The DRU has successfully co-applied for a symposium on the topic "Water as a Public Matter - Water Literacy," which will take place from October 9-11, 2024, at Herrenhausen Palace. Cordula Dittmer is organizing and moderating a panel on "Element Water II - Elemental Forces," which will explore the question of whether and, if so, in what form Water Literacy existed for the protection against flood disasters (and disasters in general) among the relevant actors in disaster management and the (potentially) affected population: 1) whether it existed in the past, 2) whether it currently exists, and 3) whether it should exist and how it can best be developed.

In the first presentation, Nadja Thiessen demonstrates how Water Literacy has historically existed in dealing with floods and how it can be generated through memory. In the second presentation, Anna Heidenreich addresses the psychological prerequisites that must be in place to implement Water Literacy. Petra Krüger (THW) highlights the current ambivalence of Water Literacy in practical flood management between purely technical control and handling, and the fascination with this elemental force, and what concrete effects this has on disaster management. The fourth presentation by Martha Wingen introduces the "HochwasserToK" project, which specifically targets a younger audience to generate, publicize, and raise awareness of Water Literacy.