards are a UBC Killam Teaching Award and a UBC Killam Research Award, the Ruth E. Michler Memorial Prize, and the prestigious Canadian Mathematical Society Krieger-Nelson Prize for research excellence. She is an inaugural fellow of the Canadian Mathematical Society and a fellow of the American Mathematical Society. She was an invited speaker at the 2022 International Congress of Mathematicians.

Pramanik has been actively involved in initiatives that promote equity, diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, especially through her role as vice-president for the Pacific region of the CMS and as a co-organizer of programs such as the PIMS “Diversity in Mathematics” Summer School.

Student Poster Session

PAW 2024 attendees are invited to explore the work of USask students and postdoctoral fellows pertaining to themes of the food-water-energy nexus, sustainable development, and/or equity and social inclusion. Prizes will be awarded to the top three posters.

Marquis Hall, Garry Room
Thursday October 17, 2024: 1:00-2:30pm

Registration

Registration is now closed.

If you have any questions please via the FAQ below or email international.office@usask.ca.

FAQs

PAW 2024 will take place October 17-18, 2024 on the University of Saskatchewan (USask) main campus located in Saskatoon, SK. A potential pre-congress workshop on October 16, 2024 will also take place on the main USask Campus. An evening reception will take place at a location within the city.

More details to come.

All conference registration costs are outlined under the 'Registration' tab.

Registration will open in August, 2024. 

Once open, reigstration may be completed by following the link under the 'Registration' tab.

Additional tickets for the evening reception may be available depending on final numbers. If you are interested in additional tickets please email international.office@usask.ca.

A virtual option will not be available for PAW 2024.

Congress attendees travelling to Saskatoon are encouraged to take advantage of discounted block rates at select local hotels. Click below to learn more.

Business casual.

If you have additional questions not addressed above, please contact international.office@usask.ca

Sponsorship

Sponsor the PAW 2024 International Congress in Saskatoon, October 16-18. Align your brand with sustainability, connect with global experts, and drive meaningful change. Join us in making a world of difference.

Please contact international.office@usask.ca if you are interested in becoming an official sponsor of PAW 2024.

Congress Resources

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a call for action by all countries — poor, rich and middle-income — to promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and address a range of social needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection.

The United Nation's 17 Sustainable Development Goals

Our University Plan 2025 commits us to be “The University the World Needs”. This means harnessing our talents and resources to respond to contemporary challenges and opportunities. The Critical Path to Sustainability strategy lays out an ambitious set of five goals and 17 actions that responds to these challenges and opportunities. We commit to achieving them by 2030, aligning with the Agenda Sustainable Development Goals.

This framework contains the voices, experiences and expectations of many equity-deserving groups. It is an expression of hope and courage – one that must be met by the courage and determination of a university community committed to becoming what the world needs.
The Office of the Vice-Provost Indigenous Engagement works within and outside the university to meet the unique needs of Indigenous students, staff, faculty and communities and uplift Indigenization by advancing initiatives and strategies that promotes Indigenous Knowledges and supports reconciliation and decolonization. 

Photography provided by the University of Saskatchewan Images of Research contest

'Thriving in the Arid Tapestry' by Lakma Rathuge
'Fire Season Reflections' by Lindsay Carlson
'In Memory of a Tropical Paradise' by Alexander Pelletier
'The Wonder of a Tiny Factory' by Kalhari Manawasinghe