22 August 2016 PA-CN/16/18
Water Science: Journeys from Australia to Madras
Madras Week 2016 - Photographic exhibition
As part of this year’s Madras Week celebrations the Australian Consulate-General in Chennai, in association with Anna University’s Centre for International Affairs, is showcasing a photographic exhibition entitled Water Science: Journeys from Australia to Madras. The exhibition profiles Australia’s knowledge and expertise of water sciences, with a special focus on Chennai and its history in irrigation and water management.
Speaking at the inauguration, Australia’s Consul-General for South India, Mr Sean Kelly, emphasised that, “cooperation in water science is a key priority for Australia and India, as both countries share common challenges of water scarcity, they require highly efficient water resource management systems and irrigation practices”.
Mr Kelly also spoke of lessons Australia had learned from its long history of drought and stated that, “given the urgent need to safeguard the world’s water supply, Australia is keen to share our experience and expertise to assist other countries with similar water resource management issues. With this goal in mind, the Australian Consulate General Chennai is working closely with several states in South India to share Australian expertise in water management”.
Other speakers at the inauguration were Dr. N. Rajendran, Director, Centre for International Affairs, and Dr. N.K.Ambujam, Professor & Director, Centre for Water Resources from Anna University and Mr T Kanthimathinathan, Chief Engineer & Director of Institute for Water Studies, Water Resource Department, Public Works Department.
The exhibition profiles Australia and India’s long history of collaboration in water science. It will take audiences back to the late nineteenth century into the world of Mr Alfred Deakin, one of Australia’s earliest Prime Ministers, who travelled the world to pursue his passion for irrigation and water science. The exhibition profiles Deakin’s visit to South India in 1890, to the then Madras Presidency, where he researched and published on Madras’ superior irrigation facilities and canal systems.
The exhibition also showcases leading irrigation and water science projects in India and Australia, including projects that are being funded by the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF). The AISRF is Australia’s largest fund dedicated to bilateral research and helps Australian researchers from public and private sectors to participate with Indian scientists in leading-edge scientific research projects and workshops. It is one of India’s largest sources of support for international science.
The exhibition is open for viewing to the public for the duration of Madras Week: 23-27 August, 9.00 am - 5.00 pm at the Centre for Water Resources, CEG Campus, Anna University, Chennai.
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