Water as a natural element, food and resource
The field seminar “Water: Given and Gift” was all about inspiring the PhD students of the International Doctorate Program (IDP) "Rethinking Environment" to think about water in a comprehensive sense. The first step was an online panel discussion titled "Who owns the water?" PhD students were present while experts, including IDP members PD Dr. Jens Soentgen and Prof. Dr. Kerstin Schlögl-Flierl, discussed issues related to water as a resource, ranging from usage claims to environmentally friendly management. The actual field seminar consisted of a first, theoretical part, in which participants discussed a text from Astrida Neimanis' book Bodies of Water. The event took place at WZU under the direction of Jens Soentgen and IDP PhD student Anne-Sophie Balzer. In the second, practical part, Norbert Pantel from the “Landschaftspflegeverband” guided a tour of the city forest. The focus here was on the historical importance of water for the city of Augsburg. Moving along the many streams, Pantel led the participants through the Siebentischwald forest to the old town and explained the origins of Augsburg's special water ecology, whose history goes back far into the Middle Ages.
Another session was led by PD Dr. Simon Meissner (WZU), who, in his capacity as a certified water sommelier, conducted a water tasting. The session focused on different compositions and tastes of mineral water. In a blind tasting, the participants noted the taste and consistency of a selection of table and medicinal waters and tap water from Augsburg. Surprisingly, the latter was the winner for a majority of the participants; expensive medicinal and spring waters came in last. On the same day, participants visited the river Lech works in Gersthofen. Engineer and asset manager Ralph Klocke gave a guided tour on power generation, renaturation, and species protection on and around the river Lech.
Finally, the participants were invited to a lecture held by PD Dr. Jens Soentgen. It took place as part of the theme day "Water & Sound" during the "Festival of Cultures".
Text: Felix Burzler, IDP "Rethinking Environment"