What are the solutions for various water issues? This is the focus of our purpose: bridging the gap between water science and water policy through film and dialogue. Since 2009, Let’s Talk About Water (LTAW) has effectively used film to connect students, scientists, policymakers, and communities, addressing critical water issues. Let’s Talk About Water’s impact extends beyond film, serving as a program which hosts scientists panels, communication grants, and generally engages conversations about far-reaching water issues.
Our global efforts have included partnerships with the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI), UNESCO-IHE – Institute for Water Education and TU Delft in The Netherlands, the Global Institute for Water Security (GIWS) at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, the Water and Sanitation Agency of Brazil (ANA), Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris and UCLG-Africa in Morocco. Recently we have established a new partnership with the Global Network of Water Museums, greatly expanding our constellation of film viewing venues around the world.
Our Goals
- To bring clarity and understanding to the water crisis and its solutions.
- To facilitate conversation between experts and students and provide a forum for debate around water science and policy.
- To promote water and earth science education.
- To engage general citizenry in public policy and water solutions.
Aiming to address our current needs using film, we have held the Water Film Prize, a competition for short films about water and science, which focuses on specific water issues in different continents: from floods and drought in Latin America, to desertification in Arid Lands and water pollution, conservation and management. We also address subjects such as access to water, irrigation, impacts of global warming, policy challenges and more.
The Water Film Prize aims at:
- Promoting water science education using the power of film.
- Encouraging storytellers and water experts to join hands and co-create concise, creative, and informative short films.
- Producing content that can reach a wider audience, specifically used to encourage greater participation in water-related issues and solutions.
In another initiative we have created Mayors Make Movies (MMM) where we connect politicians and scientists. We believe an informed political leader can make better decisions when they are science based. Films on our Mayors Make Movies website deal primarily with this relationship between students, scientists, policymakers and political decision-makers.
We welcome your comments and participation!
