What is "NWO Programme Water"

The NWO Programme Water (preliminary deadline January 2004-finalization end of 2010) addresses the following research questions, research aims and research themes.

Research question
Water and water management challenge humankind globally. In some instances the individual person is a mere bystander, for instance where the 'big water cycle' is concerned. On other subjects individual man is an important effector, for instance regarding the ecology of freshwater life communities. With regards to other water related (research) questions, man (both as an individual and as small local comunities), takes centre stage. The function of water in society is very determining, often dominating role, especially in tropical and semi-tropical regions. The other way around is also true: the influence of man on water and water-related issues is very decisive in such regions. The programme was founded by NWO-foundation WOTRO and the NWO-council of ALW. Besides there was a sizable contribution (regarding content as well as means) by the Dutch Ministry of VROM (Public Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment). The programme clearly meets the ambitions of ALW concerning valorisation.
What this programme 'is' can also be made clear by presenting some highlights of the programme so far, only available in Dutch.

Aims
Water is of great societal interest, as a result of it being absolutely essential for human life. By consequence water also makes a great subject for research. But water is 'connected to everything and more'. The significance of water for man and mankind is so im-men-se, that we simply cannot allow ourselves to be held back by the interconnectivity of the subject:

• A programme may focus on one well-defined detail aspect, knowing in advance that the results simply won't be sufficient to solve pressing freshwater questions, can only contribute to answering them, at best,
• A programme can aim at addressing all freshwater-related research subjects. But in this case as well, one has to realise beforehand that the answers to the most urgent freshwater questions will not become available. Coming closer to the definite answers is all there is to gain when all relevant aspects of such complex questions simply cannot be addressed all at once. 

This programme is not founded on realizing what we can't do, but rather on what we can do to raise the level of the "best available knowledge"on a number of freshwater related scientific and societal issues.

Themes
NWO Water programme itself constitutes part of a NWO-wide theme called "Sysem Earth" which followed from teh strategy period that ended in 2007.
The programme knows three themes:

• water and 'system earth' (the big water cycles )
• 'climate change' and freshwater ecology
• water and society

Programme length
The programme opened its call on November 1st 2003 and runs since the deadline for preilimary notifications in January 2004 and will come to an end by the time the last of the 15 granted programmes and projects (18 projects in all) finishes ultimo 2010. At the start of the programme the idea was to have 2 calls for proposals. Also because of a re-evaluation of proposals submitted in the first round, a new initiative on freshwater will be developed wi9th a more recent NWO strategic report as a strarting point.

Financial matters
The programme is financed by ALW and the NWO-foundation WOTRO. The Dutch minsitry of VROM (Public Housing, Spatial Planning and Environment) also contributed significantly by providing ideas and means to the programme.

Budget
The programme budget for NWO Programme Water amounted 5 million euro from the start.