de.WRs_Initiative
Decentralized Water Rights
The initiative undertakes an in-depth exploration in, among other regions, Austria and Serbia, forging deep connections with local communities. This collaborative production of knowledge through citizen science serves as a bridge that connects lived experiences with the global water crisis.
Water is about health, sanitation, hygiene, and disease-prevention. Water is about peace, sustainable development, fighting poverty, supporting food systems, creating jobs, and ensuring prosperity. Water is about human rights and gender equality. That’s why water needs to be at the centre of the global political agenda.
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES
Secretary-General, United Nations (2023)
Featured
de.WRs citizen-science app CiSci wins 2023 Content Vienna Prize for its ‘transdisciplinary and inclusive approach to communicating a socio-politically relevant topic.’ Read the full Jury statement here.
Recent
SDG 6 Parliament
14 JUN 2023_Vienna
Film screening of Narrative Waters & research presentation on groundwater at the SDG6 event in the Austrian Parliament. ⇢
invited by UniNEtZ
Film Screening
15 MAY 2023_Waidhofen/Thaya
Film screening of Narrative Waters & classroom lesson on water and soil at local school in Waidhofen/Thaya. ⇢
invited by Deputy Mayor Martin Litschauer
Exhibition
20 JUN 2022_Vienna
First Exhibition Screening of the documentary film Narrative Waters. ⇢
Project
CiSci App
Under Development
A digital app that mobilizes citizen science, climate literacy, and democratic processes towards improving Austria’s groundwater and soil conditions.
Austria obtains impressive 100 % of its drinking water from groundwater and spring water. With climate change progressing, Austria’s soil and water quality is declining, resulting in precarity and water shortage for various communities in a country globally known for its water-richness.Already, many regions suffer from significant water stresses resulting in barriers in accessing quality drinking water, which will only increase do to climate change.CiSci aims to fill this gap of critical information and enables real people—teachers, scientists, students, representatives, residents, and volunteers—to take real action in creating measurable, meaningful change.Supported by:
‘Narrative Waters’
Documentary
Winner of Support Grant 2022, University of Applied Arts Vienna
'Narrative Waters' is a community-driven environmental documentary film and part of the Decentralized Water Rights (De.WRs) initiative. This thought-provoking documentary dives deep into water injustices such as pollution, scarcity and lack of infrastructure in Austria, shedding light on common struggles faced by local communities.In addition to screening the film at educational events, 'Narrative Waters' premiered online at LoPh's youtube channel.
