Water Warriors Living Lab: Towards an integrated “Heartware - Hardware – Software” Approach to Water Management

Zeeda Fatimah Mohamad (Department of Science & Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Siti Norasiah Abd Kadir (Department of Science & Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Affan Nasaruddin (Department of Science & Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Fathiah Mohamed Zuki (Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Hazreena Hussein (Department of Architecture, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Nor Aishah Abdullah (Department of Science & Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Abdul Halim Sulaiman (Water Warriors Campus Sustainability Living Lab, UM Community and Sustainability Centre (UMCARES), University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Sharifah Noor Nazim Syed Yahya (Estates' Development & Maintenance Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Mohammad Zainuddin Borhan (Estates' Development & Maintenance Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Mohd Ramzi Mohd Ruslan (Estates' Development & Maintenance Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)
Nordiana Mohd Isa (Estates' Development & Maintenance Department, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603 | University of Malaya |)

Journal of Sustainability Perspectives
Vol 2, No 3 (2022)

This paper presents the experience of the Water Warriors Living Lab, a bottom-up sustainable campus action research initiative in applying the integrated ‘Heartware - Hardware – Software’ approach for water management at the University of Malaya since the year 2013. It advances the proposition that a heartware approach is needed to enhance campus sustainability efforts, in addition to the more strategic hardware and software approaches. The paper describes how the Water Warrior’s experience in applying the heartware approach has been a strengthening factor in resolving water conservation issues at the university (specifically in lake management), and discusses important lessons learned to date. Our theoretical and empirical insights can hopefully provide renewed appreciation on how local, organic and humanistic factors can be essential ingredients for the long term ‘sustainability’ of campus sustainability efforts.Keyword: Campus sustainability, living lab, water management, heartware, bottom-up