This September, Fabien Cousteau will speak at the third annual IF Water Conference about his groundbreaking underwater exploration, Mission 31. Cousteau, who is continuing the research of his famed grandfather Jacques-Yves Cousteau, is an oceanographic explorer, conservationist and documentary filmmaker. In 1963, Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his team spent 30 days under the Red Sea an underwater living experiment. Fabien announced in 2013, the 50th anniversary of his grandfather's expedition, that he would also live underwater to research and to honor his grandfather. The younger Cousteau and his team lived on the base for 31 days, hence the title of his project.
Fabien Cousteau
The IF Water Conference may highlight some of the world's water-related problems, but it completely submerges attendees in the mind-bending discussions and creative thinking that could solve these problems. Cousteau will speak about Mission 31 and the implications it may have, while the other speakers will tackle water shortages, waterborne illnesses, and the sometimes avoided but ever-important other side of water treatment -- "toileting practices."
In addition to Cousteau, speakers will include:
- Patricia Mulroy, Former general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority for more than 20 years.
- Rose George, freelance journalist and Author of The Big Necessity.
- Mark Hogg, Founder and CEO of WaterStep.
For more information on the speakers and the conference, go here.
The IF Water Conference is hosted by WaterStep in conjunction with IdeaFestival®. It will be held on Tuesday, September 30th at The Kentucky International Convention Center Room Cascade A, 221 S. Tickets are available online
for $65 and include lunch. Student tickets ($15) are only available by visiting or calling The Kentucky Center Box Office at (502) 584-7777. It is sponsored by the Louisville Water Company, Metropolitan Sewer District, 5 Cities Plus Conference, and PPG, with support from Ernst & Young and Ivy Tech Community College.
WaterStep is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organization based in Louisville, Kentucky. They work to provide safe, sustainable drinking water to in need communities. IdeaFestival is a celebration of creative thinkers and one-of-a-kind innovators who discuss the future of the arts, business, technology, design, science, philosophy and education. The conference is held every fall in Louisville.
