Nearly 30% of the world's population do not have safe drinking water in their homes. More than twice that number lack adequate sanitation. As fresh water becomes increasingly scarce, it has become ever more necessary for consumption, farming, manufacturing, and global health. The increasing scarcity begs the question: should clean water be treated as a commodity? Or is access to clean water a human right? In this course, we will explore together the central role that water plays in culture and society: How do different people understand water? How has water been harnessed for the benefit of public health? How is it used to exert dominance over others? How do we protect our water sources? We will combine our individual and collective scientific, cultural, and humanistic knowledge to evaluate possible answers to these difficult questions and raise new ones.
- Teacher: Daniel Dries
JC_SEMESTER: 23 FA