ABSTRACT
In 1934, the US National Resources Board published its first hydrologic-cycle diagram. Like water itself, this simple graphic has evolved in some ways and remained stagnant in others. Edits have been made, artwork has become more realistic, and many organisations have developed their own diagrams. Yet the majority of hydro-cycle diagrams continue to ignore or understate the role of humans in the hydrologic system and the vast diversity of watersheds. For some time now, social scientists have been offering critiques of the ‘classic’ hydro cycle, with scholarship emerging around the ‘hydrosocial cycle’ and increased consideration of water’s interplay with other systems through the food–water–energy nexus, the planetary boundaries framework, and others. Building from these critiques and advances, a Working Group at the University of East Anglia has created a participatory toolbox for exploring the historical, political, economic, cultural, and natural processes of water. The ‘hydrosocial spiral’ is a dynamic visual for use by researchers, teachers, managers, and activists allowing for a variety of conceptions of and communications around water. This chapter considers the extant literature on hydrosocial interactions, describes the creation and implementation of the hydrosocial spiral, and presents results from its use in classrooms and water fora.
