Irina Engelhardt won the “Art Meets Science” ideas competition in the “Climate and Water” category.
Irina Engelhardt conducts research on groundwater resources in Berlin-Brandenburg and coordinates the interdisciplinary project SpreeWasser:N.
Drier summers, falling groundwater levels, growing cities – the situation in Berlin and Brandenburg is coming to a head. The region is already one of the hottest and driest in Germany. At the same time, water demand is rising: agriculture, industry, and households are increasingly competing for what comes from the soil and rivers. The situation is particularly critical on the Spree, because the phase-out of lignite mining in Lusatia will eliminate decades of inflow from drainage water. This has massive implications – the Spree, previously one of Berlin's most important sources of water, is threatened by low water levels in summer, reverse flow, and in some cases complete stagnation.
This is where the large interdisciplinary research project SpreeWasser:N comes in. It aims to develop practical ideas on how water can be better distributed, used, and protected in Berlin and Brandenburg. The goal is to create helpful tools, strategies, and good examples for sustainable water management.
Prof. Dr. Irina Engelhardt heads the Department of Hydrogeology at TU Berlin. Together with her team, she wants to analyze not only how water is distributed in the region, but above all how it can be stored more sustainably. Her approach: holistic water management that combines disciplines, involves regional stakeholders, and researches technologies such as artificial groundwater recharge.
Irina Engelhardt was recognized for her work in our ideas competition in the “Climate and Water” category. In this interview, Irina explains what motivates her and why water is everyone's concern.