UNESCO VIRTUAL-SCIENCE MUSEUM

Our activity involved visiting the exhibition: The Voices of Water
Ancient Hydro-Technologies: Reviving the Voices of Water for a Sustainable Future.
The theme of the exhibition is: Ancient knowledge and ecological transition: a new perspective on innovation and it fit very well with the objectives of our project.

The Voice of Water Exibition

After viewing the exhibition, students from all participating countries answered a questionnaire related to the exhibition.

GForm-The Voices of Water

Here are the results of the questionnaire:

List 3 things you learned from the ancestral water management practices presented in the exhibition.75 responses

• In Morroco have kettaras,they use riverbeds for water the plants,they build their boats tho fishing
• Algeria has a great source of petrol . Brazil has a great source of water. Indonesia has a great source of food and that food is rice .
• 1.city on the water 2.Iraq building your own boats 3.
• - Water is important - Ancient communities designed systems that could produce water - Ancient hydro-technologies have supported agriculture for a very long time
• ca orezul are nevoie de multa apa,si ca ei se ocupa cu cresterea orezului,si au nevoie de apa
• 1.We must take care of water 2.Water is very important in life 3.We must work for our country
• Water is important on some cultures. Water is live. We should learn from the ancients.
• Nature observation Equity in distribution Sustainability and conservation
• Apa este stocata,nu doar consumata Gestionarea apei este integrată cu ecosistemul Apa este o responsabilitate colectivă, nu individuală
• to not use it irresponsabily, to be careful with it, adaptation to local environments.
• No he aprendido nada nuevo, solo que hay que cuidar el agua
• People in Ghana used natural areas to collect and store water.
• Today I learned that we must cherish our country,let's be grateful for what we have and let's pray for our country
• 1.- They build their tools to fishing with boats, hunt and cutivate. 2.-They use riverbeds for water the plants 3· In Morrocco have kettaras
• Ancestral peoples knew how to use water according to the environment they lived in.
• Water management was deeply connected to culture and sustainability; Practices were adapted to the local environment; Water was carefully conserved and shared
• I learned: 1. How smart our ancestors were 2. How practical thinking has helped humanity in daily life 3. Ancestrial ways of sustaining water in different parts of the world.
• Really old water systems, the water systems were made to last for centuries, the water systems have tactics that are still being used to this day.
• That it’s not always necessary to use new and modern technology’s to manage water. That it is possible to manage and store water where you would never think it could and that our ancestors where very smart to think that way
• These systems help people in agriculture; the sustainability of people's use of water is incredible; people are very connected to water.
• Importace of water and that without water we cannot live.
• i leant how whey use water and other stuff
• Ancestral water management practices very a lot by region, and I want the points to accurately reflect that exhibition rather that giving something too generic.
• How to built boat. How live the peoples in the countrys.
• Ancient water systems worked with nature, not against it. Water management was collective knowledge, shared and maintained by communities. Simple, low-energy designs created long-term resilience.
• Sustenabilitatea integrată în comunitate: Populațiile indigene, precum cele din satele vizitate în experiențele eco din zona Amazonului, utilizează tehnici de viață sustenabilă care mențin echilibrul ecosistemului acvatic, adaptându-și activitățile în funcție de nivelul fluctuant al râurilor. Conexiunea cu biodiversitatea forestieră: În comunități precum cele ale triburilor Tupi-Guarani din Pădurea Atlantică, gestionarea resurselor de apă este strâns legată de cunoașterea plantelor medicinale și a ritualurilor sacre, evidențiind o abordare holistică în care apa nu este doar o resursă, ci un element spiritual central. Adaptarea la dinamica naturală: Tradițiile ancestrale pun accent pe respectul față de ciclurile naturale ale apei (cum ar fi cele ale râului Preguiças sau Amazon), utilizând peisajele sălbatice și flora locală (precum palmierii) pentru a proteja bazinele hidrografice și a susține culturile agricole tradiționale.
• Desert oases are highly productive ecosystem, khettaras are underground channels that bring water to the surface and allow oases to form, in Australia, aboriginal people maintain a deep connection with water
• I learned that old people teach teenagers old methods from their past, they struggle doing things that mostly other people don't do and the majority of those pupils have more sand than lots of countries do.
• People used underground channels called khettaras to bring water to desert oases. Some villages were built on water and had systems to live and get water from lakes. People lived closely with rivers by using floating houses and traditional boats.
• that water is really important and we should not waste it.
• 1. we must not waste water 2. we must take care of it 3. we must work for our country
• I learned that we could filtrate the water just by preserving it, that we can make many things from nature just like boats from wood And that in some countries because they use nature they dont pollute the world as much as today.
• biulding arks, water storing i dont remember anymore
• I learned that ancestral communities managed water by working with nature, sharing it fairly, and protecting it for the future.
• I learned how different countries manage water, I learned how to manage water, and I learned that water shouldn't be wasted.
• the importance of water for them and how close some communities are to the nature around them, how some communities live their day life there, the importance of canoas.
• Khattaras, underground channels in Morroco, villages in Ghana built on water
• I learned that boats were very important to connect two communities, Australians believe that there is a serpent living in the river and that serpent protects their village and that in Peru the canals of water have been in use for over 5000 years.
• Ancestral water management practises often involve nature- based solutions
• Am invatat ca in Indonesia se produce cea mai mare cantitate de orez, in Ghana este cea mai putina apa si tecnicile antice de rezervarea a apei din Maroc
• Indigenous peoples managed water by respecting flood and drought cycles—using floodplains, seasonal canals, and raised fields to store or redirect water rather than blocking rivers with large dams.
• I can say that I learn that anything is impossible and we can see that in the Ghana example where the people built their houses literaly in the Water which is something incredible when we think that they were built many years ago when modern tecnology didn’t exist. Another thing is that when we don’t have many things to work with, we can be more creative and build amazing things. And last but not least I learned that we could save the planet if we used some of this thecniques
• i didn't listen much
• Brazil has great source of water . Alegeria has a lot of petrol. there is holes in Morocco.
• How to take care of water, how important it is, and that the situation is not the same in all countries.
• The production of rice from Indonesia, Hydro-technologies of the pile-dwelling lake village of Nzulezo and the lakes from Brazil
• The fissing the nature and the building matachines of water
• Water was managed collectively, with community rules that prevented waste and ensured fair access for everyone. I learned how to build a boat. The people os jump with the water.
• That the "Incas" used terraces to control water, making production more accessible, Water was transported through stone canals using gravity, not machines and that water had cultural and communal importance, not just practical value.
• The Javaé people use traditional water technologies rooted in environmental interconnectedness, but these practices are now threatened by industrial exploitation and climate change.
• We must use all the resources at our disposal, we must be intelligent, and we must preserve our planet more.
• I learned about the villages built on water, the underground channels in Morocco and the snake living in the river in Australia.
• Ancient communities developed simple but effective ways to collect, store, and share water. Water management was based on cooperation and shared rules within the community. These practices respected nature and were adapted to local environments.
• Sustainable use of water, engineering knowledge without modern technology, community cooperation
• 3 lucruri pe care le-am invatat din practicile ancestrale de gestionare a apei prezentate in expozitie sunt:colaborarea intre generatii, sa nu folosim apa in cazuri care nu sunt necesare si sa mu discriminam metodele de gestionare .
• That some places the water is so important is consider a god, a 'mother' in a spiritual way.
• -people dance to the water -building ancestral boats -that tunels can store water
• 1. Ancient civilizations used gravity and natural slopes to transport water without electricity. 2. They built stone channels and terraces to prevent water waste and erosion. 3. Water systems were designed to be sustainable and used for both farming and daily life.
• Primul lucru ar fi cultura lor foarte impresionanta .Al doilea lucru ar fi tranditiile lor interesante.Iar ultimul lucru este mestesugul lor
• Ancient societies were able to manage water even without modern technology. They had established systems that were in harmony with nature not against it. Water was shared fairly among the communities
• In Iraq, boats are made using an ancient technique. Secondly, they are sometimes woven from a special plant. And finally, in Iraq, boats serve as indispensable transportation, like a car for us.
• 1. Ancesttal communities designed water systems that worked with nature. 2. Water was managed collectively. 3. Traditional techniques helped store water during rainy seasons and release it slowly during dry periods.
• 1. **Water is sacred** and used with respect. 2. **Environmentally adapted** techniques, simple and efficient. 3. **Collective management** through cooperation and tradition.
• People need to care more about the builders. People need to learn how to build canoes. Canoes are used for fishing, crossing rivers, etc. Indigenous peoples of Brazil often use resources that come from water.
• 1. Ancient communities knew how to collect rainwater using channels and reservoirs. 2. Water management was done in a sustainable way, thinking about the future and not only the present. 3. Knowledge about water was passed from generation to generation and adapted to the local environment.
• Traditional farming practices often focused on efficiency and sustainability. Rainwater harvesting allowed for storage during dry periods. Terraces reduced erosion and retained soil moisture. Irrigation channels, such as qanats or ditches, distributed water evenly with minimal loss through evaporation.
• Water is sacred, rainwater is sustaibable and effective management combines traditional knowledge with ongoing observation
• a nu o folosi iresponzabil, valorificarea apei de ploaie,gestionarea comunitară și respectul față de ciclul natural
• I learned these 3 things from the water management practices: The ancient inca water structures Irak boat making Australia water tribes
• The water is very important for the people Water is very important to farm Water is very important to mobility
• the one with the rice,
• With the exhibition I learned that ancient communities designed water systems that worked with in a natural way, that water was managed collectively, with shared responsibility and clear rules to ensure fair access and that simple solutions could sustainably store and distribute water.
• Cooperating with nature and others workers, we can change everything
• 1. that you can build houses on water 2. water can be dangerous 3. you can live on water

In your opinion, how could these ancestral techniques contribute to sustainable solutions today?75 responses

• yes
• Yes, because I think it would work great .
• recycling of materials
• In my opinion, ancestral water management techniques contribute to modern sustainability
• cea cu orezul ar putea fi folosita si in ziua de azi
• no, because nowadays we have more professional techniques
• Filtering water on the natural way.
• Las técnicas ancestrales pueden contribuir a soluciones sostenibles mediante la aplicación de sus conocimientos ecológicos profundos, prácticas agrícolas resilientes y métodos de conservación de recursos naturales
• Da pentru,folosirea eficienta a resurselor locale si rezilienta climatica
• Ancestral techniques can help create sustainable solutions because they use natural resources carefully and are adapted to local environments. Practices like crop rotation, natural building materials, and water conservation reduce waste and protect ecosystems. Using this knowledge today can support sustainability while respecting nature.
• No
• de muchas maneras
• They can inspire sustainable, low-cost water solutions that protect nature and involve local communities.
• Ancestral techniques can contribute significantly to sustainable solutions today because they were developed in harmony with nature and local resources. For example, traditional agriculture (crop rotation, native seeds, composting) helps maintain soil fertility and reduces dependence on chemicals. Traditional water management techniques (irrigation channels, rainwater harvesting) can reduce waste and help prevent droughts. Vernacular architecture, adapted to the local climate, lowers energy consumption for heating and cooling. In addition, traditional crafts and local economies support communities, reduce transportation needs, and encourage responsible consumption. When combined with modern technologies, these practices can offer sustainable, efficient, and environmentally respectful solutions.
• They donˀt use any machines that contaminates
• They can help people use water more consciously and sustainably, reducing waste and caring for nature.
• Ancestral techniques can help today by teaching sustainable water use that respects nature, reduces waste, and strengthens community cooperation, especially in the face of climate change.
• I think our solutions for sustainability are already fine as they are. I mean there's a reason we have advanced so much. Although i think these techniques are cool and everything, i would still prefer our modern-day solutions.
• They could help with water recycling.
• These ancestral techniques could contribute by using them more frequently, because these were natural ways to manage water, therefore it doesn’t pollute the earth.
• These ancestral techniques can help, for example, in agriculture by irrigating crops without wasting water.
• The could help not to waste water.
• Yes in my opinion many ancient practises were better and are better than today existing practises
• they promote working whit natural systems rather than against them. They are often low-cost, low-energy, and resilient. they encourage comunity stewarship and long term thinkin
• I dont know
• They show how working with nature, community cooperation, and simple design can make water systems more sustainable and resilient today.
• No, because nowadays we have better techniques.
• In my opinion, these ancestral techniques could help create sustainable solutions today because they use water carefully and work with nature instead of wasting resources.
• I consider that today,all of these things might be hard for us
• These techniques show that working *with* natural water systems—rather than overpowering them—can inspire sustainable, low-impact solutions for water access, climate resilience, and human settlement today.
• they would help to control the water sources.
• In my opinion, ancestral techniques can contribute to sustainable solutions today precisely because they were developed under conditions of scarcity, close observation of nature, and long-term survival rather than short-term efficiency.
• These techniques could help preserve more the world by reducing pollution.
• I cant really say but it would make a difrent impack on everyone
• These ancestral techniques could help today by teaching us how to use water in a more natural, fair, and sustainable way.
• I think we could use these ancestral techniques to stop waisting water,
• They do there day life based on natural resources and it help having a sustainable planet.
• To prevent water from using for useless actions.
• They would be very helpfull because they are ecological and they protect the environment. They bring people together too and for example in the oásis people were autonomous and nothing came from the outside.
• reduce the need for large environmentally disruptive infastructure like new dams
• find practicate in toata lumea
• ancestral techniques can help today by managing water in harmony with nature, supporting sustainable agriculture, and involving communities in protecting natural resources.
• Could be more sustainable
• without using machines we can stop the water pollution
• yes , because petrol can still help with gasoline and combustible.
• not wasting so much water.
• the ancestral techmiques are good survival tips
• The finishing and the recoletion of water purification
• Helping the people fair acess for everyone
• In my opinion, It would reduce dependence on energy-hungry infrastructure and that it can make agriculture more resilient to climate change.
• In my opiniom Javaé technologies show us how to build low-impact infrastructure that respects nature. By adopting their focus on interconnectedness, we can create more sustainable water management systems that protect biodiversity while fighting climate change
• We managed to become autonomous, we managed to have our own unique production, and better protect our country.
• If the things still work, they're practical and that means that theyre useful for today.
• In my opinion, these techniques can help us use water more efficiently, reduce waste, and inspire sustainable solutions that work with nature.
• Ancestral techniques can guide us to save water, work with nature, and involve communities, creating sustainable solutions for today.
• Da, aceste tehnici ancestrale pot sa contribuie la solutii sustenabile in zilele noastre deoarece sunt mai usor de manevrat, chiar daca se pierde mult timp.
• We coud use some respect of the water like these people did before.
• In my opinion these techniques can make a more sustainable world by using natural methods to get filtered and good water
• They can help us use water more efficiently by relying on gravity and natural systems instead of energy-consuming technology. These techniques reduce water waste, protect the environment, and support sustainable agriculture. By learning from the past, we can design eco-friendly water management systems for the future.
• Aceste tehnici ancestrale ar putea sa contribuie la solutii sustenabile in zilele noastre ,deoarece aceste tehnici nu sunt chiar nefolositoare.pot fi folosite pentru ca sunt usor de realizat.
• I think these ancient techniques can help us conserve water today. They are natural, low-cost, and environmentally friendly. They can be used in arid regions and for sustainable agriculture.
• I think so. These are time-tested methods.
• I believe these techniques can help modern societes use water more responsibly by encouraging nature-based sokutions, reducing ralience on expensive technology, and strenghtheting community involvement. They can inspire sustainable water systems that protect ecosystems while ensuring long-term acces to clean water.
• In my opinion, the ancestral water management techniques presented in *The Voices of Water* could offer sustainable solutions today by emphasizing the deep respect for water as a vital and sacred resource. Approaches tailored to local environments, such as rainwater harvesting and natural irrigation systems, could reduce environmental impact and conserve resources. Additionally, the collective management of water in these traditions promotes equitable access and shared responsibility, which is essential in addressing today's water crises.
• To preserve water
• In my opinion, these ancestral techniques can help create sustainable solutions today because they show simple and efficient ways to save and reuse water. They can inspire modern systems to respect nature and reduce waste. They also remind us of the importance of using water responsibly for future generations.
• These methods typically emphasize resourcefulness, minimal waste, and working in harmony with local ecosystems, which are core principles of modern sustainability. For example, traditional agricultural practices like terracing or intercropping can enhance soil health and water retention more effectively than some industrial methods.
• Save more water
• 1. Adaptarea la schimbările climatice prin „Micro-Infrastructură” Sistemele ancestrale (precum terasarea terenurilor sau bazinele de colectare a apei de ploaie) sunt descentralizate. În loc să ne bazăm pe baraje gigantice care pot eșua în condiții de secetă extremă sau inundații, putem implementa rețele locale de stocare. Acestea reduc presiunea asupra sistemelor municipale și asigură reziliența comunităților în fața fenomenelor meteo extreme de în 2026. 2. Reducerea amprentei de carbon în epurarea apelor Multe tehnici tradiționale foloseau sisteme de filtrare naturală prin straturi de nisip, pietriș și vegetație (zone umede construite). Reintegrarea acestor „soluții bazate pe natură” în designul urban modern permite curățarea apelor uzate cu un consum minim de energie și fără chimicale agresive, transformând stațiile de epurare în spații verzi care susțin biodiversitatea.
• These ancestral techniques could contribute by helping countries that have poor management, so these countries can teach ways to redirect countries to the countries in need
• Can help to no waste water
• These ancestral techniques can support sustainability today because they conserve water and use low energy, making them efficient.
• Saving space and water for other generations
• no need to use technology, pay a lot for boats, you can make them yourself

Activity manager: Cristina Olteanu-Petre Pandrea Theoretical High School/Romania