What do we really know about water? A study with TASK™
Water is everywhere. It shapes our planet, sustains life, and is essential for agriculture, industry, and daily human activities. But how well do we really understand water’s role in sustainability? Our recent study sheds light on what students know (and don’t know) about water, and why it matters.
Water: More than just H₂O
We often think of water in simple terms: drinking, washing, or maybe swimming on a hot day. But water is far more complex. It plays a critical role in climate regulation, biodiversity, and even global conflicts. Our study analyzing sustainability knowledge across 37,000 students from over 50 higher education institutions, as measured by TASK™, highlights how deeply water is woven into the sustainability landscape. In fact, these are the kinds of insights that TASK™ enables us to gather, showcasing the valuable information it provides about students' understanding of sustainability and its interconnections.
This study was done for the 1st International Hybrid Conference on the Role of Climate Change on Water Resources Management for a Sustainable Future, organized by Professor Dr. Zafer Aslan. Under the aegis of Istanbul Aydin University, and in conjunction with the 2024 Eurasian Higher Education Summit, this paper was presented as the opening session.
Our study explored where water plays a crucial role across the three key areas in our sustainability model:
- Earth Systems – water’s impact on planetary boundaries, including climate change, biodiversity, and pollution.
- Human welfare – issues related to access to clean water, sanitation, and public health.
- Levers of opportunity – the economic, technological, and policy-driven aspects of water management.
What the data say: students are falling short on water knowledge
While sustainability education is gaining traction, our study reveals a concerning knowledge gap when it comes to water. In assessments, students scored lower on water-related topics than on other sustainability issues, such as climate change and social inequalities.
For instance, students scored significantly lower on freshwater use and sanitation compared to other environmental and social topics. Why does this matter? Because water isn’t just a niche issue, it’s fundamental to every aspect of sustainable development.
Why this knowledge gap matters
- Water scarcity is increasing, many regions face severe droughts, while others experience devastating floods. Understanding these challenges is key to finding solutions.
- Clean water and sanitation are still out of reach for many, despite progress, billions of people still lack reliable access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
- Water and conflict are linked, as water becomes more scarce, tensions rise. From local disputes to international conflicts, water access is a growing geopolitical issue.
Bridging the Water knowledge gap: what can we do?
Our study suggests that education needs to emphasize water’s role in sustainability.While educators from different disciplines increasingly discuss issues related to climate change, it is important that students learn about sustainability in a holistic and systemic way, understanding how subjects like water are deeply interwoven into many of our challenges and solutions. Some ways to bridge this gap include:
- Integrating water into sustainability education – not just in environmental science, but also in economics, policy, and public health curricula. This does not necessarily entail creating new modules, but can be achieved by bringing in specific case studies, examples, or current news to the classroom.
- Using real-world examples – showing how water scarcity affects daily life, from agriculture to urban planning.
- Highlighting solutions – teaching about water conservation, sustainable infrastructure, and policy changes to empower students to take action.
For educators wanting to incorporate this subject into their teaching, here are some resources we include in our TASK™ Navigational Charts:
The bottom line: No sustainability without water knowledge
Water is a vital yet often overlooked part of sustainability. If we want a future where both humans and ecosystems thrive, we need a deeper understanding of how water connects to the bigger picture. That means improving education, raising awareness, and ensuring that water isn’t just an afterthought, but an integral part of sustainability discussions..
This is also the vision we have for TASK™: to enable students across all disciplines to grasp the breadth and interconnectedness of sustainability. TASK™ also helps institutions within our community identify these critical yet often overlooked knowledge gaps, ensuring that water and other sustainability issues are fully integrated into the education system and broader discussions.
To access Sulitest's full 9-page article on water, go to page 17 of the full conference proceedings (277pp) here. Simply click on the tab "Proceeding" for the full automatic PDF download.
Interested to explore how TASK™ can help your institution identify and address critical knowledge gaps like water? Get in touch with our team.
