University of Birmingham's pioneering role in tackling global water challenges

Access to safe water and sound management of freshwater ecosystems are key requirements for human health, prosperity, and security. Established on 22 March 1993, World Water Day is an annual United Nations observance focusing on the importance of freshwater. The aim of this annual event is to celebrate water and raise awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water, tackling the global water crisis. A core focus of World Water Day is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. 

World Water Day 2025: Glacier preservation

The theme for World Water Day 2025 is “Glacier Preservation.” This year, the focus is on raising awareness about the importance of glaciers as long-term freshwater reserves and their impact on ecosystems and human communities. At Birmingham, we ran a series of events culminating in an international panel discussion to highlight key issues associated with unprecedented glacier loss and provide a platform to advance innovative solutions to tackle these challenges.

Water research at Birmingham: Celebrating our 125th Anniversary

The University of Birmingham has a long-standing reputation for undertaking research in water sciences, hydrology, and related fields, addressing key water challenges through innovative and interdisciplinary approaches. 

The Birmingham Water Centre (BWC)

Established in 2017, the Birmingham Water Centre (BWC) at the University of Birmingham is a cross-College hub for water research and education. It brings together experts from various disciplines to address global water challenges through innovation and collaboration. The BWC is aligned with the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability & Climate Action, which delivers world-leading, transdisciplinary research on sustainability and uses new knowledge to foster climate action – including on water as the ‘climate connector’.

Birmingham and the UNESCO Water Family

In 2025, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific & Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) and 60 years of the wider UN's commitment to water sciences. UNESCO-IHP is the only intergovernmental cooperation programme of the UN system dedicated to water research, management, education, and capacity development. Since its inception, UNESCO has played a pivotal role in advancing water research and management, tackling global water challenges through international cooperation and scientific excellence.

Birmingham is part of the UNESCO Water Family - a global network dedicated to advancing hydrological knowledge and addressing water challenges. Notably, UoB hosts the UNESCO Chair in Water Sciences, the Chairholder being Professor David M. Hannah. This role focuses on addressing global water challenges through innovative and sustainable solutions. The Chair was renewed for the third time (established in 2016) and its work includes understanding water cycle processes, hydrological events, and water-related impacts under climate change and other drivers of change.

We have leveraged our global water ‘network-of-networks’ to create a world-leading hub for interdisciplinary ecohydrological research and education through our UNESCO UNITWIN in Ecohydrological Interfaces with the University of Lyon (France), The University of Western Australia, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. This UNESCO UNITWIN was established in 2021, so renewal is due in 2025. These two UNESCO accolades position UoB uniquely and strongly as a global leader in water science-policy-education. UoB is very active in the IHP in terms of event planning and delivery.

Educating the next generation of water researchers and professionals

Water-related topics are studied across a range of undergraduate courses and Colleges at Birmingham. Our MSc in River Environments and their Management explores water quantity and quality, ecology, and climate/human impact on water-dependent environments, with a strong emphasis on laboratory skills and fieldwork to prepare graduates for careers in water management. Our MSc in Hydrogeology provides a comprehensive education in groundwater science and engineering, combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills to address global water challenges.

The international Catchment Science Summer School is an annual event designed for PhD and postdoctoral researchers, co-hosted with the University of Aberdeen, University of Zurich, TU Berlin, and the Global Institute for Water Security (Saskatchewan). The Microplastics Summer School is centred on the fate and transport of microplastics and other contaminants in the environment; it explores the interface between surface water and groundwater, and the impact of microplastics on ecosystems. Along with PhD researchers, we contribute to educating the next generation of water researchers and professionals.

Sustainability in Action: Reducing our impact on the water environment

Addressing water use challenges individually is a great way to contribute to sustainability. Change starts from within and is the responsibility of everyone in our University community. From students to researchers to educators to professional services to maintenance teams to catering staff - we proudly share in the efforts to keep our campus functioning as sustainably as possible. An apprentice working in the Estate Maintenance team at the University even won an award for his role in an ambitious investigation that identified problem areas in terms of water leaks and how to address them. This work will save over 5 million litres of water annually on our campus.

The University of Birmingham's commitment to addressing global water challenges is evident through its extensive research, innovative solutions, and educational programmes. As we celebrate World Water Day 2025, we reaffirm our dedication to sustainability and the preservation of vital freshwater resources. By fostering international collaboration and educating future water professionals, Birmingham continues to lead the way in creating a sustainable and water-secure future for all.