Publications and Bibliography

Selected Exhibitions

-(June 2025–February 2026) Thirst: In Search of Freshwater, Wellcome Collection, London, UK.

–Water Pressure: Gestaltung Für Die Zukunft (Designing for The Future), Museum für Kunst Und Gewerbe (MK&G), Hamburg, Germany: March-October 2024; Museum für Gestaltung, Zürich, Switzerland: November 2024- June 2025; Museum für angewandte Kunst, Wien, Austria: May – September 2025. Curated by Jane Withers Studio London and Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany.

-(Jan 2021) Rubenstein, Meridel, Eden in Iraq: Water Extraction and Restoration, EXTRACTION: Art on the Edge of the Abyss, Codex Foundation, Berkeley, California

-(June 2018) Rubenstein, Meridel, In the Marshes: Eden in Iraq, 4 track video installation, Currents New Media Festival 2018, El Museo Cultural, Santa Fe, NM and National Design Center, Singapore (2017).

-(Oct 2017) Rubenstein, Meridel, Eden Turned on its Side, University of New Mexico Art Museum, with monograph incl essays by Dr. Shawn Michelle Smith and author Alan Weisman, 80 plates.

-(Sept-Dec 2012), Eden Again, a collaborative land art commission, for the International Symposium on Electronic Arts (ISEA), Albuquerque, NM, an Art/Ecology Wastewater Garden installation mirroring the proposed Art/Ecology Wastewater Garden to be built in the S. Iraq Marshes.

Publications

-Ramzan, Iram, (Feb 2026), The American Artist Working To Restore Iraq’s Garden of Eden, https://www.themiddleeastuncovered.com/p/the-american-artist-working-to-restore

-Withers, Jane, (Aug 5, 2025), Reed it and Weep, The World of Interiors, https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/eden-in-iraq-wastewater-garden

-Weisman, Alan, Hope Dies Last, Dutton, NY, 2025, p. 21, pp.14-28, p.391, pp.390-397.

-Fishman, Susan Hoffman, (2024), Imagining Water: Myth, Ritual, and A Changing Planet. pp.40-19, IMAGE Journal, Seattle.

-Lewis, Charlotte, The Climate Tribe, (Oct 2024), The Artist’s Eye on Eden, http://theclimatetribe.com/en/read/interviews/the-artist-s-eye-on-eden

-(Nov 2023), Al Mudhief: A Confluence, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Schuylkill, PA, text with image, pp.22-23.

-Eden in Iraq-Wastewater Garden Project: interview with Meridel Rubenstein, Archiekturfuhrer Irak und /Syrien, herausgegeben von Lore Muhlbauer and Yasser Shretah, DOM Publishers,  Berlin , pp.344-47 May 2022       

–Meridel Rubenstein-The Eden in Iraq Wastewater Garden Project, IMA Magazine 2022, Spring/Summer Vol.37,Tokyo,Japan https://imaonline.jp/?p=141649&post_type=articles&preview=1&_ppp=4ae5382df4

-Weisman, Alan, The world, with or without us: Increasing gas and oil production is a disastrously bad idea, Salon, May 22, 2022 https://www.salon.com/2022/05/22/the-world-with-or-without-us-increasing-gas-and-oil-production-is-a-disastrously-idea/

-Tocchetto, Davide, In the Marsh, (article, photos, and interview with Jassim Al Asadi), Nuovo Ecologia, Roma, Italia ppg. 38-40 March 2022

“Rejuvenating Wastewater Garden”, 30 years of Momentum, 30 Perspectives, 1991-2021, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore pp126-127 with special VR link, 2021

Mehdi, Zainab (2021). “Iraq’s Southern Marshes Challenged By Storm of Crises.” Amwaj.media, amwaj.media/article/the-eden-in-iraq-wastewater-garden-project-a-positive-step-towards-restoring-iraq. Accessed July 3, 2021.

Pocock, Jennifer (2021). “Wisdom of the Ages.” Prism Magazine, www.asee-prism.org/wisdom-of-the-ages/. Accessed July 3, 2021.

Pelts, Sam (2020). “Meridel Rubenstein, Eden in Iraq: Water Extraction and Restoration.” EXTRACTION: Art on the Abyss, CODEX Foundation, pp. 512-513.

Rubenstein, Meridel (2020). “Adam and Eve in the Southern Iraq Marshes.” Dark Mountain, Spring 2020, p. B4

Chua, Melanie (2019). “Recovering Eden, Making for Sustainable Community, BRACK.” The Energy, March 2019.

Roth, David M (2019). “Meridel Rubenstein @ Brian Gross.” Square Cylinder, www.squarecylinder.com/2019/03/meridel-rubenstein-brian-gross/. Accessed: July 2, 2021.

Abatemarco, Michael (2018). “Absolute Power, Currents New Media 2018.” Pasatiempo, June 8, 2018, p. 28.

Rubenstein, Meridel (2018). “Genesis of Hope.” Trend Magazine, June 2018, pp. 49-59.

Rubenstein, Meridel (2017). Eden Turned on Its Side, University of New Mexico Museum and Press. Essays by Dr. Shawn Michelle Smith and Alan Weisman.

Tocchetto, Davide, and Meridel Rubenstein (2016). “Mesopotamia Secco a Secco.” La Nuovo Ecologia, Anno XXXVI Numero 1, Gennaio 2016, pp. 62.64.

“Eden in Iraq: Ecological and Cultural Restoration Through Art, Design and Environmental Science.” Creating a Sustainable World, Sustainable Earth Office, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, 2016, pp. 188-89.

Nelson, Mark, and Meridel Rubenstein (2015). “Adam and Eve’s Sewage Problem.” Solutions for a Sustainable and Desirable Future, Vol. 5, No. 4, pp. 17-22.

Nelson, Mark (2014). The Wastewater Gardener: Preserving the Planet One Flush at a Time. Synergetics Press. Foreword by Tony Juniper, CBE.

Rubenstein, Meridel, Catherine Harris, Stacey Neff, and Mark Nelson (2012). “Eden Again: A Wastewater Garden Project.” ISEA 2012 Albuquerque: Machine Wilderness, Radius Books, p. 82.

Blythem, Rebecca (2011). “Return to Eden.” Elements Magazine, July 2011, p. 27.

Scientific Papers on Constructed Wetlands & Wastewater Garden Systems

by Eden in Iraq Wastewater Garden Project team members

Nelson, M., F. Cattin, D. Tocchetto, and L. Hafouda (in press, 2021). “Constructed Wetlands in Hot and Arid regions: Wastewater Gardens systems in Yucatan, Mexico; northwest Australia; northern Algeria and southern Iraq.” Constructed Wetlands in Hot and Arid Regions, Springer Publishers.

Tocchetto, D., M. Rubenstein, M. Nelson, and J. Al Asadi (in press, 2021). “Circular economy in the Mesopotamian Marshes: The Eden in Iraq Wastewater Garden Project.” Circular Economy and Sustainability:  Environmental Engineering, Policy, and Management, Vol. II. Elsevier Publishing, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Tocchetto, Davide, Meridel Rubenstein, Mark Nelson, Peer Sathikh, and Florence Cattin, The Marshes of Southern Iraq: New Eden in Iraq treatment wetlands project, p. 149,  CHAPTER 5 – WETLAND MANAGEMENT, in Ecology, Functioning and Management, edited by Maurizio Borin, Mario Malagoli, Michel Salvato, and Benek Tanis, Published by P.A.N. s.r.l.,Via della Croce Rossa, 112 – 35129 Padova (Italy),ISBN 978-88-902948-4-6, 2020

Nelson, M. (2020). “The challenge of managing water and nutrient cycles in a mini-world – the lessons from Biosphere 2, Global Water Forum.” globalwaterforum.org/2020/08/06/the-challenge-of-managing-water-and-nutrient-cycles-in-a-mini-world-the-lessons-from-biosphere-2/. Accessed 2 July 2021.

Saggaï, M., A. Abdelkader, M. Nelson, et al. (2017). “Long-term investigation of constructed wetland wastewater treatment and reuse: Selection of adapted plant species for metaremediation.” Journal of Environmental Management (201): 1 October 2017, pp. 120-128.

Tocchetto, D., M. Rubenstein, M. Nelson, et al. (2013). “Marshes of Southern Iraq: New Eden in Iraq treatment wetlands project.” Proceeding of International Conference 1-4 Sept. 2013, Society of Wetland Scientists European Chapter, Padova, Italy.

Nelson, M., and B.C. Wolverton (2011). “Plants + Soil/Wetland Microbes and Food Crop Systems that also Clean Air and Water.” Advances in Space Research (47) 4:582-590. dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2010.10.007. Accessed 2 July 2012.

De Stefani, G., D. Tocchetto, M. Salvato, and M. Borin (2011). “Performance of a floating treatment wetland for in-stream water amelioration in NE Italy”. Hydrobiologia 674 (1):157-167.

Debabeche, M., M. Lajo, D. Tocchetto, et al. (2010). “Eaux usées épurées par phytoepuration pour l’irrigation des espaces verts urbains dans un climat aride.” Proceedings of 5th International Conférence Water Resources in Mediterranean Basin “WATMED5” May 26-28 2010, Lille, France.

De Stefani, G., D. Tocchetto, M. Salvato, et al. (2009). “Applications of floating system for in stream water treatment.” Proceedings of 4th Annual Meeting of the European Chapter of the Society of Wetlands Scientists (SWS), pp. 140-141.

Tredwell, R., and M. Nelson (2009). “Effective Approaches for Environmental Wastewater Management and Training – The Birdwood Downs Case Studies in the Kimberley Region Of West Australia.” Sustainability of Indigenous Communities in Australia, pp. 207-220, Murdoch University, Murdoch, West Australia.

Hafouda, L., M. Hadad, Y. Arif, K. Djafri, et al. (2008). “L’épuration  des eaux usées domestiques par les plantes; une alternative a encouragé pour une préservation durable de l’environnement on zones arides; Cas de la station pilote du vieux Ksar de Temacine; Touggourt).”  Colloque international “Aridoculture”, Biskra, Algérie, le 13 et le 14 Décembre 2008

Nelson, M., F. Cattin, M. Rajendran, et al. (2008). “Value-adding through creation of high diversity gardens and ecoscapes in subsurface flow constructed wetlands: Case studies in Algeria and Australia of constructed wetland systems.” Paper presented at the 11th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution Control, November 2008, Indore, India. www.researchgate.net/publication/267845275_Value-adding_through_creation_of_high_diversity_gardens_and_ecoscapes_in_subsurface_flow_constructed_wetlands_Case_studies_in_Algeria_and_Australia_of_Wastewater_Gardens_R_systems. Accessed July 5, 2021.

Nelson, M., R. Tredwell, A. Czech, et al. (2008). “Worldwide Applications of Wastewater Gardens and Ecoscaping: Decentralised Systems which Transform Sewage from Problem to Productive, Sustainable Resource.” Decentralised Water and Wastewater Systems : International Conference, Fremantle, Western Australia, 10-12 July 2006 pp. 63-73, IWA Publications, London.

Tocchetto, D., G. Simonetti, M. Salvato, and M. Borin (2008). “In-stream floating vegetated systems to reduce effluent loads”: Proceedings of “8th International Wetlands Conference INTECOL” (Cuiabà Brasile 20-25 Luglio 2008) p. 32.

Borin, M., and D. Tocchetto (2007). “A constructed surface flow wetland for treating agricultural drainage waters. Water and nitrogen balance from 1998 to 2002.” Science of the Total Environment, vol. 380, no. 1-3.

Nelson, M., F. Cattin, R. Tredwell, et al. (2007). “Why there are no better systems than Constructed Wetlands to treat sewage water: Advantages, Issues and Challenges”, Center of  New Water Technologies (CENTA), Ministry of Environment, Sevilla, Spain.

Tocchetto, D., and M. Borin (2007). “Floating vegetated systems to reduce the effluent loads in aquaculture farms. Performance and system evolution.” Proceeding of International Conference on Multi Functions of Wetland Systems.

Tocchetto, D. (2007). “Treatment of Wastewater with Natural Systems and Reuse of Clean Water for Different Applications in the Caribbean Islands.” Proceedings of CWWA2007 Conference 1-5 Oct 2007, Caribbean Wastewater Association Conference 2007, St. Kitts, West Indies.

Borin, M., and D. Tocchetto (2006). “Observations on ornamental macrophytes for their potential use in subsurface flow wetland systems.” Proceeding of IWA International Conference, Lisbon.

Nelson, M., H. T. Odum, M. T. Brown, et al. (2001) “Living off the land: resource efficiency of wetland wastewater treatment.” Advances in Space Research vol. 27(9): 1546-1556.

Nelson, M., M. Finn, C. Wilson, et al. (1999). “Bioregenerative recycle of wastewater in Biosphere 2 using a created wetland: two year results.” Ecological Engineering 13: 189-197.

Nelson, M. (1998). “Limestone mesocosm for recycling saline wastewater in coastal Yucatan, Mexico.” Ph.D. dissertation, Dept. of Environmental Engineering Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, pp. 329.

Nelson, M. (1998). “Wetland systems for bioregenerative reclamation of wastewater — from closed systems to developing countries.” Life Support and Biosphere Science, 5(3): 357-369.

General Sources

Al Asadi, Jassim, The Ghosts of Iraq’s Marshes, American University in Cairo Press, 2024.

Albright, W.F. (1922). “The Location of the Garden of Eden.” The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, 39 (1); 15-31.

Alwash, Suzanne (2013).  Eden Again: Hope in the Marshes of Iraq. Tablet House Publishing, Fullerton, CA.

Ansari, N. (2012). Islamic Gardens. Thesis for Master of Landscape Architecture, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India.

Blair, Sheila S., and Jonathan M. Bloom (2002). Islam. Yale University Press.

Hamdani, Abdulamir (2008). “Protecting and Recording our Archaeological Heritage in Southern Iraq.” Near Eastern Archaeology, vol. 71, no. 4, pp. 221-230.

Jastrow, Morris, Jr. (1917).  “Sumerian Myths of Beginnings.” The American Journal of Semitic Languages and Literatures, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 91-144.

Mackenzie, Donald A. (1915). Myths of Babylonia and Assyria. Gresham Publishing Co., London.

Maxwell, Gavin (1957). A Reed Shaken by the Wind: Travels Among the Marsh Arabs of Iraq. Paperback ed., Eland Publishing, London, 2004.

Musselman, Lytton John (2007). Figs, Dates, Laurel and Myrrh-Plants of the Bible and Quran. Timber Press, Oregon.

Ochsenschlager, E. (2004). Iraq’s Marsh Arabs in the Garden of Eden. University of Pennsylvania Museum Publications.

Potts, Daniel (1997). Mesopotamian Civilization: The Material Foundations. Cornell University Press.

Pournelle, J. (2003). Marshland of Cities: Deltaic Landscapes and the Evolution of Early Mesopotamian Civilization. Doctoral Dissertation. University of California, San Diego.  ( tDAR id: 380824); doi:10.6067/XCV8J67GK3.