Water and Science: a series that shows the challenges of water contaminated with highly toxic metals and the solutions using sustainable technologies.

• Grant number: 24/00648-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Journalism
• Start date: May 01, 2024
• End date: November 30, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Derval dos Santos Rosa
• Grantee: Isabela Pereira da Costa
• Host Institution: Centro de Engenharia, Modelagem e Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (CECS). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 20/13703-3 - Environmentally friendly porous materials for the recovery and revaluation of metals reclaimed from contaminated water, AP.TEM

Abstract

The presence of contaminants in water from anthropogenic processes has raised concern in academia about the quality of water supplied to the population, so alternative treatment methods have been investigated. The Thematic Project (2020/13703-3) is part of this problem, bringing sustainable porous alternatives that can be used to discontinue water from potentially toxic elements. It is clear, however, that despite academic recognition of the problem, the population is not aware of its seriousness, which shows that greater awareness is needed to stimulate new developments and their implementation by the responsible sectors. In this sense, this scientific dissemination project is dedicated to presenting the risks associated with water contamination, contextualizing the situation currently observed in ABC São Paulo, disseminating research on water treatment methods, highlighting alternatives that promote greater removal of potentially toxic elements, seeking sustainable alternatives. Its primary purpose is to raise awareness among the general public through YouTube video reports that highlight water quality, using analyses carried out on sources in the region to highlight the relevance of the issue and demonstrate its possible influence on society's daily life. The project focuses on warning about the dangers associated with consuming inadequate water, which is linked to the development of serious diseases, highlighting the urgent importance of sustainable solutions in this sector. It also highlights the active role that society can play in this process to demand that the public and private sectors implement appropriate solutions, emphasizing the need for collective participation to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future, which depends on society's awareness of existing problems. The dissemination project is seen as a way of complementing the progress made in the Thematic Project and making public the knowledge obtained in academia, connecting society with the importance of the issue, and promoting reflection for the development of new solutions.