Water Project- Colab
Water- a life source of our Living Planet.
As we Humans evolved, so did our relation with Water, affecting the many aspects of our lives. Is it possible to interconnect all fields of life with a common string (stream) of Water and explore Well-being for All.
Join us to Inquire, Co-create, Collaborate.
Write to us here to get involved
The Collab work will revolve around Water project and C Designing Inquiry. It is an experimental approach to interweave interdisciplinary, intercultural, intergenerational references. We are grateful to all volunteers, partners and participants thus far for enriching our projects.
We will be open for new collaborations starting Earthday 2025. Stay tuned.
Info and Events of Spring- Summer 2025 will be updated in brown boxes below.
Pictures below are a tribute to the local Waters by our friends. Find more content shared by our members below.
Weaver Park, Urbana.- Willow Cattails, pondweed. Photo by Julie Nieset
Pond- Allerton Park. Photo by Śuci
Water grasses at Champaign Park Photo by Kd VM
As part of the Earthday 2025 celebrations, SECS- Students for Environmental Concerns is organizing Sustainapalooza event on 12 April. More details on the flier We are thankful to SECS for including us in their celebrations.
Visit the grand event at the main Quad UIUC and be part of the celebrations in numerous ways.
Enjoy the beauty of spring at Busey woods, Urbana. Join the hike lead by wetland scientist, Julie Nieset
Event is free but registration is required. Link below.
The Spring Wetland Ecology hike is Apr 12, 2025, from 10-11:30 a.m. https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/urbanaparks/activity/search/detail/14233?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true
We are grateful to senior Professors of our campus for sharing their research and work stories. Some creative tributes to their works can be found at AACC’s Art exhibit on Waters open through 9 May 2025.
Photosynthesis- Flora-Fauna-Funga
We are thankful to Professor Emeritus Govindjee and Photo-biology Scientist Rajni V Govindjee for sharing their research stories on Photosynthesis. An ongoing collaborative work on FFF will be inspired by talks on Photosynthesis.
More info to come on Earthday 2025. Stay tuned.
Storytelling- a part of holistic development
We are grateful to Dr Tam Wei for sharing her book ‘Legends and Folklores of Vietnam’ and throwing light on the power of Storytelling. Dr Wei’s work on Educational Psychology will be part of our C. Designing Inquiry.
More info and links to come soon.
‘Waters of Asia’
Boneyard Arts Festival: AACC Opening Reception 4/4
The Asian American Cultural Center is excited to host the Opening Reception for the Boneyard Arts Festival on April 4th from 3-5PM at 1210 W Nevada St.
Water – a life source of this planet – supports not only biological life but also affects the socio-cultural ethos of civilizations that evolved around water bodies. Cultures have therefore revered water through their rituals, folklores, and celebrations around waters of their lands. Boneyard Arts Festival is delighted to have a glance at the cultural aspects of Asian waters through this art exhibit – Waters of Asia.
We are Thankful to Ms. Amy Breslin from AACC- Asian American Cultural Center for hosting the collaborative Watercolor workshops. Some snapshots below. Selective artworks from these events will be part of their art exhibit, ‘Waters of Asia’ in April 2025.
Flora-Fauna-Funga
Work is in progress around themes of Flora-Fauna-Funga.
Creative works will be based on SECS Leaf display, Phil Nyman’s Book talks, pictures from Julie Nieset and will be Inspired by talks on Photosynthesis
Below are some pictures around the theme.
SECS leaf display at Franklin STEAM academy
Origami Fish made with up cycled fliers during Art playdates
Mushrooms at Aleerton park. Photo by Suci
Book talks by Phil Nyman
We started the year with some creative activities. Some snap shots below.
January, February Art playdates included sketching memories of Waters and Creative Recycling. Thanks to all the Parents for their involvement and cooperation.
Pictures below are some past contributions on the Water project by our members
List of Water related books shared by Phil Nyman. We plan to have discussions around the books in our Summer virtual meet.
*Water Always Wins - Gies
*Hothouse Earth - McGuire
*Beaverland - Philip
*Brave the Wild River - Sevigny
*Water: A Biography - Boccaletti
*Water - Solomon
*Bad Water - Stolz
*How to Read Water - Gooley
*Properties of Thirst - Wiggins
From Julie Nieset’s desk:
Wetlands provide important functions like flood control, water filtration, habitat for plants and wildlife as well as beauty and a calm place for humans to be in. The wetland and prairie at Weaver Park are valued in our community for all of these reasons and also serves to provide place-based STEAM learning to local schools.
Dr Sowmya Anand co-led Language and Water workshop for AACC Leadership event
Phil Nyman shares his books on Waters and related topics during zoom meets
Julie Nieset, Wetland scientist, led an educational activity at Weaver park
Naza Agassi composed a dance on Water themes
Kuldeepa VM lead a watercolor workshop for AACC wellness event
What are we doing NOW to improve our relationship with Water? Some snapshots of past events directly, indirectly related to Water’s health
School students taking.a hike at Weaver park as part of collaborative activities on Wetlands
Water display at Urbana park district Earthday
Creative entries around Waters displayed for Warthday event Urbana Park District.
Garden club volunteers clean the pollinator patch at FSA
Exhibit at the PACA as part of past projects to celebrated America recycles day- Repurposing
This is not our collaboration but were allowed to use the graphic to share about Robotics challenges around Water themes- 'Submerged' for 2024-25 academic year