Museums for the Past and Future Meaning of Water

Abstract

In recent decades, a technologically driven water management paradigm has fostered a model of “domination over nature” with an unsustainable footprint. This paradigm has also alienated people and communities from their environment and from historical practices and forms of knowledge that involve managing and engaging with water directly. There is a need for a paradigm shift in managing water in a way that reconnects individuals to aquatic environments and water-related heritage and reflects the extraordinary transformation in our understanding of the need for biological diversity to sustain human life. The Global Network of Water Museums aims to stimulate a change of mindset toward long-term visions of water governance and heritage by reshaping contemporary thinking through education. With more than 80 members in 33 countries, this growing network promotes a better understanding of water history to build a “new culture of water” and inspire people to adopt more forward-looking uses of modern technology applied to water governance.