Water is Life!

Science Outreach at the Redpath Museum

McGill University

©McGill University 2012

Introduction• Developed by Science Outreach at the Redpath

Museum, with feedback from the Sustainability Office

• 2-year project funded by the SPF• Goal of project is to educate McGill students, staff,

and faculty about local and global water issues, as well as what McGill is doing to reduce its water footprint

• Exhibit, website, online teaching resources, walking tour (podcast)

Illustration by Genevieve Young ©McGill University 2012

Project video

• David Loach, Amy Blaser, Jacky Farrell• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Dhnh_IJP

Qg&context=C319b359ADOEgsToPDskIRD99uwfLSJplrfTj3JbfM

©McGill University 2012

Panel topics (i)

– Panel 1: Water basics

– Panel 2: Global water issues

– Panel 3: Canadian usage and Montreal’s Water

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Panel topics (ii)

– Panel 4: Water at McGill

– Panel 5: Water-saving tips

– Panel 6: Interactive “It’s your turn” for viewers to give their own water-saving ideas

©McGill University 2012

Panel 1: Water basics (i)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 1: Water basics (ii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 1: Water basics (ii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 1: Water basics (iii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 2: Global water issues (i)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 2: Global water issues (ii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 2: Global water issues (iii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 2: Global water issues (iv)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 3: Canadian usage and Montreal’s Water (i)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 3: Canadian usage and Montreal’s Water (ii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 3: Canadian usage and Montreal’s Water (ii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 4: Water at McGill

©McGill University 2012

Panel 5: Water-saving tips (i)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 5: Water-saving tips (ii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 5: Water-saving tips (iii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 6: Interactive (i)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 6: Interactive (ii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 6: Interactive (iii)

©McGill University 2012

Panel 4: Water at McGill

©McGill University 2012

Water at McGill: usage

• Water usage at McGill isn’t currently tracked by the City or the university

• So we don’t currently know how much we use, however McGill is developing a plan to measure our water consumption and evaluate how to reduce it.

©McGill University 2012

Water at McGill: conservation measures (i)

• Greywater systems

• Green rooftops

• Reducing bottled water on campus

©McGill University 2012

Water at McGill: conservation measures (ii)

• Water-saving fixtures

• Working to eliminate the use of water as a coolant in labs and ventilation systems

• Replacing some lawns with ground-covering plants that require less water

©McGill University 2012

Water at McGill: Bottled water

• McGill has eliminated the sale of bottled water in residence dining halls, and SSMU has eliminated it in the University Center.

• McGill encourages catering services and food establishments on campus to provide tap water instead of bottled.

©McGill University 2012

Water at McGill: BYOB and water fountains

• The university is making it easier to choose tap water. Watch for high-volume filling stations and retrofitted drinking fountains around campus that make it easier to fill water containers.

• In its first four months on campus, the BYOB water dispenser filled the equivalent of 23 530 (500 ml) bottles of water.

©McGill University 2012

Exhibit status• Launched!

• Currently on exhibit in the Redpath Museum: come and take a look!

• Poster versions to be discussed: may be easier to display in other buildings?

©McGill University 2012

Acknowledgements (i)

• Research and writing: Amy Blaser, Jacky Farrell (Redpath Museum), Angela Zheng

• Coordination and Production : Ingrid Birker (Redpath Museum)

• Translation: Karine Majeau (Head of Translation , McGill)

• Project management: Jacky Farrell (Redpath Museum)

• Illustration and graphic design: Geneviève Young

©McGill University 2012

Acknowledgements (ii)

• Consultation (McGill): Angelo Battista (Asst. Facilities Manager, Athletics and Recreation), Éric Champagne (Horticultural Supervisor), Kevin Gauthier (Asst. Supervisor, Power House), Irene Gregory-Eaves PhD (Biology), Carmen Lampron PhD (Director - Project for the Life Sciences Complex), Denis Mondou (Director, Utilities and Energy Management), Kathleen Ng (Environmental Officer, Sustainability Office)

©McGill University 2012

Acknowledgements (iii)

• Consultation (cont’d): Martha Robinson (Supervisor, Maintenance, Utilities & Energy Management), Roger Plante (Operator, Power House ), Jean Perrault (Supervisor, Facilities Operations and Development), Lilith Wyatt (Sustainability Projects Fund Administrator

©McGill University 2012

Photo credits

• White flower (Claudio Calligaris); green roof (Eric W. Schaffner – Photographe); lab (Owen Egan), BYOB (Jacky Farrell).

©McGill University 2012

Support

We gratefully acknowledge funding from the McGill Sustainability Projects Fund

©McGill University 2012

Contacts

• Ingrid Birker: science.outreach@mcgill.ca

• Jacky Farrell: jacqueline.farrell@mcgill.ca

• 514-398-4094

©McGill University 2012