futures❵RESEARCH
Water, water, everywhere, and not a drop to drink…
The demand on water supply is becoming an increasing issue – not only for the UK, with the expected summer hose-pipe bans, but around the world. Emma Champion looks at one research project focusing on developing and maintaining sustainable water technologies in India.
have found that scarce water resources have reached a critical level. Within these states, a traditional water control technology called Suranga has, in the past, appeared to be sustainable. This system uses a horizontal tunnel that is dug into the slope of a hill and uses gravity to extract and collect underground water. Now this system is rapidly being abandoned in favour of modern well systems. Dr Crook’s project is unique in that it aims to critically
compare the two competing technologies - one traditional (Suranga) and one contemporary (borewells) - in order to offer more sustainable futures for local farmers. Since little is known about the Suranga, any existing knowledge needs to be documented for future generations before it is lost and can never again be adapted for use.
In addition to this, the research site will be put I 16
futures_summer12.indd 17 f not for the innovative thinking of those
extraordinary individuals prepared to push the envelope of lateral thinking and take our way of life to entirely new realms, so much valuable knowledge would be lost in a fog of procrastination and complacency. It is largely thanks to research academics and scholars that tremendous theories and wonderful ideas are thoroughly explored and tested to expand our understanding of the world and
improve people’s lives. Dr Darren Crook is one such academic. A senior
lecturer in the Division of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire, Dr Crook has, in conjunction with Dr Richard Jones of the University of Exeter, been awarded the coveted Leverhulme Trust Research Grant (RPG-392) – a major achievement. Beginning in March 2012, this grant will fund an exciting project based in two Indian regions, looking at technology to support what is fast becoming the world’s most limited and valuable resource: water. In the face of huge environmental challenges, such as rising population, resource depletion and climate change, the Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala
forward as a regional example of the Indian subtropical environment in the recently launched FOCUS 4 regional integration initiative supported by the IGBP and Past Global Changes (PAGES). This means that the lessons learnt from this project may be applied elsewhere in the tropics and have even wider benefits and applications. Dr Crook summarised the importance of this research on individuals and the wider region, saying: “Knowledge transfer from this study will empower local farmers and water officials to make more informed decisions about promoting sustainable water management practices in this region, reducing vulnerability to periodic water shortage.” His team on the project will include research assistant, Sudhir Tripathi, a former University of Hertfordshire student; it was his experiences studying Surangas during his Environmental Management MSc that actually provided the inspiration for the project. Without research projects like this one, places like
Karnataka and Kerala would suffer demonstrably as water supplies slowly dwindled with devastating affect. The work of Dr Crook and the countless other remarkable researchers at the University of Hertfordshire is not only a reason to celebrate in terms of academic achievement, but also has potential for the betterment of people’s lives all over the world. f❵
14/04/2012 18:05
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