Interactive exhibit asks how can you improve the health of one of the world's greatest lakes?

WINNIPEG—March 19, 2014—On World Water Day, March 22, 2014, The Manitoba Museum, The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) and other partners will launch a permanent, interactive, $1-million-plus exhibit: Lake Winnipeg: Shared Solutions. Shared Solutions uses the example of Lake Winnipeg, but more broadly allows museum visitors to discover answers to the question: What are the social, economic and environmental factors that determine the health of lakes? 

Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada was named the most threatened lake in the world in 2013, joining the ranks of other endangered lakes such as Lake Titicaca (Bolivia, Peru), Pulicat Lake (India), Lake Balaton (Hungary) and the Dead Sea (Israel, Jordan and Palestine). A welter of shared factors influence the poor health of all of these lakes, and this new exhibit allows users to appreciate first-hand how they all work together.

IISD was the content lead for Shared Solutions, helping to develop and finalize the information presented in the exhibit. The centrepiece is a high-tech, interactive, kid-friendly simulator that allows players to make decisions that affect the health of the tenth largest freshwater lake in the world, as well as the economy and the well-being of people living in the watershed. The players’ choices determine whether or not the lake sees reduced algal blooms, if citizens from surrounding areas are happy and if the economy thrives.

“This partnership with the Manitoba Museum was an extraordinary opportunity for IISD to harness our knowledge on science and sustainable development to help develop this interactive and educational exhibit. It shows how all of the sustainable development factors (social and economic, as well as environmental) contribute to the wellness of Lake Winnipeg,” says Hank Venema, vice president, business development at IISD. “We're very fortunate to work with the museum to take this very positive message to the next generation of leaders.”

“It’s not only about improving the lake,” says Scott Young, manager of science communications and visitor experiences at the Manitoba Museum and the project leader for Shared Solutions. “Every decision has a cost, both in terms of economic impacts but also in the ‘social capital’ of the province — how happy people are with your choices.”

IISD recognizes that access to sufficient quantities of clean fresh water is essential to sustainable development (SD). For decades, IISD has been a leader in identifying practical approaches and integrated policies for advancing SD, taking into account the way in which environmental, social and economic factors work together and influence SD. 

For more information please contact Sumeep Bath, media and communications officer, at sbath@iisd.org or +1 (204) 958 7740.

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