Fossils & Rivers

The Health of Our Rivers: Understanding to Better Protect

How can we tell whether our rivers are healthy? Beyond the appearance of the water, many invisible pollutants can affect aquatic ecosystems: pharmaceutical residues, chemical substances, pesticides, and contaminants such as PFAS.

As scientists, our work focuses on better understanding the health of our rivers and the effects of these contaminants on living organisms. To do so, we study model organisms, such as freshwater amphipods (gammarids) and trout, whose responses to pollutants provide valuable insights into the condition of aquatic environments. These observations are complemented by chemical analyses of the water, helping us better understand the interactions between pollution, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning.

This is one of the objectives of the European Interreg ORION project, which aims to assess and better anticipate changes in water quality in the Meuse River and its tributaries, particularly in the context of climate change.

Beyond scientific research, however, raising public awareness of these issues is essential. Artistic projects such as Co-Vision offer alternative ways of engaging with these questions, fostering a more sensitive and emotional connection with rivers and the living beings that inhabit them. By bringing together art, science, and technology, such initiatives invite us to see these ecosystems from a different perspective, recognise their fragility, and, above all, strengthen our desire to protect them.

Valérie Cornet, PhD in Sciences, Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Namur, Belgium