The ongoing exhibit, “A Better Way to Go: Toilets and the Future of Sanitation,” at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Discovery Center in Seattle, showcases the importance of improved sanitation globally. Doulaye Kone, head of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene team at the foundation, leads efforts to provide access to safe sanitation for the 3.5 billion people currently living without it. The exhibit explores various themes related to sanitation, including the biology of waste, different methods for dealing with waste, challenges of unsafe waste handling, and reinvented toilets and partnerships that are crucial in advancing sanitation efforts.
Visitors to the exhibit engage with interactive displays and learn about the global issue of sanitation, breaking down taboos associated with discussing waste management. The exhibit features a variety of displays, such as a word cloud with names for poop in different languages, videos of Bill Gates drinking recycled waste water, and interactive maps showing sanitation system failures. There are also displays showcasing innovative technological solutions for the sanitation problem and envisioning a world where sanitation challenges are successfully met.
The exhibit aims to promote awareness and education about the importance of sanitation, particularly in underdeveloped communities where access to proper sanitation facilities is lacking. By highlighting the challenges and solutions associated with sanitation, the exhibit serves as a tool for inspiring change and action. Through interactive and informative displays, visitors, including school children, are encouraged to think about the differences in sanitation experiences globally and consider the implications of growing up without traditional sanitation comforts.
The importance of sanitation is underscored by its impact on health, child mortality, and access to basic necessities in communities around the world. The focus on sanitation aligns with the Gates Foundation’s overall mission of improving health outcomes and advocating for preventive measures, such as clean sanitation, to avoid the spread of diseases transmitted through human waste. The exhibit also addresses concerns related to aging infrastructure in developed countries, which will be increasingly challenged by climate change.
By showcasing the foundation’s efforts and partnerships in advancing sanitation initiatives, the exhibit not only informs visitors about the complexity of sanitation issues but also encourages them to take action in their own lives. Patrick McMahon, a visitor services manager at the Discovery Center, emphasizes the importance of building awareness and understanding about sanitation challenges to empower individuals to make informed choices and potentially contribute to positive change in sanitation practices. Overall, the exhibit serves as a powerful educational tool to engage visitors in a critical global issue that affects the health and well-being of communities worldwide.
