Raising awareness through interactive learning about water footprint and virtual water trade
Published on by Markus Pahlow, University of Canterbury - Senior Lecturer
Learning by doing, even better by playing, about water footprint and virtual water trade can be facilitated through a role play on globalization of water management (developed by University of Twente, The Netherlands; more information can be found here: http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/RolePlay) For a great many of people it may be easier (and more fun) to grasp the concept of virtual water and the related issues through such an interactive learning expierience. In my view it may be used, if suitable, during workshops, trainings (e.g. it is part of the water footprint standard training course that is offered by the Water Footprint Network), teaching, etc.. Through active participation and interaction by participants of the role play the impact of globalization on water management can be experienced. A great many of issues related to virtual water become clearer by playing the role play: - the global dimension of water management, through trading of water-intensive products, including trans-border externalities - the concept of comparative advantage applied to water - national water self-sufficiency vs water-dependeny - conflict "water for nature" vs "water for economy" - different water intensities of various commodities - the difference between green and blue water We put ourselves in the shoes of the head of state, the minister of environment or the minister of trade & foreign affairs and get a hands on experience regarding the above mentioned topics. I believe that such a role play may aid in learning more about wise water use and trade.
4 Answers
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Markus Pahlow hi, I was planning an event for children and I was trying to find Dr Hoekstra's game. Unfortunately he has passed away. Do you know how I else I can receive the game?
1 Comment
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Contact his team at the university of Twente or the foundation https://www.waterfootprint.org/
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Game theory within watersheds does not apply water valuation to regional and international trade markets.
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For those who are interested in the topic: please also take a look at the publication "Computer-supported games and role plays in teaching water management" by A.Y. Hoekstra in HESSD (http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci-discuss.net/9/1859/2012/hessd-9-1859-2012-print.pdf). There two examples of games/role plays are discussed: - the River Basin Game: a common-pool resource game in which participants experience the risk of over-abstractions of water in a river basin and learn how this risk relates to the complexity of the system, the conflict between individual and group optimum and the difficulty to come to good cooperation available at http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/Riverbasingame - the Globalization of Water Role Play, which I mentioned in my previous blog entry: makes participants familiar with the global dimension of water management by letting them experience how national governments can integrate considerations of water scarcity and domestic water productivities into decisions on international trade in commodities like food, cotton and bio-energy. available at http://www.waterfootprint.org/?page=files/RolePlay Maybe this is of interest to you for your own teaching purposes, seminars, etc..
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@ Markus It may be interesting for you to contact Alan Hinchman at GE Intelligent Platforms. They have developed a Water game together with the University of Virginia. But at the moment I do not think that they include water footprint concepts. Alan is a Network member. Let me know if you need help connecting with him.