World Water Day

DCU marks World Water Day

DCU Water Institute is hosting events for students and staff on Thursday 19th and Friday 20th March to mark World Water Day (Sunday 22nd March).

Activities will include a competition where student teams representing the under-developed, developing and developed worlds will explore solutions to combat climate change by keeping the world’s temperature below 2 degrees Celsius.

On Friday 20th, Chinatown, the classic film noir starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway will be screened in The Hub at 11am.  Chinatown is loosely based on the California Water Wars, a series of disputes over southern California water in the early 1900s which resulted in the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct to relieve pressure on the city’s water supply.

Meanwhile, out in the Mall, a water rocket-launching competition will take place from 12 noon. Water rockets use water and pressurised air to launch a recycled plastic bottle.  Staff and students alike are encouraged to design, create and launch their own rockets using recycled plastics bottles and harvested water from the DCU Garden.  There will be plenty of spot prizes on the day!

MAKE YOUR OWN WATER ROCKET

Step 1

Collect your materials - 1 recycled soda bottle (1.5–2 litres), stiff cardboard, newspaper, sticky tape.

Step 2

Compress newspaper into a cone shape – this is to provide weight for the nose of the rocket to help it fly.  Tape the nose cone to the end of the bottle (NOT the cap end – the other end!).

Step 3

Cut three fins out of stiff cardboard.

Step 4

Tape the fins onto the bottle at approximately equal distance from each other.

Step 5

Bring it along to the DCU Water rocket launcher on Friday and test your design!

The United Nations General Assembly designated 22nd March as World Water Day in 1993.  It is celebrated around the world each year to shine a spotlight on a different issue every year.  In 2015, the theme for World Water Day is 'Water and Sustainable Development' - how water links to all areas we need to consider to create the future we want.  For more information, visit http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday.