by Szu-Hsin Wu, Paul Coughlan
Dŵr Uisce is an interdisciplinary project which was preceded by the earlier Hydro BPT project. To date, Dŵr Uisce has implemented energy recovery solutions developed from conceptualisation and laboratory tests to full-scale installations at four demonstration sites: Blackstairs Group Water Scheme (Ireland), ABP Foods (Ireland), Tŷ Mawr Wybrnant (Wales) and Penrhyn Castle (Wales). Dŵr Uisce is also expanding the research scope in new directions such as hydropower in deep mines, environmental impact assessment and citizen science. The overarching goal is to achieve green innovation.
Dŵr Uisce is focused on green innovation and actively considers commercial potential and the environmental and ecological impact. Developing a viable and environmentally sustainable response to customers’ demands is a critical challenge. So, in designing the response it is necessary to accommodate the user expectations, climate trends and environmental regulations. Without understanding the perspectives of the various stakeholders, implementation of green innovation is difficult especially where it requires the support of industries, local communities and authorities. However, through our communications, knowledge exchanges and stakeholder engagements, we have heightened public awareness of water-related issues caused by climate change and engaged industries and local communities and authorities in collaboration.
The Dŵr Uisce researchers are disseminating our findings in three main formats: 1) publishing scientific studies; 2) organising workshops and demonstrating new technology; and 3) online and print media exposure. The researchers are presenting new findings at international conferences across Europe where stakeholders from academia and industry are engaging with the ideas. Both academics and practitioners participate in our annual conferences where conceptual knowledge and insights are translated and exchanged through face-to-face communication. Now, we are aiming to engage an even broader audience in discussion and collaboration on water-related issues. Further development of online platforms and social media provides us with enhanced opportunities to translate and communicate our research ideas into actionable knowledge for end-users, the wider public and the research community.
To engage with these wider audiences, we are translating our scientific findings into plain language, which is not always easy. Such translation needs to be based on an understanding of the audience background and expertise. Based on the understanding, we make conceptual knowledge accessible by writing in simple and engaging manner, describing the challenges and solutions in different ways, and using images and practical demonstrations. The result is that the audience develops a better understanding of the challenge, research response and the action possibilities. For example, in preparing our website updates, the Dŵr Uisce researchers invite lay audience representatives to read and comment before we publish online. The feedback and comments help the researchers to clarify and deliver a focused message. This acts as an internal peer-review process. We use images and other multimedia to create a closer connection between science and our audiences. On twitter, we share water distribution and energy recovery related information and build a more personal connection with our audience by using simple language and keeping them in the loop of every research step. The result is that the public is not only well informed by the latest updates but also appreciates the relevance of this green innovation initiative to daily life. Taking it further, the Dŵr Uisce project is giving back to the global community. The full-scale demonstration plant at Blackstairs Group Water Scheme was installed in February 2019 and the energy savings achieved are being donated to the water charity Wells for Life. Our hope is that, through translating and sharing our conceptual knowledge, it can continue to be transformed into actionable knowledge and maybe even behavioural changes: our innovative ideas can be seen, heard and even be acted upon.
To date, our research has been accepted for publications in high-quality journals. We have collaborated with over 70 organisations and companies on the efficiency of water consumption and energy recovery. We have more than six hundred twitter followers and many regular website visitors from around the world. However, communication, knowledge exchange and collaboration will continue as we work and research to achieve our goal. We are planning new workshops targeting school children, young researchers and practitioners in water-intensive sectors. In many ways, they are the future leaders who will continue to achieve green innovation. Dŵr Uisce has taken this green initiative as part of our responsibility to society as we turn it into a social innovation which co-creates value with and for the society.