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The researcher Sergi Sabater, professor at the University of Girona and member of the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA-CERCA) , leads one of the 11 projects selected within the framework of the BBVA Foundation’s Prismas y Problemas program . This call, which aims to respond to some of the most urgent social and environmental challenges of the moment, seeks to promote innovative and multidisciplinary projects with a practical approach. Dr. Sabater’s project aims to develop a decision-making support computer tool to more efficiently manage water resources in Spain, a resource increasingly threatened by demographic growth, economic activity and climate change. The initiative will analyze in detail the imbalances between water demand and availability in particularly vulnerable areas, such as the Tablas de Daimiel, the Ebro Delta, the Albufera de Valencia or Doñana, in order to generate predictive models that allow for the anticipation of future shortage scenarios.
A collaborative and multidisciplinary approach
The project is distinguished by its interdisciplinary methodology and the direct involvement of key actors in water management. Among these, regional water agencies, supply companies, municipalities and farmers from the studied areas will participate, thus ensuring that the results are realistic and adapted to local needs. In addition, the research will initially focus on three case studies: Barcelona and Girona, Santander and the Cantabrian coast, and the Albufera de Valencia. In these areas, the research team will evaluate how factors such as decreased rainfall, increased agricultural land or population growth can impact available water resources. The results will be used to develop an advanced computer system that will integrate this data to help make decisions in real time. “Water scarcity not only affects people, but also the ecosystems that depend on this basic resource. It is essential to find science-based solutions that balance human needs and environmental conservation,” explains Sergi Sabater.
A tool that can be exported to other regions
The final objective of the project is that this tool, once validated in the three initial cases, can be adapted to other regions of Spain and become a reference for the sustainable management of water resources in other territories. This vision expands the potential impact of the project and reinforces ICRA-CERCA’s commitment to applied research that provides solutions to the great challenges of the 21st century.
The Prismas y Problemas program promoted by the BBVA Foundation
The Prismas y Problemas program, promoted by the BBVA Foundation, is endowed with 1.9 million euros and aims to promote scientific knowledge that can translate into concrete benefits for society and the environment. In this edition, the 11 selected projects have been chosen from 285 applications by a committee of renowned experts. The projects address a wide variety of topics, from the conservation of critical ecosystems to the optimization of educational models or the fight against gender violence, always from a multidisciplinary perspective and with a strong component of practical applicability.
