Şermin Güven M.A.

Welcome – Bi xêr hatî!

As a social and cultural anthropologist, I explore the connections between humans and nature in the context of the man-made climate crisis. My focus is on vulnerable groups in extreme water situations, working interdisciplinarily with affected communities to develop sustainable solutions.

My cultural roots trace back to the source of the Euphrates and Tigris, where countless springs (kanî) give life to water. I was born by the Aegean Sea, where shimmering waters meet oil refineries. From there, my journey followed the Ruhr, where the river carries the industries of its region, and then the Aa and the Spree, whose river systems have shaped my anthropological understanding of flood and drought in crisis regions.

These landscapes and waterscapes inform my belief that solutions to ecological challenges lie in the practices of those most affected. Today, I follow rivers across Euphrates and Tigris and rivers in Europe, weaving together cultures, politics, and ecology—through drops, springs, and rivers, both literally and metaphorically, as part of my ecological commitment.

Along the rivers, I trace landscapes and seek answers to ecological challenges. Step by step, I connect with those grounded in the rhythms of the earth, nurturing resilience and sustainability with communities, group or school classes I encounter.