Víctor Pochat, representative of AIDIS Argentina before joining ArgCap-Net was the first to receive the “Agua 2018” prize for his contribution towards the protection of the Earth. The ceremony was held on the 22nd of June 2018, headed by Prince Albert II of Monaco.
This award is given every year since 2008 by the Prince Albert II Foundation of Monaco, in recognition of personalities and international organisations highlighted by their exemplary actions in favor of the environment and the preservation of the planet, in each of the three fields of action priority of this foundation: the fight against the effects of climate change, the preservation of biodiversity and access to water and the fight against desertification.
Since its inception, the prize was awarded to Sunita Narain, India (2008); Pan Yue, China (2009); Malin Falkenmark, Sweden (2010); Andras Szollosi-Nagy, Hungary (2011); SIWI, Sweden (2012); John Anthony Allan, United Kingdom (2013); Ma Jun, China (2014); Loic Fauchon, France (2015); Deshigen Naidoo, South Africa (2016); Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki, Nigeria (2017).
About Víctor Pochat
Víctor Pochat is a 76 years old civil engineer, graduated from the National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo) and Master of Science in Engineering, from the University of California.
In the university, he has been a Full Professor of ‘Planning of Water Resource’ of the Water Resources Engineering course of the FICH. He taught as a professor in postgraduate courses in Argentina, Bolivia, Spain and the United States of America, and has shared his experience in various publications and in numerous national and international forums.
Currently, he is a Professor in the field of Masters in Integrated Management of Water Resources (National Universities of Córdoba, Cuyo and del Litoral) and in Metropolitan Environmental Management (University of Buenos Aires).
He is a Member of the Argentine Academy of Environmental Sciences, President of the Argentine Institute of Water Resources (IARH), Vice President of the Argentine Association of Sanitary Engineering and Environmental Sciences (AIDIS Argentina) and Member of the Committee of Environmental Studies and Human Development of the Argentine Council for International Relations and the National Committee of the Geodetic Union and International Geophysics.
As a consultant in ‘Planning and Management of Water Resources’, he was responsible, among other activities, for the coordination of the Implementation Desk “Water Resources”, corresponding to “Argentina 2020: National Science, Technology and Innovation Plan” and the elaboration of the “Water Forecast” and the “Strategic Plan 2010-2014” for the National Water Institute (INA), together with Dr. Alfredo Pérez Alfaro.
At an international level, he has done work for several agencies and programs of the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Development Banks (IDB) and Development of Latin America (CAF).
He has been the President of the Intergovernmental Council of the International Hydrological Program of UNESCO, Coordinator of this Program for Latin America and the Caribbean and Member of the Steering Committee of the Global Water Partnership (GWP).
In Argentina, he held various positions in water institutions, among which is the Undersecretary and National Director of Water Resources, President of the National Institute of Water Science and Technology and Chairman of the Board of Hidroeléctrica Norpatagónica SA. ')}
