Frequently asked questions

ADELPHITY: 

Adelphity is a gender neutral term borrowed from French. We use it to signify fraternity and sorority. It expresses solidarity and a desire for unity and taking action together.

BIOCENTRISM: 

Biocentrism as a thought movement is opposed to anthropocentrism and the idea that the human species is outside nature and superior to it, which justifies its exploitation and domination. Biocentrism puts us back among other living things, equal and interdependent with non-human species, such as plants, minerals or animals. This movement is linked to Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess’s deep ecology, whose work you can discover in the Waterchat podcast produced with writer Mathilde Ramadier, his French biographer. The first attempts at granting nature a set of rights, such as the movement to recognize the Seine as a legal entity, show us what biocentrism can achieve: the river gained more legal recognition, which allows for a more even-handed connection with our society. In 2025, Watertrek took part in a fake trial for the Seine rights, set in Paris by our partner Wild legal, committed to this legal action.

CHARACTERIZING: 

For our volunteers, characterizing means dividing waste between groups and subgroups, according to their types, and defining said groups. It’s a typical process of citizen science. Depending on the scientific protocols we choose to apply, the level of detail and characterizing method may vary: waste material (plastic, glass, iron), or origin/use (agricultural or food waste, industrial waste, etc.)

CITIZEN SCIENCE:

Citizen, community or crowd-sourced science are data-collecting programs based on engagement of the general public. They allow the scientific community to obtain field information thanks to non-professional activity. Citizen science is carried out by organizations, laboratories or research institutes, asking the general public for help on specific themes (counting birds in a specific location, observing how a river near your home is draining out, sending photos of littering, etc.)

COLLABORATIVE ART:

This expression qualifies the act of creating and working on a piece of art as a group, or a large number of people taking part in a wide scale restitutionFor example, it may entail asking an entire community to gather colorful plastic bottle caps to create a mural. The participation level may vary from project to project, whether it’s supporting an artist’s project or cocreating a piece altogether. In July 2025, Watertrek produced a show celebrating the Seine being returned to Parisians and asked 10 volunteers to write and create a collaborative and civic-minded performance piece, which ended up welcoming profiles from all ages and backgrounds.

CULTURAL ECOLOGY: 

The act of using culture – any and all forms – to raise ecological awareness and spread a powerful message of preservation. These stories may take the form of shows, exhibitions, songs, books, etc., that tell us stories in connection with living things and encourage us to think about the importance of caring for them.

ECOAVENTURE:

For Watertrek, an ecoadventure is a sports project carrying a powerful ecological message. It’s an opportunity to collect field scientific data, to observe pollution, and transfer these observations to experts or institutions. In our organization, adventures are mostly set in the water (paddleboarding, kayaking, canoe, swimming) or right next to it (hiking along the water’s edge).

ECOFEMINISM:

Ecofeminism is a cultural and social movement considering that violence against women and violence against nature are systemic, share a common origin and can be addressed together. Watertrek shares this view. For us, water is a symbol of fluidity, echoing our emotions and reminding us how important caring is for our relationships, too often still ground for domination. 

ECOPSYCHOLOGY: 

Ecopsychology is a field associating psychology and ecology and making connections between individuals and the collective, intimate and social matters. Watertrek’s work is built on the core belief that these two are very much meshed together, and that the solution to our ecological issues lies with figuring out our attitudes, relationships and perceptions. 

ECOSOPHY: 

Ecosophy is a concept that combines ecology and philosophy, aiming to rethink the relationship between humans and nature from an ethical and sustainable perspective, and harmonize the interactions between human beings and their natural environment, respecting biodiversity, ecosystems, and natural cycles.
This term was popularized by the Norwegian philosopher Arne Næss in the 1970s.

LINKAGE: 

This term illustrates the interconnection and links between things. Living things, human and non-human species are interconnected and interdependent. It is also a field that focuses on the nature of these links. Linkage is at the core of our work at Watertrek, as it hones in first and foremost on our relationship with other species or “nature”. 

MENTAL HEALTH: 

Mental health refers to a state of emotional and psychological balance that enables one to thrive, cope with stress, work effectively, and fully engage in social life. At Watertrek, we believe there is a connection between personal health and the health of ecosystems.

MICROPLASTICS: 

Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic spread throughout nature. They come from plastic being mechanically fragmented by sunlight and wear and tear. They are found in soils, waterways and oceans. They have now permeated the entire food chain and are present within our bodies. 

MUTUALIZATION: 

Mutualizing consists of sharing common resources, such as contacts, tools, ideas, financial or human resources. For over 12 years, volunteers at Watertrek have been carrying out procedures, creating partnerships, and assembling means. Creating and leading an organization, campaigning and acting for environmental issues can be very demanding and time-consuming. We believe that by joining our efforts, you can benefit from what we have already done and save time in your procedures, which in turn, will enrich our sources and fuel other projects. What matters most is sharing, exchanging and coming together in solidarity.

RENDITION : 

It is the act of presenting a piece or project (for instance a nautical expedition told by one of its participants at a conference), in order to tell a story and oftentimes, to communicate a sense of warning. An adventure or an event can also be restituted with an exhibition or a book.