TBA21–Academy and Ocean Space in collaboration with the Ca’ Foscari Alumni are delighted to invite you to “The Future of High Waters: Nature-based and Geo-engineering Solutions for the Venetian Lagoon” STARTS4Water Networking.

The STARTS4Water artists in residence will introduce their work and initial research on the Venice lagoon, its waters, biology, and myths, followed by a discussion with some of their key local partners. Sonia Levy with Alexandra Arènes, Meredith Root-Bernstein, and Heather Anne Swanson will present their participation in the regional challenge “Nature-based Solutions For the Venetian Lagoon”, followed by Diego Delas and Leonor Serrano Rivas introducing the challenge “Geo-Engineering Solutions For the Venetian Lagoon.”

The exploration of the Venetian reedbeds by artist Sonia Levy in collaboration with Heather Anne Swanson, Meredith Root-Bernstein, and Alexandra Arènes has led them to the restoration work of the saltmarsh undertaken by We Are Here Venice and Life Lagoon Refresh, key actors in the maintenance of the lagoon, who will also join the event. Leonor Serrano Rivas and Diego Delas encourage ways of looking into the MOSE, the lagoon, and Venice, where magic and science collide in seemingly impossible, yet foreseen futures. Both presentations challenge the distinction of nature-based and geo-engineering solutions, which present a closer alliance than expected. 

This event is an opportunity to hear the voices of people and organizations who have a long-standing relationship with the lagoon and engage with new perspectives to find points of interconnections between existent and new research concerning the complex lagoon ecosystem. Some of the members of the STARTS4Water Venice Local Expert Group will also join this workshop session, which is open to the public. 

This event has been produced by TBA21–Academy and Ocean Space in collaboration with STARTS4Water artists in residence program with the support of Ca' Foscari Alumni, Università Ca' Foscari Venezia.

S+T+ARTS is an initiative of the European Commission to foster alliances between science, technology and the arts, in order to cultivate technological innovation centered on human needs and values.

Bringing together art, technology and science, the pilot project STARTS4Water aims to tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our times: water management. The project supports artists, researchers, technology experts and other stakeholders in finding a common ground and language to respond to regional water-related challenges. STARTS4Water builds on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030 and especially on SDG 5 ‘Clean Water and Sanitation’ and SDG14 ‘Life Below Water’.