Water in Morocco

Precious, Precarious and Problematic

Water is a beautifully simple molecule that is essential for survival (precious). Rivers have run dry, aquifers are overdrawn, pollution is widespread, and, with climate change, desert is encroaching and rains hard to predict (precarious). In Morocco, like much of the world, safe drinking water, water for basic sanitation, or water for agriculture, is in short supply and sometimes not available at all (problematic). We will examine water from a biological and technical perspective and delve into the historical, political, economic and social implications in Morocco—a country of diverse cultures and biotic zones from two oceans, mountain ranges and the driest of dry deserts. We will learn through readings, lectures, student presentations and field trips enhanced by visits to key cultural sites and homestays for the 12 days we are in Fez.

Like all countries, Morocco faces water pollution and clean water access problems as well as overall water maintenance challenges. Morocco is in a region where the effects of climate change will be hard felt as droughts will occur at greater frequency and temperatures projected to rise 2^o in the next 50 years—a 1^o rise from historical norms has already been seen. Finally, we will see how these challenges are exacerbated by a rapidly growing population and huge influx of tourists with high water demands.

Morocco is an Islamic country with a fascinating ancient history as a crossroads for trade from sub-Saharan Africa, Asia and Europe. Morocco is populated by people with diverse roots, has a wonderful array of architecture, foods, and traditions.we will see the very modern and ancient living side-by-side. We will benefit from interacting with the French class during our time in Fes.

Note: Content adapted from curricular project.

“Water in Morocco” was recently approved by the curriculum committee, counting as Multicultural Studies Global and Interdisciplinary Science credit. This course will travel to Morocco again in January of 2019.

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This off-campus, 4-week January term, interdisciplinary 200-level course (Bio 253) is designed to explore the many ways water interfaces with the human, biotic and abiotic world. Basic science, technology and social factors are considered simultaneously. It counts toward the Biology major, Environmental Studies, Middle Eastern Studies.

This course is open to sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Although no prior college biology is required, each student is expected to be willing to learn the biology presented and to contribute his/her disciplinary focus to the questions addressed. Students should have some experience at critically reading and extracting information to address both factual and synthesis questions using specific evidence. This skill is further developed in the course.

This is a science class with a strong interdisciplinary focus. For most of our class meetings and assignments we will draw multiple sciences and the intersection with social and political realities, as well as the religious/cultural values of water. We will begin in the capital Rabat to explore some ways in which the government is facing the reality of water—food, health, and the economy are dependent on water in ways that directly affect everyone.

We will visit Ramsar sites and Biosphere Reserves to consider the ecological impacts of water availability, pollution and climate change. In Fez, we will examine two urban water systems, the ancient Roman city of Volubilis and the evolution of water systems from ancient to modern Fez, learn how people use water at home, visit the Al Fassi dam to explore the role of dams in Morocco’s water strategy as well as have regular class periods to explore key topics in detail. We will travel over the Atlas Mountains to the south to explore desert biology, ancient and modern water access and the critical date palm oases. We will tour the NOOR solar plant on our way to the dry forest and ecolodge near Agadir before returning north up the coast to a small Atlantic fishing village.

Water drives everything in countries where it is scarce (unlike the sense of water availability in Minnesota). We will witness firsthand the consequences of water shortage and how individuals and societies deal with this at a local, national and international level.

The biologically related things we would hope to witness and share include:

• Natural water cycle and how humans interrupt it when they attain and use water
• Water in the natural world
• Why individuals need water physiologically and for sanitation
• Water and food – agriculture, fisheries
• Ecological and physiological strategies to the inherent lack of water
• Human technology and behaviors to obtain or conserve fresh water and handle sewage
• Health consequences when water is lacking, agriculturally and/or industrially polluted, or saline
• Stresses on water sources

Each of our topics has a human/social face.

• Cost of handling water
• Attitudes toward water itself including the “right” to water
• Attitudes toward the environment and other species
• Water demands related to energy and industry
• Governance and civil society – individual vs. communal actions