water@leeds The Next Chapter Initiative

water@leeds hosted the first Working Group meeting for The Next Chapter Initiative on January 14th.

The initiative led by Dr Paul Hutchings, water@leeds Associate Director for Impact and Dr Ruth Sylvester, Research Fellow Civil Engineering, will convene communities, water sector partners, and other stakeholders to explore alternative water futures for Yorkshire, making visible the trade-offs, values, and choices that will shape the region’s water system over the coming decades.

Central to the initiative is the development of people-centred water scenarios that illustrate how everyday households in Yorkshire might experience different water futures in 2050.

These scenarios will be explored through a curated set of designed “artifacts” that reflect lived experience—such as household water bills, newspaper reports, home insurance letters, public health briefings, material objects linked to water risk or adaptation, and artistic representations of local waterways—to support meaningful public engagement and dialogue on local water choices.

Over the coming months, the initiative will actively engage local communities and water sector stakeholders.

The working group members photographed L to R are: Dr Irene Mussio, Dr Gesa Reiss, Madison Wright, Dr Ruth Sylvester, Dr Paul Hutchings, Dr Gabriela Lopez Gonzalez, Dr Carolina Montoya Pachongo, Prof Nir Arielli, Dr Sam Ramsden, Dr Ajay Bhave.

If you are interested in joining or learning more please contact us at [email protected].