Letter to members during COVID-19 Pandemic.pdf

To: Members of WASER

April 22, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented challenge to the entire human race. The World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion Research (WASER) is an independent international organization that is non-profit, non-political, non-governmental, and free of any racial, ethnic or gender prejudices. WASER fully supports WHO’s commitment to public health, science, and to serving all the people of the world without fear or favour. Working together in solidarity without any discrimination based on race, nationality or ideology is the only way to win this fight against the coronavirus. As the president of WASER, I invite you to join our voices to combat against all forms of rumor, discrimination, and xenophobia related to the pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic is inflicting enormous disturbances on all aspects of our lives. On behalf of the Association’s Officers and Council, I wish you and your loved ones good health and I hope you stay safe and protected. The Association will continue our services to the members through email, newsletters, and the WASER website (http://www.waser.cn/). I am pleased to inform you that the organization of the 15th International Symposium on River Sedimentation (15th ISRS) to be held in Florence in 2022 is being carried out as planned, and three issues of the International Journal of Sediment Research have been published despite the pandemic.

At this critical time, I call on all members to follow the guidelines and advices given by the WHO on how to control the COVID-19 pandemic, to support the measures to contain the virus put forward by the country you are staying in, and to provide all possible help and support to your country and the world in our fight against the coronavirus.

I hope everyone is doing well, and I hope everyone is doing what is needed to keep yourself and your family safe!

Sincerely yours,

Zhaoyin Wang

President of WASER