Museum and Water Education: Issues, Perspectives and Way Forward

Abstract

The knowledge about issues and challenges of water resources sustainability is of prime importance as it contributes to our survival and welfare. There are limitations and challenges to monitor access and manage water resources across the globe. Surface water is susceptible to bacteriological contaminations, whereas groundwater is a hidden and finite resource that poses multiple problems for sustainable development. This article justifies these arguments of the present practice of water extractions, limitations, and scope of conservation through mass sensitizations and community participation approach towards the goal of water sustainability. The involvement of museums would be a new paradigm to spread mass awareness about water education to large numbers of audiences. The large numbers of people visiting museums belong to the different sections, age groups, and education levels of our society. The establishment of a museum exclusively displaying waterrelated issues would help to make aware to the public aware of the gravity of water challenges and sustainability issues that our earth is likely to confront shortly. Water is an integral part of the environment, which is undergoing innumerable changes in different spaces and times. Water resources are depleting to an alarming extent, which need to be restored and managed to maintain their pristine states in the facade of rising exploitation pressures for various needs of humans. Mass water education, awareness, and public interaction programmes in combination with water policies, laws, and community participation would be the key to safeguarding our future generations from water scarcity disasters. To make everyone part of the water conservation and decision-making process on the local scale, water education is mandatory and museums would play a vital role in the water campaign.