About the project
Background
Climate change poses critical global challenges to water, and energy, as well as ecosystem processes at regional scale. Knowledge gaps related to practices that interlink major climate change drivers of water and energy resources with water-energy nexus and associated ecosystem processes need to be identified to prepare for future demands.
WatNex initiative is proposed by Croatian and Norwegian members of the European Junior Water Programme (EJWP), a programme that connects young European water professionals with skills to address emerging water and climate challenges.
Watnex is an initiative of the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science (PMF) and Norwegian University of Life Sciences. It is promoting young Croatian and Norwegian female scientists, Mirela Sertic Peric and Vesna Gulin Beljak from the PMF, and Agnieszka Cuprys from the NMBU. who are experts in biodiversity and water quality within the framework of the planned WatNex activities.
The objectives of the initiative include:
- organization of a week-long networking events (one in Croatia, one in Norway) and visits by Croatian and Norwegian members of the initiative to one or two networking events in other countries,
- knowledge transfer, experience sharing, personal development training, networking,
- planning and conducting three short (two-three months) case studies related to the Nexus topics.
Case studies
Croatian Case Study
Increasing the visibility and sustainability of the Ecological Station Vrlika
- - Exploration on how to make the current Ecological Station Vrlika, Croatia self-sustainable, taking into account the potential and characteristics of the local community (how to integrate the local community in the design of a sustainable ecological station and how to achieve mutual benefits for the sustainability of the station and co-creation with the local community);
- - Development of a pitch including a business plan/model (e.g., for a 5-year period) that demonstrates how the ideas to increase the visibility and sustainability of the Ecological Station Vrlika (including the ideas from the WatNex initiative) can be implemented and become a commercially viable and sustainable project for the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology.
Visit in Krka National Park, Croatia Norwegian Case Study
Micropollution in water: research showcase
Micropollutants (emerging contaminants) are a growing concern for different water sources around the world. Their low concentration is not toxic, but their long-term effects are unclear. Current water treatment plants can't completely remove micropollutants, so they accumulate in water and may increase the risks to plants, animals or humans.
The assignment of Norwegian study case was to create an inspiring science communication activity for raising awareness for micropollution presence in water. The targeted audience is the general public, especially school students. The participants of the initiative developed a board game Pharmabusters, which presents the journey of medicines through different (eco)systems. It was developed by Mirela Sertić Perić (University of Zagreb), Vesna Gulin (University of Zagreb), Hetty KleinJan (CEBEDEAU), Thibault Moreels (De Watergroep) and Agnieszka Cuprys (NMBU). The game is available below.
The participants have an opportunity to learn about:
- sources of pharmaceutical pollution in the environment (households, hospitals, farms, industry),
- how pollutants may behave during water treatment and environment,
- how the pollution may affect the environment (antimicrobial resistance, accumulation in water and soil, toxic effects on living organisms).
Belgian Case Study
Assement of market potential and applications for novel and innovative aquatic biodiversity sensing tools
Water and biodiversity are intimately related. Water and biodiversity are intimately related. Sufficient water quantity and quality are necessary to preserve the integrity of aquatic ecosystems. There is a paradigm shift occurring in the industrial and societal spheres due to the increased awareness of climate change and the spotlighting of (chemical) firms by the public and media. By all means, this change in how the public, businesses/banks, and government view their environmental responsibilities sets the framework for the current project and opens the door to innovation towards novel biodiversity impact assessment methods, that can track the efficacy of environmental protection measures. Successful and viable diagnostic and monitoring methods are qualified amongst others by their cost-effectiveness, accuracy, promptness, sensitivity, and precision.
As part of a recently acquired research project, AquaBioSens, the CEBEDEAU wished to investigate the market potential for novel & innovative biodiversity sensor technologies, including those based on molecular biology.
This case study ideally included:
- an exploration of the relevant regulatory framework(s),
- identification of impact studies,
- investigation of the current (scientific) state of art, in order to identify those applications that are viable and attainable within the scope of the research project (short term / 3 years) as well as applications with potential on the long term (5-10 y), focusing on EU-wide opportunities.
Field trip to the Blanc Gravier stream, Liège - - Exploration on how to make the current Ecological Station Vrlika, Croatia self-sustainable, taking into account the potential and characteristics of the local community (how to integrate the local community in the design of a sustainable ecological station and how to achieve mutual benefits for the sustainability of the station and co-creation with the local community);
Board game: Pharmabusters
Pharmabusters adapted a popular Game of the Goose. The format represents a journey of pharmaceuticals with several milestone events. These events can be positive or negative. The outcome of the game is based on pure luck.
By playing the game, the participants have an opportunity to learn about:
- sources of pharmaceutical pollution in the environment (households, hospitals, farms, industry),
- how pollutants may behave during water treatment and environment,
- how the pollution may affect the environment (antimicrobial resistance, accumulation in water and soil, toxic effects on living organisms).
What you need?
4 pawns, dice, special cards (see below), board (see below)Number of players
2-4Age of players
10+Playing time
20-30 minGameplay – Rules of the Game
Setup
The game can be played with up to 4 players. Each player receives a pawn, representing one of the 4 sources of contamination: household, industry, agriculture, hospitals.
The game master holds 28 action cards (7 per source) for special events. The cards are available for download (see below).
Every player puts their pawn on START. The youngest player can start.
Typical turn
The player rolls the dice(s). The player moves his/her pawn accordingly. The pawn can end up on three different types of fields:
- Normal field: the field is not coloured. Nothing happens. This is the end of your turn.
- Action card: the field is coloured. Fields 6, 19, 31, 42, 52 and 58 are special fields. Read the corresponding action card. Follow the step(s) on the action card. Your turn is over.
- H2O field: the field is coloured. These are multiples of 9: 9, 18, 27, 36, 45, 54. You can continue with the same amount of steps. (e.g. Player A throws 4 and ends up on field 18. Player A can move again 4 steps and finish his/her turn on field 22).
Special fields are:
number meaning 6 Continue straight to 12 19 Skip one turn 31 The player needs to roll the dice to get 1 or 6 to leave the pit. 42 Back to 37 52 Skip three turns 58 Back to start as a different pollution source 63 First player to arrive here wins Every ninth field has a goose (fields 9,18,27,…). The player that ends his/her turn on a field with a goose has to continue with the same amount of steps. Example: Player A rolls 4. Player A ends on field 18. Field 18 has a goose, so player A takes another 4 steps and ends up at field 22.
Optional: the player needs to end up exactly at number 63. If the player throws more, the player needs to take steps backwards.
End of the game
The game ends when the first player reaches field number 63.
Board and special cards
Below there are special cards in different languages (English, Norwegian, Croatian, French), which are action cards used in the game. They should be printed before starting the game along with the board.
Do you want to translate the cards to your own language? Write to Agnieszka Cuprys.
Project participants (NMBU)