HWISE Data Repository
Many consortium members have been involved in harmonized survey data collection efforts, referred to here as “HWISE data”. These data have been collected in 29 sites from 2018-2019. In some sites, data collection consisted only of the HWISE survey. Elsewhere, the HWISE survey was a very small part of a larger study, as seen in the map below (map courtesy of the HWISE Scale project). In most sites, the stated purpose was to create a cross-culturally valid scale to measure household water insecurity, but these data can be used for many other endeavors.
If the PIs of the HWISE data sites approve, these data can be requested to be used by anyone in the HWISE network (Figure 1). Those who would like to use data from sites at which they are not the PI are required to follow the project proposal and co-authorship procedures outlined here (HWISE Guidelines & Principles).
DEPTH Exhibit
Precarity exists when people have little predictability in their day to day living conditions, including the water they need to survive and live a quality life. When power is uneven, or political will fails, or economic systems do not prioritize safe and accessible water, people live with, and through, precarity.
This exhibit showcases vignettes (stories, images, video) of the everyday realities of water insecurity and its consequences from Bolivia, Kenya, Uganda, Brazil, and Ghana, from the perspectives of children, women, and young adults. Upon a closer reflection, we are confronted with the precarity of water and power here in the USA, Flint, Detroit, Arizona and Puerto Rico.
The juxtaposition of imagery show the enormous physical, emotional, psychological and economic burden of water insecurity and challenge mainstream discussions of where water insecurity occurs and who is responsible. Meanwhile, both foreground and background of imagery underscore the commonalities of precarity and the political and economic drivers. The accompanying text highlights both the everyday lived experiences of water insecurity, and broad insights from our ongoing research collaboration.
Dr. Amber Pearson organized the installation with contributions from Alex Brewis Wendy Jepson, Leila Harris, Crysal Tremblay, Amber Wutich, and Sera Young. The Depth Exhibit is funded by the Science Gallery Network. You can learn more about it at https://detroit.sciencegallery.com/.
Funded Grants
Research Collaboration Network “RCN: Building a Community of Practice for Household Water Insecurity (HWISE) Research,” National Science Foundation, Geography and Spatial Sciences, PI Wendy Jepson with Co-PIs Justin Stoler (University of Miami), Amber Wutich (Arizona State University), and Sera Young (Northwestern University) (2018-2023, $499,036)
Innovative Metrics in Nutrition and Agriculture (IMANNA). “A novel tool for the assessment of household-level water insecurity: scale refinement, validation, and manual development” Sera Young (PI), Phelgona Otieno (co-I) & Amber Wutich (co-I)(2016-2018) ($359,625). This project is funded by Competitive Research Grants to Develop Innovative Methods and Metrics for Agriculture and Nutrition Actions (IMMANA Grants). IMMANA is funded with UK aid from the UK government.