Newsha Ajami unpacks the hidden risks in modern water systems, such as outdated water rights and groundwater overuse
Research
How does the world measure water? with Maggie Kossida
Dr Maggie Kossida explains how SDG 6 expanded the global water agenda beyond drinking water and sanitation to include water quality, wastewater treatment, water use efficiency, water stress, integrated water resources management, freshwater ecosystems, financing and community participation.
Can Data Help Communities Govern Water? with Aaditeshwar Seth
Professor Aaditeshwar Seth of IIT Delhi traces his journey from computer science and rural communication networks to building participatory tools for communities, civil society organisations, researchers, and governments on this episode of The Water Data Podcast.
Water Security: 80 Years of Global Water Policy with Dr Roberto Lenton
Dr Roberto Lenton, one of the world’s leading voices on water security and international development, speaks with Veena Srinivasan on the evolution of global water policy over the last eight decades.
Water Accounting across Scales with Wim Bastiaanssen
Professor Wim Bastiaanssen, one of the pioneers of satellite-based water management and the original developer of SEBAL: the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm, speaks with Veena Srinivasan.
The Biochemistry of Bengaluru’s Lakes with Veena Srinivasan
Socio-hydrologist Veena Srinivasan joins Pavan Srinath on The WELL Labs Show to unpack the chemistry and biology of Bengaluru’s lakes.
The Deep Politics of Canal Irrigation in India with Peter Mollinga
Professor Peter Mollinga, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) speaks to Veena Srinivasan about how irrigation systems are shaped as much by politics and institutions as by hydrology and engineering.
Growing a Water-Reuse Startup in Bengaluru with Vikas Brahmavar
Vikas Brahmavar, Founder and CEO of Boson Whitewater, unpacks how they are treating wastewater to a high quality and selling it as reliable water for industries, IT parks, malls and corporate campuses.
California’s Groundwater Governance Successes with Dr. Maurice Hall
Dr. Maurice Hall, Senior Advisor for Climate Resilient Water Systems at the Environmental Defense Fund, joins host Veena Srinivasan to speak about California’s landmark Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA)
Developing Water-Sensitive Cities in India with Veena Srinivasan
Socio-hydrologist Veena Srinivasan joins Pavan Srinath to unpack what it means to build water-sensitive cities in India
The Hidden Politics of Water Systems with Margreet Zwarteveen
Professor Margreet Zwarteveen, an internationally recognised scholar of water governance, irrigation, gender, and the politics of natural resources, speaks about how a technical solution always reflects a social choice.
Canal Irrigation in Modern India with Teju Kumar N
Teju Kumar N, Assistant Engineer at ACIWRM, Government of Karnataka, explains how canal irrigation works, and why canals remain central to India’s agricultural water systems.
How Satellite Tech Imaged the Global Groundwater Crisis with James (Jay) Famiglietti
Jay Famiglietti, a leading hydrologist and former NASA scientist joins host Veena Srinivasan to talk about the groundbreaking GRACE satellite mission and its role in transforming global hydrology.
Labour and Water Conservation with Karan Misquitta
Karan Misquitta unpacks the long and complex history of watershed development in India – from its origins in colonial famine relief programmes to its evolution into large-scale public policy and, more recently, technology-driven interventions.
Aquifers of North India and the Indo-Gangetic Plains with Vivek Grewal
Hydrogeologist Vivek Grewal unpacks the basic science of groundwater and how groundwater behaves in the Indo-Gangetic region.
Preparing for Bengaluru’s Next Water Crisis with Gayathri Muraleedharan and Veena Srinivasan
Veena Srinivasan and Gayathri Muraleedharan join host Pavan Srinath to unpack the nature of Bangalore’s water crisis — what caused the severe summer crisis of 2024, why similar crises may recur, and what the city can do to avoid lurching from one groundwater emergency to the next.
Pathways of Development and Climate with John Thompson
John Thompson, a leading researcher in development studies and sustainability, joins host Arjuna Srinidhi to unpack the idea of “Pathways Approaches” and what it means for building climate resilience in complex systems.
The Social Science of Water: Beyond Hydrology with Trevor Birkenholtz
Professor Trevor Birkenholtz (Penn State University) joins Veena Srinivasan to explore the political ecology of water in India.
Research for Climate Adaptation and Resilience with Bruce Currie-Alder
Bruce Currie-Alder from IDRC Canada unpacks the vision behind the CLARE programme – a global initiative supporting action-oriented climate adaptation research across Africa and Asia.
Participatory Groundwater Management with Himanshu Kulkarni
Dr Kulkarni explains how participatory groundwater management (PGWM) evolved in India, and why aquifers must be treated as common pool resources.