Professor Patricia Wouters, Honorary Director of the Academy, Receives the Inaugural AIDA Global Water Law Excellence Award

I am deeply honoured and truly humbled to accept the inaugural AIDA Award of Excellence. I am particularly delighted to share this award with my good friend and professional colleague Salman, whose expertise and dedication to the field I greatly admire. I also want to thank the AIDA awards jury for deciding to present this as a joint award — that recognition means a great deal to me.

I must say how surprised and moved I was when I received the notification of this honour. I had actually nominated someone else for this award, so it was completely off my radar. The news came as a wonderful shock, and I remain deeply humbled.

I am especially grateful to Remy Kinna for putting my name forward — entirely unknown to me. Remy, your leadership in this field and the time you invested in this nomination touched me profoundly. Deepest heartfelt thanks to everyone who provided letters of support — Alistair Rieu-Clarke, Christina Leb, Dinara Ziganshina, and Yumiko Yasuda — your very kind words and belief in my work mean more than I can say.

The International Water Law Academy founded at Wuhan University, China continues to be a true source of inspiration. I thank Professor Kong Lingjie for his initiative in making this happen and for his ongoing personal and professional support.

The Academy and its founding Affiliates have contributed significantly to my global work in transboundary water law. Many of the Academy Affiliates are former students and good friends, and I commend them for their world-class expertise and continued commitment to making a positive difference in this area of international law.

My international water law career began in Scotland, and I thank the University of Dundee, and especially former Chancellor Sir Alan Langlands, for his solid support in helping to establish in Dundee the first UNESCO centre focusing on water law, policy and science — such an outstanding achievement. I cherish the memories of it all – my outstanding core team, the exceptional graduate students and all of the fantastic participants from around the world who came to Dundee for our wonderful water law conferences.

And who knew – that the road from Dundee would lead to China?!

Through the China Thousand Talents programme I am most grateful to Xiamen Law School, and in particular Professor Chen Huiping, my dear friend, for helping to establish the China International Water Law Research Institute, and, for hosting the first international water law conference in China, including an amazing cohort of graduate students in international water law at Xiamen.

So many happy memories of Dundee, Xiamen and Wuhan.

I would like to acknowledge my former student at Xiamen, Dr David Devlaeminck, who has succeeded me as director of the Academy. I am so very pleased that he has taken on this important role, and I know the Academy is in excellent hands.

I also want to thank my dear friend Professor Dan Tarlock for his ongoing collaboration and support; his counsel has been invaluable, and we go forward with more jointly authored scholarship — watch this space.

Finally, I owe my deepest thanks to my family. To my husband, Dr Sergei Vinogradov, who has always been my strongest supporter, both professionally and personally, and to our three children Darya, Alexander, and Nicolas, who have travelled with me and met so many wonderful people in the international water law community — your love and patience make everything possible.

A note of special thanks to the University of Oslo, the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), and the Norwegian Institute of Water Research (NIVA) for hosting this important event. I already look forward to the proceedings.

Thank you again to AIDA, to the jury, to my co-recipient Salman, to Remy and everyone who supported the nomination, and to all who have inspired and sustained my work. I am honoured beyond words.

In closing, could I please ask a wee favour? … that each of you go forward with renewed vigour and commitment to tackle the complex challenges now emerging in our field. Global, regional and local community-of-communities across transboundary water basins need your help. Dig deep and make your mark. I know that you can do it.

With deepest gratitude,
Patricia