The 16th IAHR-APD and The 3rd IAHR-ISHS
Congress Held in Hohai University

The 16th IAHR-APD congress and the 3rd IAHR-ISHS symposium are being jointly held at Hohai University from October 20th~23rd. The main theme of the congress is: "Water and Humanity — Friendship, Harmony and Sustainable Development."

The opening ceremony was formally held on October 20th¬ and was hosted by Prof. Yan Yixin, vice-president of Hohai University and vice-director of the China Oceanographic Engineering Academic Society. Prof. Zhang Changkuan, President of Hohai University, Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, and vice-director of the Chinese Society of Hydraulic Engineering, gave the opening address. Prof. Nobuyuk Tamai (Chair of the IAHR), Prof. Jorge Mato (Chair of IAHR section on Hydraulic Structures), and Prof. Vallam Sundar (Chair of IAHR-ADP) all addressed the delegates. Prof. J.H.W Lee (vice-president of Hongkong University), Prof.Zhang Jianyun (Dean of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute), Prof. Tang Hongwu (Dean of College Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering of Hohai University) and Prof. Li Guifen all attended the opening ceremony.

After the opening ceremony, some distinguished scholars such as Prof. Wang Zhaoyin (Chairman of China’s Division of IAHR-APD), Prof. Vallam Sundar (Chair of IAHR-ADP), Prof. Huib de Vriend (director of the Delft Hydaulic Research Centure), Prof. Suo Lisheng (former vice-minister of the Ministry of Water Resources of China), Prof. Philip Burgi (former chair of the IAHR-HSS), Prof. Arturo Marcano (Chairman of Venezuela’s Association of Hydraulic Engineering) each gave a keynote speech respectively titled (1) Data of Barrier Lake and Incised Rivers in Sichuan; (2) Research on Tsunami Mitigation Strategies; (3) Eco-Hydraulics in Estuaries and Coastal Areas; (4) The Way of Water-Resources & Hydropower Development in China; (5) The Role of Hydraulic Structures in Meeting Future Water Challenges; (6) Hydraulic Structures of 17.700 MW Lower Caroni Hydroelectric Complex- Developments, Incidents and Lessons.

Following the central theme, the topics of the 16th IAHR-APD congress are: (1) Water Resources and Hydrology; (2) Environmental and Ecological Hydraulics; (3) Fluvial Processes and River Engineering; (4) Estuarine and Coastal Hydraulics; (5) Hydraulic Structures for Water Projects; (6) Hydropower Hydraulics; (7) Resettlement and Social Aspects; and (8) The Impact of the Wenchuan Earthquake.

The congress has gained one of the strongest responses from hydraulic researchers around the world. After rigorously reviewing all of the submissions, 392 papers from 25 countries and regions were ultimately accepted. About 86.72 % of the published papers are from Asia, 7.91 % from Europe, 2.81 % from South America, 2.04 % from Australia and New Zealand, 0.26 % from North America, and 0.26 % from Africa. Most of the papers’ authors will introduce their results either by oral or poster presentation during the conference. The congress has exhibited many new ideas and information relating to the fields of hydro-environment.