Welcome to a Seminar on Water Challenges in Latin America

We are happy to announce an upcoming seminar on September 3rd, organised in collaboration with the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies (NILAS) at Stockholm University, Engineers Without Borders Sweden, the European Commission, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and Norden International, with the support of GRULAC Stockholm.

The seminar will address critical water issues in Latin America, focusing on the lack of infrastructure, insufficient international support, and planning risks.

The seminar will gather leading experts and practitioners to discuss solutions and innovations emerging from civil society and their impact on human rights, peace, governance, sustainability, and equal water access in Latin America.

Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers Without Borders Sweden, emphasises the significance of this seminar:

"This event is a great opportunity to address  the pressing water challenges in Latin America. It brings together an incredible pool of expertise to share insights and drive forward innovative solutions. We are honoured to be part of such an important dialogue."

Agenda Highlights

The seminar will start off with welcoming remarks by Dr. Thaïs Machado-Borges, Director of NILAS, and Ms. Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers Without Borders Sweden. Ambassador Milton Soto Santiesteban, the Ambassador of Bolivia to Sweden, will provide an introduction to the challenges posed by climate change in Latin America. Mr. Tommy Lindström from Engineers Without Borders Sweden will present the current water situation in Latin America and talk further about the Aqua 365 project in Chile.

Ms. Adriana Soto Trujillo of the Stockholm Environment Institute will offer insights on integrating WASH and IWRM in Bolivia, followed by Ms. Carla Liera, who will present aspects regarding human rights and water-related climate risks in Mexico. The seminar will conclude with Mr. Erik von Pistohlkors from the European Commission discussing the EU's perspective on future international community support for Latin America. The session will end with a discussion and Q&A session moderated by Professor Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano from NILAS, Stockholm University.

Read and download the full agenda here

Details:

• Date: September 3, 2024

• Time: 5.30 – 6.45 PM

• Venue: The Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies, Stockholm University, Universitetsvägen 10 B, Building B, 5th floor, Frescati, Stockholm.

The seminar will be conducted in English and it will also be live-streamed. Sign up below to receive the link to the livestream as well.

We look forward to welcoming you to this important event. Please register at the following link:

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN ENGINEERING DAY on June 23rd.

To join in on this important day, we at EWB-SWE would like to acknowledge the many incredible women engineers in or around our organisation. These women make significant contributions to change and development in Sweden and around the world. They are also true inspirations and role models for other women and girls considering a career in the STEM field or becoming engineers.

We would hereby like to lift the stories of two prominent engineers, and we would like to thank our main partner Sandvik for giving us the opportunity to do so.

Meet Taline Forsberg, Vice President, Digital Projects and Services, Sandvik Coromant,

Taline Forsberg, Vice President, Digital Projects and Services, Sandvik Coromant, talks about why she became an engineer, the possibilities in combining different fields, and why she loves her job. Her advice to women and girls going into engineering is: "Believe in yourself – You can do it! Engineering is not just one single lane ... and I do believe that we make the best engineers".

Meet Anne Sankari, BLM Automation, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solution, Central Africa.

Anne Sankari, BLM Automation, Sandvik Mining and Rock Solution, Central Africa, talks about why she became an engineer, and why she strongly recommends other women to go into the engineering field. She says: "For me the best thing in engineering is definitely the problem solving aspect of it ... solving problems is the part I really like. Making the world a little bit better".

What is International Women in Engineering Day?

International Women in Engineering Day, arranged by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), is celebrating its 11th year. The mission is to promote the incredible work that women engineers across the globe do every day. This year’s theme is #Enhancedbyengineering, highlighting the work that enhances people’s everyday lives and helps build a brighter future.

INWED strives to give women engineers around the world a profile, as women are still hugely under-represented in the engineering field. In the UK, for example, only 16.5% of engineers are women, while in Sweden, it's 29%. The INWED platform plays an important role in encouraging more young women and girls to pursue engineering careers.

At EWB-SWE, we have increased equality and inclusion as key focus areas, and we strongly support the efforts of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), Womengineer Women In Tech Sweden, Women in STEM Pink Programming, Openhack - coding for humanity and many, many other organisations that work towards this important issue.

Read more about the activities arranged by INWED24 on the link below!

Welcome to share the stories of other women engineers you would like to highlight, using the hashtag #INWED24.

https://www.inwed.org.uk/

Progress Report: Strengthening Children's Right to Education through WASH Access in Tanzania

We are pleased to provide an update on our Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) project aimed at improving children's right to education in Tanzania. Supported by the Alstom Foundation and led by EWB-SWE, the project is taking important steps towards creating a healthier and more conducive learning environment.

Project Overview
The project focuses on providing safe water access, constructing sanitation facilities, and promoting hygiene education. Our goal is to improve education for 4,700 children by addressing the critical need for reliable WASH facilities.

We have successfully constructed two rainwater harvesting tanks at Ndama and Nyakabila primary schools. These tanks now benefit 772 students and 29 teachers.

Ongoing Activities and plans forward:

• We have completed demonstrations from UV-filter suppliers and are in the process of selecting the best solution.

• Capacity Strengthening by training district council officials, teachers, and 70 students on MHH, including health education and forming school health clubs focused on WASH.

• Begin building ecosan toilets and hygiene facilities, with training and advocacy activities planned for the coming months.

*images are from one of the new water tanks at Nyakabila primary school.

One of the significant challenges we face is cultural stigmas around menstruation, which impact girls' education. Our advocacy and training efforts are designed to address and mitigate these issues, promoting a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students.

EWB-SWE wishes to thank the Alstom Foundation for their invaluable support in making a tangible difference in the lives of many children, ensuring they have access to the essential facilities needed for their education and well-being.

Chile's President attends ACCESS Forum 2024 - Bridging Borders in Science, Technology, and Innovation

The ongoing ACCESS Forum, held in Stockholm from June 10-14, is a landmark event in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) collaboration between Sweden and Chile.

Today, on June 13, the conference was honoured by a visit from Chile's President, Gabriel Boric Font, who delivered a key speech that underscored the significance of this international partnership.

Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano, Professor of Latin American Studies and Associate Professor of Economic History, and a student from Brazil at NILAS mingled with Caroline Edelstam, Secretary-General of EWB-SWE.

Highlights of the Conference:
Today's highlight was the speech by President Gabriel Boric Font at Aula Magna, Stockholm University. Other esteemed guests and panelists, included Astrid Söderberg Widding, Professor and Rektor of Stockholm University, one of the host insitutions of the conference.

The ACCESS Forum is part of a larger initiative, bringing together eight Swedish and nine Chilean universities. It aims to foster academic collaboration, advance scientific knowledge, and promote innovation for economic growth. Over 200 researchers and university representatives have gathered to engage in dialogue and build partnerships.

The event features case examples, panel discussions, and networking sessions.

The ACCESS Forum 2024 highlights the power of international cooperation in STI, showcasing joint efforts between Sweden and Chile to promote sustainable development and achieve Agenda 2030 goals.

EWB-SWE's participation underscores our commitment to strengthening international partnerships and advancing engineering solutions for global challenges.

Speech by Chile's President, Gabriel Boric Font.

Speech by Chile's President, Gabriel Boric Font.

Photos:
Speech by Chile's President, Gabriel Boric Font.
Talk by Astrid Söderberg Widding, Professor and Rektor of Stockholm University.
Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano, Professor of Latin American Studies and Associate Professor of Economic History, and a student from Brazil at NILAS mingled with Caroline Edelstam, Secretary-General of EWB-SWE.

Talk by Astrid Söderberg Widding, Professor and Rektor of Stockholm University.

EWB-SWE Attends Science Diplomacy Seminar During the ACCESS Forum 2024 in Stockholm

The forum featured esteemed guests and panelists, including Thaïs Machado Borges, Director of the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies (Nilas), 

The ACCESS Forum, held in Stockholm from June 10-14, is a significant academic event in the field of Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) collaboration between Sweden and Chile. Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers Without Borders Sweden (EWB-SWE), attended the Science Diplomacy event on June 11, held at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in collaboration with Stockholm University.

The ACCESS Forum is part of the larger ACCESS initiative, a collaborative platform involving eight Swedish and nine Chilean universities. This initiative aims to promote and facilitate academic collaboration between the two countries, advancing scientific knowledge and fostering innovation for economic growth. The forum gathered over 200 researchers and university representatives, providing a crucial platform for dialogue and partnership-building.

Esteemed Guests and Panelists

The forum featured esteemed guests and panelists, including Thaïs Machado Borges, Director of the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies (Nilas), 

Henrik Hallgren from the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), with Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General EWB-SWE, and Tomas Wiklund, Sweden’s Ambassador to Chile, showcasing the collaborative spirit of the event.

Highlights from the Sessions

One of the key panel discussions focused on various aspects of diplomacy in the context of science. These discussions highlighted the critical role of networks in research, with a notable quote summarising that: “Networks are very important for research.”

Sweden’s Ambassador to Chile, Tomas Wiklund, spoke on the significance of the ACCESS collaboration in "Science Diplomacy between Sweden and Chile – in the execution of SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.”

Sweden’s Ambassador to Chile, Tomas Wiklund, spoke on the significance of the ACCESS collaboration in "Science Diplomacy between Sweden and Chile – in the execution of SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals.”

Panel discussion on various aspects of diplomacy in the context of science.

Henrik Hallgren from the International Council of Swedish Industry (NIR), with Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General EWB-SWE, and Tomas Wiklund, Sweden’s Ambassador to Chile, showcasing the collaborative spirit of the event.

Key Objectives and Principles

The ACCESS Forum 2024 aimed to: Facilitate Dialogue and encourage communication between Swedish and Chilean governmental bodies and stakeholders to strengthen bilateral ties. It also aims at promote funding and investments in collaborative research initiatives.

Another aim is to foster Networking and create opportunities for potential collaborators and promote academia-industry partnerships. And finally to highlight successful Science, Technology, and Innovation collaboration projects and case studies.

The event included case examples, panel discussions, and networking mingles, concluding with a reception at the Chilean Embassy.

Conclusion

The ACCESS Forum 2024 demonstrated the power of international cooperation in STI. It highlighted the joint efforts of Sweden and Chile in promoting sustainable development and achieving the goals outlined in Agenda 2030. Through mutual benefits, inclusivity, openness, and long-term commitment, the forum showcased how effective science diplomacy can bridge gaps and foster a collaborative spirit for global advancements.

EWB-SWE's participation underscores our commitment to strengthening international partnerships and advancing the role of engineering in addressing global challenges. The insights and connections gained from this event will undoubtedly contribute to EWB-SWE's ongoing efforts to promote sustainable engineering solutions internationally.

Read more about the ACCESS forum and seminars on the link provided below.