Art/Science collaborations for transformative change in the water sector

“In connection with the global sustainability crisis, the (drinking) water sector is at a critical juncture, facing urgent challenges such as water scarcity, pollution, and the need to comply with stricter environmental legislation. Despite significant efforts, traditional approaches are not sufficient to effectively solve these problems. A growing consensus within the scientific community holds that transformative change is necessary — extending beyond gradual adjustments and often requiring a radical restructuring of systems, institutions, and behaviors. An immediate need exists for transformative and innovative methods that can break through existing barriers and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable water system. Disciplinary boundaries and paradigms, biases and world views must be transcended, as they limit the way actors understand and perceive problems.

To better understand their potential, we explored how art/science collaborations may foster transformative learning which is essential for transformative change. For this purpose, we performed a literature study and held a series of expert interviews, addressing the sociological context and the historical interrelationship between the fields of art and science, and their respective (perceived) roles in society.

The historical analysis results showed how the practice and public reception of (Western) art have changed throughout the centuries. From the 19th century onwards, the arts and sciences separated into progressively autonomous fields. In the 21st century a shift is identified: the autonomous stance of science appears to have passed its peak, and the arts are once again becoming more involved in societal and social processes of change — fueling a rapprochement between art and science.”

(Citation: van Summeren, J., Barendse, K., van Aagten, E., and Hori, M.: Art/Science collaborations for transformative change in the water sector, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7386, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7386, 2026)