The International Association for Sediment Water Science (IASWS) seeks to promote, encourage and recognize excellence in scientific research related to sediments and their interactions with water and biota in fluvial, lacustrine and marine systems and with particular reference to problems of environmental concern.

The association also brings together and fosters collaborative research and dialogue between earth scientists, biologists, chemists and environmental engineers whose interests pertain to sediment-water interactions in all aquatic systems.

A major feature on the IASWS calendar is the tri-annual International Symposium On The Interactions Between Sediments and Water, with the next symposium to be held in 2014 at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.