Water, Water Everywhere?, Ram Krishnan Visits PsTL 1906W
In adequate quantities, water sustains life; too much or too little, and it hastens death. For centuries, water played a vital role in religions and served as a divining rod for development of civilizations. Increasingly, water lies at the heart of geopolitical conflicts as the need for clean water surpasses the planet’s ability to replenish natural sources. Innovative solutions to water resource problems are in demand.
Water’s remarkable qualities, as well as the rise in related challenges, inspired Linda Buturian, Senior Teaching Specialist, to design curriculum around the resource from a multidisciplinary perspective. When she heard about a New Brighton resident who was devoting his retirement to helping rural villagers in India gain access to clean water, she sought him out. Buturian asked Ram Krishnan, a U of M graduate, to speak in her seminar about his work in rural India--combining the ancient method of rainwater harvesting with low-tech innovations.
Krishnan talking to students. (photo by Justin Evidon)
Krishnan taking questions from students. (photo by Justin Evidon)
Students in the current seminar had the opportunity to hear Ram Krishnan talk about his international work on sustainable water solutions. As founder of Akash Ganga, a non-profit organization in the Twin Cities, Ram works with rural villagers in India to help cultivate rainwater-harvesting methods. Ram began his presentation by playing a brief video he posted on You Tube which showed villagers creating collecting ponds, learning how to test water quality, and taking simple steps to clean their water. A picture gallery of a model rainwater harvesting community was also introduced. Casey Clayton, a student in the seminar, wrote this about Krishnan’s visit:
"A first hand account put into perspective how drastic the water situation is in rural India. I am thankful for the pictures that Ram was able to show us. Up until then, I had only read about and seen a few general pictures of water supplies in Asia. Knowing that he had been there made the situation seem so much more real. Something that stood out to me was how easily the issue of clean water can be remedied. Nature only brings enough water during the short rainy season. This excess of water just needed to be sequestered. With the help of Akash Ganga, the necessary leadership had arrived…"
Student listening to Krishnan. (photo by Justin Evidon)
Each semester students create digital stories about a community organization working to celebrate and sustain water. The Spring 2008 students produced digital stories on multiple topics from Saint Anthony Falls, Past and Present, to India's Water Crisis and Rainwater Harvesting. The course has a substantial impact on students as they learn that water is a limited resource.
Tom Raley, a freshman in the current seminar, wrote:
"Water is important everywhere. Human beings need it to live, making it physically important; spiritually, it can cleanse one of their sins; and it even has the power to evoke certain memories and emotions in people when they see it. Water permeates our entire lives and is involved in almost everything we do. Prior to this class, I had never thought about water as being all that important; but the more I learn about it, the more I am beginning to see it everywhere, in all aspects of my life."
Guest speakers like Krishnan model innovative responses by individuals and organizations to what seems like overwhelming challenges. Whether they are listening to a visual artist reveal how water inspires their art, or discovering how an environmental chemist assesses a water quality issue, the students are absorbing an integrated understanding of water. At the same time, the students are engaging with community members who are modeling transformative possibilities that can come from an education combined with a desire to make a positive difference.
PsTL 1906W Spring 2009 students. Photo taken by Linda Buturian.