SweetWater: Worried Wings, Biodiversity and You

Our dynamic event begins with small introductions by three speakers, on the monitoring, urbanization andcommunication challenges that face water quality analysis and climate change. Afterwards we will have a unique and entertaining method of discussion called: The fishbowl method. This is an informative, interactive and dynamic way tofind friends who wish to be locally engaged in the cleaning of fresh water. Meanwhile, Berlin tap water is presented on the bar -with various filtered samples to taste and discuss the difference.

In relation to the monitoring water biodiversity, a citizen science network of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring has now been scaled up to a global level (DIENER). This collaboration with people can create a biodiversity data layer for the world! Artistic interpretations like the sonification of this data, can help people emotionally connect to eDNA evidence. Right now, we face a series of urbanization issues that challenge us to be creative about the improvement of this environment and thus human health. By interacting with architects, policy makers, environmentalists and designers, we can try to improve healthy waters in urban areas like Berlin and its surroundings (GROSSART). Communication is also a challenge! What kinds of art and environmental science collaborations foster more post reflective and lateral ways of thinking and produce unusual interpretations of scientific results about biodiversity data for the public? (SCOTT-Worried Wings).

Today, freshwater needs transdisciplinary teams to focus on its biodiversity and its restoration. Pollution and nanomaterials endanger its species, glacial melt degrades its nutrients, and its species are becoming extinct. Let’s discuss how these collaborative actors might transform the ecology and stop the biodiverse system leaking resources beyond its own boundaries to contaminate our drinking water.