High in the Himalayas the waters of Asia’s eight largest rivers intersect. The rivers of the Asian Highlands are central to the world’s weather systems and activities in their water catchments have shaped the human past and will shape the future. These rivers support more than three billion people and provide water for 85% of Asia’s populations, and what happens to Asian highland rivers is of global significance.

Today human activities are contributing to rising temperatures, which leads to glacial shrinkage and uncertain river flows. Highland rivers are suffering from multiple crises, including inept management, negative effects from poorly planned damming, and declining fish stocks, along with decreased biodiversity.

This event explores the rivers of this critically important region and the iconological crisis that they face.

The launch of Rivers of the Asian Highlands From Deep Time to the Climate Crisis by Ruth Gamble, Gillian G. Tan, Hongzhang Xu, Sara Beavis, Petra Maurer, Jamie Pittock, John Powers, Robert J. Wasson, published by Routledge.

Speakers: Professor Emily T. Yeh (Geography, University of Colorado Boulder) Dipak Gyawali (Former Minister of Water Resources of Nepal) Dr Ruth Gamble (Deputy Director, La Trobe Asia) Ambika Vishwanath (Principal Research Fellow, La Trobe Asia) (Chair)

Recorded on 27th May, 2025.