Dry soils, heavy rainfall or sponge cities: water change affects the entire capital region. The new project ‘Mind the Water. Voices from Berlin and Brandenburg’ by the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin aims to collect local social knowledge about water and bring it directly into the political discourse. A series of workshops is therefore now being launched at adult education centres in Berlin and Brandenburg. The project partner is the Senate Department for Urban Mobility, Transport, Climate Action and the Environment.
Water is set to become a key issue in Berlin and Brandenburg in the future. A growing population, the climate crisis, and the structural changes resulting from the phase-out of coal are posing major challenges to the water supply. But how are these changes experienced by local people? What concerns them regarding water? Where do they see a need for action in their neighbourhood or community?
From photograph to political exchange
The project encourages participation, inviting people in Berlin and Brandenburg to share their personal observations and perspectives on topics such as falling water levels, changes to beloved swimming lakes and allotment gardens, via photos or videos on the Changing Natures digital platform. Between 2026 and 2028, over 20 workshops will be held in various Berlin districts and Brandenburg communities to examine the challenges facing the capital region and discuss and evaluate the contributions.
What makes this special is that the impressions and demands gathered form the basis for closing events, in which participants engage in dialogue with people from politics and academia. The results are also provided directly to the administration in the form of recommendations.
A participatory collection at the Museum für Naturkunde as a forum for social change
“The water supply in Berlin and Brandenburg faces major challenges. We must work together to address these issues and shape the future of water,” says Johannes Vogel, Director General of the Museum für Naturkunde. “As a museum, we bring different perspectives into the dialogue. We create a space where the everyday experiences of Berliners and Brandenburgers count and give them a voice that is heard in politics.”
Participation is welcome
Everyone is invited to share their observations and perspectives on the collection platform, as well as to participate in the workshops. Participation is free of charge and open to anyone who is interested. No prior knowledge is necessary. The workshop series will begin in February 2026.
Upcoming dates (selection):
- 9 and 16 February, 6:00–7:30 p.m. each day, VHS Berlin Mitte, information and registration
- 13 April, and 4 and 18 May 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m. each day, VHS Bad Belzig, information and registration
- 9 and 16 June, and 1 July 2026, 6:00–7:30 p.m. each day, VHS Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, information and registration
- 20 and 27 April 2026, and 1 June 2026, 6:30–8:00 p.m. each day, VHS Spandau, information and registration
Further information on registration and the digital collection can be found at: https://www.changing-natures.org/en/call/mind-the-water-voices-from-berlin-and-brandenburg
About the project: It is a project of the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and is funded by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin. It collects cultural knowledge from citizens of Berlin and Brandenburg in order to create a basis for the fair use of water resources.
The project partner is the Senate Department for Urban Mobility, Transport, Climate Action and the Environment. Further cooperation exists with the Berlin Adult Education Centres, Potsdam-Mittelmark Adult Education Centre, KWB Kompetenzzentrum Wasser Berlin, Berlin Rainwater Agency, Prof. Dr. Petra Dobner, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Wassernetz Berlin (participants: a tip: tap e. V., Berlin State Association for Nature Conservation (BLN), German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), Grüne Liga, NABU. National Association Berlin).
