Objectives
The objective of the SG is to address and promote all aspects of modelling, simulation and the formal methods of applying systems analysis to managing and improving the quality of the aquatic environment.
This includes the development and application of mathematical models and modelling tools such as optimisation algorithms, time-series analysis and forecasting, computational procedures for decision analysis and support, uncertainty analysis. It hereby stimulates transfer of knowledge between academia and industry and between different areas within the water cycle.
The SG is also responsible for maintaining a forum for the discussion of inter-disciplinary issues within the International Water Association (IWA) to augment the engineering and economic elements of problem-solving with those having human, institutional, and cultural dimensions to them. The SG is also directed, therefore, at developing and promoting the application of systematic procedures of Integrated Assessment.
Membership
Membership of the SG is open to all IWA members, either individually or through their employer.
All members of the Management Committee (MC) must be members of IWA.
Activities
The SG will undertake the following activities:
- Prepare communications of the Group’s activities and developments on social media channels such as LinkedIn and IWAconnect;
- Convene conferences and workshops;
- Initiate research and case studies;
- Organize webinars on topics of interest;
- Make available relevant conference material to their members;
- Stimulate initiation and host Task Groups (TGs) and Working Groups (WGs);
- Active participation and representation in relevant IWA programs such as the Digital Water Program;
- Interact and streamline activities with other IWA SGs, as well as with other academic and professional organizations dealing with Modelling, Simulation, and Integrated Assessment in water systems;
- Start SG-internal committees on specific emerging topics of interest to prepare basis for MC discussions.
Management committee
The MC of the SG will comprise of a Chair, Vice-Chair, outgoing Chair and up to twelve other members (of which a minimum of 2 should be YWPs). The MC decides whether all seats should be filled. MIA is favouring a worldwide representation, promoting gender balance.
The roles of the chair, vice-chair and outgoing chair are defined as follows:
- Chair: Defines the main lines of work of the SG. Main contact for IWA.
- Vice-Chair: Takes care of the daily business of running the SG. Second contact person for IWA. The Vice-Chair will become the next Chair.
- Outgoing Chair: To guarantee smooth transition. Elected for another 2 years.
All other MC members have to agree to take up individual responsibilities covering (but not limited to) the tasks described below. These responsibilities can be dynamic (for instance when new initiatives that require more effort are launched) and can be shared among different MC members (depending on the MC’s needs). The chair and vice-chair oversee that all necessary tasks are appointed to at least one MC member.
- Administrative coordination: Coordination of practical SG matters, such as organising MC meetings, writing and distributing meeting minutes, follow-up on actions, organizing elections, keeping the welcome documents, group composition and mailingslists up to date
- TGs and WGs coordination: Ensuring an active link between MIA hosted and supported TGs and WGs and the MIA MC. An official report is solicited from the TG/WG chairs at least twice per year. Coordination of the affiliated YWP TG and WG liaisons to engage on a more frequent basis with the TG and WGs.
- Industrial insight representation: MC members from industry should ensure a bi-directional communication between practitioners, engineers and the MIA/IWA community by:
- Active participation at webinars
- Active participation in the development and review of IWA vision documents
- Bringing forward to MIA special issues that the industry is grappling with
- Post items of interest or specific issues on IWA connect
- Social media coordination: Disseminating MIA activities through LinkedIn, keeping all MIA related IWAconnect pages up to date (including information on MC members, important communications and important documents), updating MIA Youtube channel
- MIA Website maintenance and development: Maintaining and regularly updating the IWA website and the MIA’s own website. Actively requesting and organizing content for website updates.
- Webinar organizing: Assisting MIA members in the organization of webinars.
- Conference and workshop coordination: Ensure communication with the scientific and organizing committees for important conferences or within the domain of MIA. Specifically for the two main conferences: Watermatex and WRRmod. Coordinating MIA involvement in the organization of workshops and special sessions.
- Outreach and member engagement: connecting to other SGs and initiatives . Support new initiatives for member engagement.
- YWP relationship coordination: developing MIA’s YWP programs and organizing elections of affiliated YWPs.
Affiliated Young Water Professional (YWP)s
To enlarge the work force as well as to train YWPs in leadership and serving on a MC, all full MC members should agree to work alongside a YWP mentee. These YWPs are “affiliated” MC members and as such they have no formal vote on MIA matters. They can eventually become full members if a place opens up in the MC committee.
Teams are preferably made up by an affiliated YWP and a senior MC member from different research groups and countries.
In addition to assisting the MC members, each affiliated YWP can self-nominate to be a TG and WG liaison in order to facilitate the communication between the MC and its TGs and WGs, or vice-versa.
Elections
- Election of MC members:
- Elections are held when free places in the MC become available. This can be either when an MC member decides to resign or due to prolonged inactivity of an MC member. A request for self-nomination for the MC is sent out to all MIA SG members. Candidates need to present themselves in a maximum of two pages and people of the age 35 or below are asked to indicate that they are YWPs.
- The current MC organizes electronic voting by which all MC members are entitled to vote. The MC positions are filled according to ranking and the number of free places.
- Election of Chair and vice-Chair:
The Chair is elected for a period of 4 years. He/she will be replaced by the vice-Chair and becomes the Outgoing Chair for another 2 years. Every four years, before the quadrennial WATERMATEX conference, the MC decides which MC member becomes the new vice-Chair by anonymous vote. - Election of Affiliated YWPs:
- Elections are held when free places in the MC become available. A call will be sent out to all MIA SG YWP members to apply as affiliated YWP. Candidates should write a motivation letter of maximum 1 page.
- Affiliated YWP are selected by electronic voting in which only MC members are entitled to vote.
- Selected YWPs will be teamed up with senior members in mutual agreement.
- Affiliated YWPs can decide to stay on longer than 2 years in the same function. However, a maximum term of 4 years is advised.
- During the election time, the function of a member (affiliated YWPs included) can be reconsidered upon her/his or MC request. The interested member should officially express their willingness to experience a different/new function within the group and this should be approved by the MC according to availability of free places or new possibilities.
Meetings of the Management Committee and Group
Formal meetings of the MC will be held through monthly conference calls
A separate meeting is organised among the affiliated YWPs on a 3-monthly basis.
Open meetings of the full MIA Group, including the MC will be held:
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- in conjunction with the Group’s quadrennial WATERMATEX conference;
- at IWA’s Biennial World Water Congress.
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Financial aspects
The SG is based on self-financing, but administered from IWA’s main office with advice by the current SG Chair.