A Conversation on Future of Water

Water As Medium

Co-Organized by Amna Ansari while at SWA Group

Water is a medium that cuts across art, science, politics, and community. The right to clean water, the responsibility to protect water, and the challenges of a new climate normal that immerses us in water have all been increasingly central topics of conversation in recent years. Yet, even as water threatens our urban development, public health, and way of life, it provides the impetus to create a more sustainable and equitable future. 

The Water as Medium salon brought together thought-leaders from an array of disciplines to interpret water beyond fear. Taking water as a unifying medium that motivates all of us to learn from others faster and value the big picture, participants from landscape architecture, architecture, conservation, water management, energy, politics, and journalism engaged in four twenty-minute “Spark Talks.” Each talk addressed a unique facet of the barriers and opportunities inherent in the message of living with water, creating dynamic conversations that blended speakers’ expertise into a holistic view. 

Hosted by SWA and co-organized by UltraBarrio principal Amna Ansari, Water as Medium created a valuable space for Houstonians who study and design the built environment to share diverse experiences and build community.