The Horizon Europe BOOST-IN project is proud to announce the launch of its second educational milestone: the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) titled “Managing Risk in Circular Water Systems.”

As Europe transitions toward a Water-Smart Society, the reuse of water is becoming a cornerstone of climate resilience. However, shifting from linear to circular systems requires a sophisticated understanding of risk—not just technical and environmental, but also social and regulatory.

This new course is specifically designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice, providing learners with the tools necessary to implement safe, sustainable, and trusted water reuse strategies.

What to Expect from the Course

The MOOC offers a comprehensive dive into the complexities of circular water. Participants will move beyond basic definitions to explore how risk varies across different regions and applications. Key highlights include:

  • Technical Tools: Practical training on Safety Plans, Risk Matrices, and international frameworks.
  • Operational Insight: Identifying critical control points and designing effective monitoring strategies.
  • Social Innovation: Specialized modules on risk perception, public trust, and effective stakeholder engagement strategies.

The course is organized into four thematic weekly modules designed to fit into a professional schedule:

  • Week 1: Understanding the evolution of risk in circular water systems.
  • Week 2: Mastering assessment tools and likelihood-impact matrices.
  • Module 3: BOOST-IN Innovations – Exploring real-world case studies of applied circular practices.
  • Week 4: Managing, monitoring, and communicating risk to build public acceptance.

Designed for the Next Generation of Water Leaders

While the course is open to anyone with an interest in environmental science or engineering, it is primarily tailored for young water professionals, researchers, policy makers, and practitioners. There are no specific prerequisites to enroll, making it an accessible entry point for those looking to expand their expertise in the circular economy. The MOOC is the result of a multidisciplinary collaboration between leading institutions within the BOOST-IN consortium:

  • University of Bologna (Italy)
  • National Technical University of Athens (Greece)
  • Ecofilae (France)
  • ZSI – Center for Social Innovation (Austria)

The course staff brings together a wealth of experience, featuring senior researchers and engineers like Stevo Lavrnić (UniBo), Elena Koumaki (NTUA), Cameron McLennan (Ecofilae), Pietro Drei (UniBo), Simos Malamis (NTUA), and Daniela Fuchs (ZSI).

Upon successful completion of the module quizzes (with a passing score of at least 60%), participants will be eligible to download a Certificate of Accomplishment, validating their expertise in this critical field. Visit the official website to learn more.