In order to face increasing water challenges at the global level and foster new knowledge for sustainable water governance, the Global Network of Water Museums (WAMU-NET) promotes deeper understanding of past relationships between people and water. The Network is concerned with both the physical heritage and the socio-cultural values of this legacy.

WAMU-NET’s Charter commits the Network to fostering a new relationship between humanity and water, reconnecting people with the tangible and intangible aspects of this element, including its social, cultural, ecological, artistic, and spiritual dimensions. It emphasises the urgent need to develop approaches that are interdisciplinary and holistic.

To this end, WAMU-NET supports efforts towards new research that investigates and draws lessons from past and present water management practices, informed by this wider perspective.

The UNESCO Chair: “Water, Heritage, and Sustainable Development” was established with WAMU-NET’s support at the University of Venice Ca’ Foscari (Italy) in 2021. The Chair is housed in the New Institute Center for Environmental Humanities (NICHE) at Ca’ Bottacin, Venice. By connecting water sciences and environmental humanities to the UN’s Agenda 2030, the Chair is active in identifying and supporting new interdisciplinary work to develop imaginative content in water museums, and digital material for education and training on water and sustainability.

In this way the UNESCO Chair, in partnership with WAMU-NET, makes a substantial contribution to implementation of the Resolution of UNESCO-IHP on “water sustainability education and water awareness efforts”.