Javier Martín Vide opens a lecture series on the water science

Enric I. Canela. Photo: Roca.
Enric I. Canela. Photo: Roca.
Research
(02/04/2014)

Yesterday, Javier Martín-Vide, professor of Physical Geography at UB, pronounced the lecture that opened the lecture series of the science dissemination project La ciència de lʼaigua (The water science). In front of around one hundred people, Martín Vide, researcher at the Water Research Institute of UB, explained that the Earth is the only heavenly body in the solar system where water is abundant, as it is clearly observed from space. On his lecture, entitled “La Terra, una gota dʼaigua a lʼespai” (The Earth, a water drop in the space), the expert highlighted that water distribution in the Earth is very unequal, most of it comes from oceans (salty water), and fresh water is mostly found on Antarctic and Arctic ice. He also reviewed the main processes of the water cycle: evaporation, precipitation and runoff.

Enric I. Canela. Photo: Roca.
Enric I. Canela. Photo: Roca.
Research
02/04/2014

Yesterday, Javier Martín-Vide, professor of Physical Geography at UB, pronounced the lecture that opened the lecture series of the science dissemination project La ciència de lʼaigua (The water science). In front of around one hundred people, Martín Vide, researcher at the Water Research Institute of UB, explained that the Earth is the only heavenly body in the solar system where water is abundant, as it is clearly observed from space. On his lecture, entitled “La Terra, una gota dʼaigua a lʼespai” (The Earth, a water drop in the space), the expert highlighted that water distribution in the Earth is very unequal, most of it comes from oceans (salty water), and fresh water is mostly found on Antarctic and Arctic ice. He also reviewed the main processes of the water cycle: evaporation, precipitation and runoff.

The project La ciència de lʼaigua was presented yesterday at Roca Barcelona Gallery headquarters (211-213, Carrer Joan Güell, Barcelona). The event was chaired by Dr Enric Canela, vice-rector for Science Policy and director of the Doctoral School of the University of Barcelona, and Xavier Torres, Roca Brand and Communication director. Then, a guided tour of the exhibition “Water, the right to a decent life”, by the We Are Water Foundation, took place. The aim of the exhibition, opened until 19 April, is to make the entire society aware of the lack of water in the world and provide interesting data about the consumption of this resource.

The project La ciència de lʼaigua is co-organised by the Scientific Culture and Innovation Unit (UCC+I) of the University of Barcelona and Roca, within the programme of activities that La UB Divulga offers this year. The contributions of several experts of the University of Barcelona will make a transversal and multidisciplinary analysis of water from diverse subject areas: physical geography, ecology, microbiology, history, economics, law, chemical engineering and geochemistry.

Twelve lectures take place until 8 July. They will bring people closer to the concept of water from different perspectives: the unequal distribution of water in the Earth, the role of water in infectious diseases spread, waste water production and its reduction to the maximum, the estimation of the price of water, extreme weather phenomena, etc.

Lectures happen on Tuesday at 6 p.m., at Roca Barcelona Gallery headquarters. Sessions finish at 8 p.m. because a workshop is offered after each lecture.

Furthermore, the project includes other activities: a childrenʼs performance entitled Més enllà dels núvols that describes the water cycle and extreme weather phenomena, and two guided tours to visit Barcelonaʼs most emblematic places regarding water in order to understand how water was supplied and used in in the ancient city.

The project La ciència de lʼaigua is funded by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) - Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness. The Research Group on Freshwater Ecology and Management (FEM) of the Faculty of Biology and the Water Research Institute of UB gives advice to the project which is also supported by the We Are Water Foundation.

 

Activities are free and opened to the general public but registration is required.

 

The programme of activities included in the project is available on the website La ciència de l'aigua.