WATERLOO - A top water expert will discuss how to conserve drinking water and make it more widely available to millions around the world during a public talk next week at the University of Waterloo.

András Szöllösi-Nagy, UW's Walter Bean Visiting Professor in the Environment, will address current water resource management practices and identify what needs to be done in the future. His lecture, entitled Water For the 21st Century: Will There Be Any?, will be held Tuesday, March 31, at 3:30 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre, J.G. Hagey Hall of the Humanities.

A diminishing supply of fresh water creates a global crisis. Today, 900 million people have no access to drinkable water.

Szöllösi-Nagy is internationally recognized as an expert in hydrological forecasting and modelling, filtering techniques and statistical hydrology. Hydrology studies water in the earth and atmosphere, along with its distribution, uses and conservation.

"We are very fortunate that Dr. András Szöllösi-Nagy will share his research and expertise on one of the Earth's most valuable resources," said Leo Rothenburg, acting dean of engineering and a professor of civil and environmental engineering. "Water is going to be one of the most critical issues of the 21st century. Projected future demands for water indicate that our current practices are not sustainable and that we are running out of fresh water."

Szöllösi-Nagy is the director of the division of water and secretary of the international hydrological program of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Since 2000, he has also served as deputy assistant director-general of the natural sciences sector of UNESCO.

As well, he is a member of UN-Water and the board of governors of the World Water Council. He served as co-chair of the political processes committee of the Fifth World Water Forum held earlier this month in Istanbul, Turkey.

In his lecture, Szöllösi-Nagy will explore such questions as:

* How will water be managed 50 years from now?

* Who controls trans-boundary waters?

* How does climate change influence fresh water supplies?

* What can we do?

The Walter Bean professorship attracts top international research professors on the environment to Waterloo to give public lectures, teach classes and meet with professors and students.

The professorship is named after the late Walter Bean, who was president of Waterloo Trust until its merger with Canada Trust in 1968. UW's faculties of engineering, environment and science are responsible for planning and organizing the annual professorship. The faculty of engineering hosts this year's lecture.