The Global Water Blogs

Blogs (a contraction of the term "weblog") are a category of website that use regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Increasingly, blogs are providing a popular and acceptable alternative source of news and information with a high degree of authority and legitimacy.

In an article written by Shelley Batts, Nicholas Anthis, and Tara Smith entitled "Advancing Science through Conversations: Bridging the Gap between Blogs and the Academy", the authors reflect on the value of blogs as a means for a rapid and robust forum for the public peer review of research.

The ideal model, they suggest:

is one where blogs are used as forges for developing ideas and forums for the discussion of accurate, interesting, and up-to-date scientific information, with the institution creating links between blogs while conferring authority. By initiating frank and open-minded conversations about shared goals, blogs and institutions can work together to advance the quality and scope of the ongoing global conversation about science we all participate in and depend upon.

In the context of research, development and extension for water planning, there are a number of blogs that contain content which is of direct use to water planners. Included amongst these, in no particular order, some of the stand-out blogs covering water issues from around the blogosphere include:

AlterNet's Water Portal provides a range of internet coverage concerning the global water crisis, including public water protection, conservation, pollution, drought and dams, edited by Tara Lohan.

WaterWired is the blog of Michael E. 'Aquadoc' Campana, Director of the Institute for Water and Watersheds at Oregon State University.

Aguanomics is written by water economist David Zetland and graduate student Damian Bickett. David Zetland is the S.V. Ciriacy-Wantrup Postdoctoral Fellow in Natural Resource Economics and Political Economy at U.C. Berkeley.

WaterBlogged.info is written by blogger Jared Simpson.

Circle of Blue is a nonprofit affiliate of the water, climate and policy think tank, the Pacific Institute. Circle of Blue publishes WaterNews, a recognised daily source for global water news and data.

Water Words That Work is from Eric Eckl, a communications and marketing expert for environmental issues, who demonstrates the importance of clear and compelling language for communicating about nature conservation and water management. His blog is about translating the 'shop-talk' of water experts to the vocabulary and perspective of everyday citizens.