Florida A&M University will host the inaugural Energy Water Food Nexus Summit, an international conference that that will connect participants with a global network of researchers, innovators, and other stakeholders working in the energy, water, and food sectors.
The Energy Water Food Nexus is a science enterprise launched at FAMU through a global public-private partnership that seeks to provide sustainable and innovative solutions for energy, water and food security.
During the summit, participants from various disciplines will have the chance to work together to tackle complex issues surrounding energy, water and food production.
Summit chair and dean of the FAMU School of Environment Victor Ibeanusi explained the purpose of the EWFN.
“The intent of the EWFN is to brand this as a new science enterprise designed to provide solutions to the global energy, water and food crisis,” Ibeanusi said. “Students can also interact with international leaders in agriculture, business research, technology and more."
Odemari Mbuya, interim director for the center for water and air quality in the FAMU School of Agriculture and Food Sciences ensured that there are solutions to problems with energy, water and food.
“Energy, water, and food, they are all related,” Mbuya said. “There are problems which cover all those three … so we are looking for solutions."
Kirit Shelat, the chair of the Indian National Council for Climate Change and Sustainability Development, will travel from India to attend the summit.
The NCCSD signed a memorandum of understanding with FAMU to collaborate research.
“FAMU can make available appropriate technology related to climate smart agriculture and smart city management for its replication in India,” Shelat said.
Mbuya explained the importance of working internationally with various organizations.
“We need to work together, which is the purpose of the memorandum of understanding. We can work with people in these places and have much more control [of our global environment]… We should be able to predict so that we can plan,” Mbuya said.
The summit has several themes and tracks on which participants may choose to focus. In each of these tracks, students can learn about emerging innovations, engage in each segment, influence, mentor and recruit students, and accelerate technology.
The Idea Hacks track will be aimed at solving complex problems that require multidisciplinary and diverse perspectives, which will allow the collaboration of students from all disciplines. During this segment, stakeholders will “pitch” their problem or challenge around energy, water, and food themes, and participants will be invited to help solve them.
More information can be found on the website at www.famuenergywaterfoodnexus.org. Students can register for free with the code “SGG” on the website, and will need to show their school idea to gain access to the Summit. General passes are $150 and the exhibitor pass is $250.