Background
This collection of Toilet Talks and platform were initially created by Marcus Erridge for World Toilet Day 2019. The idea is to raise awareness about the human right to sanitation in it's many forms. The theme for World Toilet Day 2019 is 'leaving no one behind' and this platform encourages contributions that discuss issues around discrimination, marginalization, and WASH access. Academics, Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) professionals, students, and others record and share stories relating to their personal and professional experiences.
​
Different concepts of Toilet Talks have appeared over the years. These include academic talks and publications, public health information around WASH issues, and short videos or animations relating to development work. The term ‘toilet talk’ has also been used in a similar way to ‘laser talk’ or ‘elevator talk’ to signify a short, informative lecture that may not relate to 'toilets' at all.
​
The collection of Toilet Talks assembled in this platform are the result of an open call for submissions through a number of WASH networks. All contributors kindly share their knowledge on a wide range of topics that all relate in different ways to the human right to sanitation and World Toilet Day.
How to Submit a Toilet Talk
The process for creating and submitting your own Toilet Talk is easy. Here are the steps:
-
Decide what you'd like to talk about and sketch out a short script. Please aim for 3-5 minutes in total.
-
Identify a decent quality digital recorder, or use a free software on a smart phone. If using a laptop or desktop, a digital microphone alongside free software is recommended. Do your best with what you have access to.
-
Find a quiet place with minimal background noise to record your Toilet Talk. Expect a few attempts to eliminate mistakes and sound issues. This might include figuring out your best distance from your mic and checking for car horns or barking dogs in the background!. Don't worry about editing sections together - just aim for a single take. The final recording must be good quality, but a couple of slips or stumbles are perfectly natural. Don't obsess, just ensure you are making your key points within 3-5 minutes.
-
Save or convert your audio file to an mp3 file. Some recorders/software produce mp3's automatically. Others can be changed though free online file conversion tools. Then write a short accompanying bio of 50-60 words, provide a headshot picture, and submit these with your Toilet Talk by email to: marcuserridge@ces.uc.pt You will receive a quick reply regarding acceptance of material or troubleshooting issues.
-
Finally, once your talk is approved, please share the published Toilet Talks with your colleagues, friends, family, and professional networks. Ask permission for the Toilet Talks posters to be placed (and kept in situ) in public restrooms at your workplace or institution. The poster can be accessed below.
Poster
Toilet Talks are intended to be advertised through posters placed in selected public bathrooms. Posters include a smart phone-readable barcode which links to this mini-site. Please download the use poster below as a JPEG (web version) or here as a pdf file:
Privacy
This website uses cookies. Cookies are small pieces of data stored on a site visitor's browser. They are typically used to keep track of the settings users have selected, actions they have taken on a site, and help with the performance and function of a website. You can learn more about cookies here and how to delete them from your browsing history here.
​
This website was created using WIX software and specifically uses a free version of the Visitor Analytics app to track general site visitor data. Both Visitor Analytics and WIX are GDPR compliant companies. We use anonymous data relating to the geographic location of visitors and the number of unique visitors to the website to help us assess the reach and success of the Toilet Talks project. We do not collect or use personal data, and no data is shared with any third parties.
​