About Us
Humanity faces grave threats. Millions experience chronic water and food insecurity, while resource depletion, pollution, biodiversity loss and climate change impede our ability to address this crisis. It is critical to change production and consumption systems such that they nurture rather than destroy the planet. For this, we require research and innovation that is solution-oriented, interdisciplinary and has tangible impacts.
That’s why we started Water, Environment, Land and Livelihoods (WELL) Labs.
We work with governments, businesses, multilateral institutions and civil society groups to co-create science-backed solutions that improve people’s lives and livelihoods and sustain nature.
Our Approach
Envision
Envision models for the future that prioritise community-based aspirations and roadmaps
Enable
Enable change through policy, innovation, sustainable scaling and partnerships
Evidence
Evidence to fill critical research gaps and establish best practices
The Team
We are a team of water experts, entrepreneurs, architects, economists, social scientists and communication experts, using our complementary skills to build a world resilient enough to deal with the ever-evolving water, environment, land and livelihood challenges that our planet faces.
Partners
In The News
URBAN WATER
Making Every Drop Count
Published in The Water Digest
Cities are growing faster than they can cope and are growing more vulnerable to extreme weather. With Bengaluru’s ever-escalating water problems becoming a recurrent, annual feature, innovative new thinking and plans are the need of the hour if a calamity is to be avoided. Can Bengaluru make room for the rain through sponge city principles?
Rural Futures
Farmers Are Weary of Politicians’ Lackluster Response to Their Climate-Driven Water Crisis
Published in The Associated Press
Products and Platforms
Evaluating Social Impact at the Grassroots
Published in India Development Review
A recent report produced by Sir Partha Dasgupta highlights the fundamental link between nature, economic prosperity, and human well-being. Natural capital is the bedrock on which the entire economy is built. If we lose that, the very existence of humans on earth is under threat.
Urban Water
Cauvery Stage V draws to a close; what next for BWSSB?
Published in Deccan Herald
“There is a need for an integrated approach to water management and holistic planning. We need to look at improving groundwater levels, preventing the entry of sewage into lakes, and putting wastewater to better use. While Cauvery stage VI will definitely help ease the situation, we should simultaneously look at such sustainable projects,” said Shreya Nath, Managing Partner of the Urban Water Programme at WELL Labs.
Gallery
Raichur Roundtable: Equitable Water Sharing for Sustainable Transitions in Agriculture
A group photo of all the participants at the roundtable.
Raichur Roundtable: Equitable Water Sharing for Sustainable Transitions in Agriculture
Participants discussing equitable water sharing for sustainable transitions in agriculture.
Roundtable on Systematising Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in the Water Sector
A group photo of all the participants at the Roundtable on Systematising Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in the Water Sector.
Roundtable on Systematising Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning in the Water Sector
(From left) Veena Srinivasan, WELL Labs; Ann Haydon, Environmental Defense Fund; Gopal Penny, EDF at the roundtable.
State of the Science Workshop: Climate and Water Resources Modelling in India
A group photo of all the participants at the workshop.
Workshop on ‘Drafting Future Development Scenarios for Decentralised Water Reuse in Bengaluru’
As a part of the WaterReuseLab project, WELL Labs and Eawag organised a scenario workshop to address the question ‘What share could high-quality treated wastewater from decentralised STPs contribute to Bengaluru’s water provision in 2030?’
WELL Labs launch, New Delhi, 2023
(From left) Dr Veena Srinivasan, Executive Director, WELL Labs, speaks with Dr Alok Sikka, Dr Shambu Prasad and Mr Amandeep Panwar at India International Centre.
WELL Labs launch, New Delhi, 2023
Dr Alok Sikka, International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Representative – India, launches the report ‘Farmer Responses to Solar Irrigation in India’
WELL Labs launch, New Delhi, 2023
Dr Ashok Gulati, leading agricultural economist and Distinguished Professor at the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) delivers the keynote address.
WELL Labs launch, New Delhi, 2023
Mr Kapil Viswanathan, President of IFMR and Vice-Chairman, Executive Committee, Krea University, speaks about WELL Labs as he launches the centre.
Water Workshop at EAWAG, Zurich, 2023
Shreya Nath speaks with other experts at a water workshop in EAWAG, Zurich
United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress 2022
(From left) Dr Ashish Sinha Lakshmi Pranuti Choppakatla and Craig Dsouza at UNWGIC.
United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress 2022
Our team members explain Jaltol to attendees at UNWGIC.
United Nations World Geospatial Information Congress 2022
(From left) Dr Ashish Sinha, Craig Dsouza and Lakshmi Pranuti Choppakatla at UNWGIC.
Raichur visit – Baseline assessment study, 2022
A WELL Labs team member studying natural resources during a visit to rural Karnataka
Raichur visit – Baseline assessment study, 2022
WELL Labs teams member studying natural resources during a visit to rural Karnataka
Raichur visit – Baseline assessment study, 2022
WELL Labs team listening to villagers during a visit to Rural Karnataka
Traditional farming – Akkadi saalu
G. Prabhakar, a farmer who practices a traditional form of intercropping called Akkadi Saalu, demonstrates to WELL Labs researchers.