The world is increasingly turning its attention to the issue of water scarcity. Many countries
face water scarcity as a fundamental challenge to their economic and social development; by
2030 over a third of the world population will be living in river basins that will have to cope
with significant water stress, including many of the countries and regions that drive global
economic growth.
Across the globe, policy makers, civil society and the business sector are increasingly

For a species that prides itself on scientific
discovery, we know startlingly little about
the resource that is most crucial to our
survival: water. 11
This lack of understanding applies not just
to the layperson who unquestioningly
consumes water. But also to the scientists,
academics, businesspeople and
policymakers who study water for a living.
“To make any progress, we experts must first admit our
own ignorance,” says John Cronin, Director and CEO of The
Beacon Institute for Rivers and Estuaries. “We don’t know