The Stream, January 2: Ethiopia and Egypt Reach Agreement on Nile Dam Study

The Global Rundown

Work will resume on a three-country study of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam. A partnership between universities in Chicago and Israel seeks to tackle water scarcity at the molecular level, while Australia is rolling out technology to clean agricultural wastewater with algae. India is raising awareness of water issues this month, and a man in Burundi is personally protecting freshwater crocodiles.

“We need to look for things that are game-changers. We want to attack the issue at the molecular level. We want to take our expertise in nanotechnology, and put it to use in water-related problems.”–Moshe Gottlieb, scientist at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University, on a new research partnership between his university and the University of Chicago to tackle water scarcity. (Chicago Tribune)

By The Numbers

45 baby crocodiles Number due to be born this month to freshwater crocodiles that are being protected by a man in Burundi, where they are declining in the wild due to poaching. Guardian

Science, Studies, And Reports

A company in Queensland, Australia has successfully tested a method of cleaning wastewater from agriculture and aquaculture operations with algae, and will be expanding into commercial operations this year. ABC Rural

On The Radar

A tri-country committee formed to study the effects of Ethiopia’s Grand Renaissance Dam will resume its work after Ethiopia and Egypt reached an agreement earlier this week. Middle East Eye

India will begin an initiative to raise awareness of water resource management and conservation issues during this month’s India Water Week. New Indian Express

Codi Kozacek

A news correspondent for Circle of Blue based out of Hawaii. She writes The Stream, Circle of Blue’s daily digest of international water news trends. Her interests include food security, ecology and the Great Lakes.
Contact Codi Kozacek