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Title
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Fostering Resilience Through Presence: Dimensions of Water Insecurity
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Description
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Water is an invigorating, inspiring, and increasingly scarce resource. As a doctoral student in Counseling Psychology, I investigate how individuals cope with water insecurity and scarcity, and what psychological mechanisms may promote climate resilience at the individual and community level. A component of water insecurity is the unpredictability of availability; water insecure communities may not know when or for how long such a precious resource will be readily available. Thus, another crucial component of climate resilience is the ability to be present and creative with water when it is available: to truly appreciate and make meaningful contact with this precious and fleeting resource. Perhaps, this can drive resilience in the face of uncontrollable climate impacts. To me, film photography has a similarly fleeting, ephemeral nature: You are given one chance to capture an image, with no ability to ensure the success of the shot until well after the fact. It is a practice in presence and gratitude that beautifully parallels the dynamic and fluctuating presence of water. In this film photograph, we see a lone hiker engage thoughtfully and delicately with the water around them; modeling the appreciation and resilience that I hope my research will one day promote in others.
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Date
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2026-01-23
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Creator
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Cohen, Allison
