Water is undoubtedly the most important natural resource on the planet. This is well known. But what many people probably do not know is that it is essentially a recyclable resource, rather than a renewable one such as wood. The fact that it is recyclable means that in the closed earth-atmosphere system, the quantity of water and its reserves remain the same at all times. Therefore, we cannot look forward to an increase. In contrast to this, the earth’s population has been rising steadily from historical times to the present, and for the last two centuries at a particularly rapid pace. Therefore, we have a pair, the pair “water-earth population”, in which the first part’s price remains theoretically stable, while the second one’s price is rising, creating thus a great inequality in the supply and demand array. From this alone, it can be understood why today and in the future, irrespective of the much-discussed phenomenon of “climate change,” the water resource will be in a continuous and growing shortage.
This makes it easy to understand the usefulness and necessity not only of the offered programme, but also of all the programmes on Water Science (Hydrology) and Water Management. It is necessary in our country, but also at a global level, those involved at the technological, political or social level with water issues to receive the maximum possible education with the most innovative tools in the field. Only in this way can the supply increase in the supply-demand pool, even temporarily. That is because the methods of water management, recovery and saving will be improved. The above improvement will take place mainly due to the sufficient knowledge given to aforementioned involved parties, and of course because of the advancement of the technology related to this subject.
Greece is a country where the aforementioned postgraduate courses are only two, and only one of them is essentially dealing with water resources management. Therefore provision of water knowledge through a master’s programme, especially in a holistic way, is of utmost importance. Therefore, we consider it to be extremely useful and indispensable, particularly in an area of land where the water resource is not in most of its regions adequately supported, but also supports a large proportion of domestic income which is inextricably linked to water resources.
In addition, this programme will be offered with the support of the UNESCO Chair Con-E-Ect, which is hosted at EMATTECH, as well as the support of the Hellenic National Commission for UNESCO. This large international organization, in cooperation with the UN, has drawn up the Sustainable Development Goals Map, Agenda 2030, in which water has a predominant role, either as a protected asset, a means of development, or a resource linked to human living and health. UNESCO, first among all other international organizations, identified and approached water in a holistical way, something that inspired the creators of this MSc. Therefore, all the best conventions, technical guidelines ,and codes developed by the United Nations and UNESCO on water, will be disseminated to the students of the MSc through Con-E-Ect and its scientific staff (parts of it comprise also the teaching staff in the programme). This practice will be novel for a water-related MSc in our country and beyond. It is our ambition to offer this programme in English, opening it to students from foreign countries.
We believe that this knowledge will greatly help university graduates in their integrated approach, perception and understanding of the most valuable asset of our planet, and everything it has to do with the economy, health, and better living.
