The International Desalination Association (IDA) has added a fourth track to the technical program for its World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse in Perth, Australia, on 4-9 September 2011.

An extra pavilion has also been added to the two existing exhibition areas.

IDA announced on 3 May 2011 that both the technical program and the exhibition at Perth will be the most extensive in the 26-year history of the event. Themed Desalination: Sustainable Solutions for a Thirsty Planet, the congress will take place in the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The technical program will include an estimated 300 presentations, made orally or in poster format, offering approximately 30 sessions in four tracks. The poster presentations will be available on digital screens. The call for papers produced nearly 400 extended abstracts, the greatest number ever received for review.

With more than 4,900 m² of prime exhibition space, the exhibition has surpassed previous events and is a third large than the previous congress in Dubai. To date, 123 exhibition spaces have been sold to 90 companies.

Other congress highlights include:

  • Keynote remarks by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson delivered via satellite during the opening ceremony. A question and answer session will follow his remarks.
  • An Australian Cultural Night at the world-famous Perth Zoo. A ferry ride across the Swan River at dusk – followed by a short walk to the Zoo – heralds an evening of close-up viewing of Australian animals, a sampling of sumptuous Australian cuisine and West Australian wines, and entertainment by Australia’s first citizens and world-class Australian artists, sponsored by the National Centre of Excellence in Desalination.
  • Exclusive, behind-the-scenes plant tours to two of Australia’s most sophisticated desalination facilities. Three workshops will be held on the last day of the congress week.
  • The Australian Water Association is the Strategic Partner and Western Australia’s Water Corporation is principal sponsor for the 2011 congress.