AquaWatch abroad

This quarter has been important for our global collaborations, with the AquaWatch team engaging across the Americas, Europe and Asia.

AquaWatch Lead, Dr Alex Held and International Engagement Lead, Flora Kerblat, met with NASA, World Bank and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in the US to discuss opportunities for potential collaboration. With a growing emphasis on water quality in the Americas, there was significant interest in how AquaWatch could support impact goals.

The Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) convened in Montreal, endorsing CSIRO as the 2026 Chair, meaning Australia will host the plenary in Hobart that year.

In Colombia, Alex joined the Australian delegation to the Convention of Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties (COP 16). The event highlighted opportunities for DataCube and AquaWatch-related projects to help inform the prevention of biodiversity loss for aquatic ecosystems.

The team also visited Southeast Asia to discuss opportunities to tackle water quality and environmental challenges alongside key partners in Malaysia and Brunei. In Malaysia, the team connected with the National Hydraulic Research Institute (NAHRIM), who share our interests in pollution forecasting powered by AI, real-time water quality monitoring and coastal engineering. With NAHRIM’s network of monitoring sites and keen focus on sensor innovation, we can explore opportunities like designing custom sensors and developing long-term water quality frameworks to guide sustainable policies, especially in the Blue Economy space.

Brunei’s Institute for Biodiversity and Environmental Research (IBER) and Dynamik Technologies spoke to us about exploring AquaWatch’s potential in aquaculture monitoring and data sovereignty solutions. Over in Sarawak, the unique challenges of peat-influenced rivers and hydropower impacts have sparked conversations about creating tailored water quality indices and AI-powered sedimentation forecasting.

With opportunities for regional funding and plans for workshops and training, AquaWatch is poised to strengthen partnerships and support sustainable innovation across the South Pacific.

In Europe, the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) in Milan brought together over 11,200 delegates from 120+ countries. Team Australia was out in full force, promoting the next IAC in Sydney and showcasing the country’s space expertise, with CSIRO playing a pivotal role.

CSIRO’s delegation included AquaWatch team members, giving us the change to connect in-person with key international stakeholders. We were able to advance the AquaWatch Regional ASEAN Alliance (AQWRAA) concept and strengthen ties with NASA, the UK Space Agency and RAL Space. The trip wrapped up with productive workshops in the UK, focused on the technical and strategic goals for AquaWatch AUK.