This year’s Studium Generale focuses on the theme of ‘water’. The second event in this open, free lecture series is devoted to the topic ‘Sustainable Water Management: High Technology Meets Social Innovation’. It will take place on 23 October 2018 at 7.00 pm in the Lecture Theatre Centre, Lecture Theatre 1 (KLE 01 EG 005) on the Kleve campus (navigation address: Wiesenstraße 35).
Water has always been at the heart of our lives. That is why every civilisation has had its own ways of managing water and tackling shortages through a wide variety of technologies. Archaeological finds show that even in ancient Rome and India, water management was central to the development of urban and agricultural areas. The construction of irrigation and sanitation systems was regarded as a combination of science and art.
Today, the challenges posed by water management are more demanding, yet at the same time closely interlinked, as water remains just as vital a resource as it was back then. There are two main reasons for this:
Modern technologies for the treatment and management of water open up a multitude of new possibilities. Whilst there are various solutions to combat water scarcity or flooding, the highest expectations are placed on the water cycle. This involves the collection, treatment and recycling of wastewater and marks a turning point in the history of water management.
Furthermore, the social context plays a decisive role, as societal demands are a driving force behind the development of new technologies. Different civilisations and regions require different approaches to similar problems in the field of water management. This makes the project unique in its conception and implementation, a uniqueness further enhanced by the involvement of various stakeholders. This process leads to social innovation, driven by differing expectations and requirements for water management technologies.
In this talk, Prof. Alexander Gerber will discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in implementing the ‘ultimate water cycle’ in Spain, Israel and Italy. As a representative of Project Ô (European Commission, Horizon 2020), Prof. Gerber will demonstrate how the key to the successful introduction of innovative water management technologies lies not only in technical implementation but also in social innovation. The inclusion of various stakeholders in the decision-making process is essential here and requires the planning of events and meetings to reconcile technical and social aspirations with the current concept of responsible research and innovation.
Tina von Gimborn-Abbing, Director of the Museum of Coffee Technology in Emmerich, will speak about a project in Tanzania which aims to meet the water-related needs of coffee producers and local communities. She will present an example of corporate and social responsibility, in which what was once a problematic use of water for coffee production has been transformed into a responsible business through collaboration and cooperation with local partners in Tanzania.
