For the past 20 years, Assistant Professor Aziza Chaouni has been working to uncover the Fez River in her hometown of Fez, Morocco. Her efforts to revive and restore the once heavily contaminated river — and create public spaces along its banks — was the subject of a recent TED Talk in Vancouver.

After her talk, the TED Blog followed up with her about the project, asking her how the Fez River Project became a reality, the challenges involved in bringing together diverse state holders, and what it was like to grow up in the Fez medina. Chaouni spoke about the biodiversity that is coming back along the river, the different approach architects must take when working in the developing world, and her research on ecotourism in Southern Morocco and Jordan.

To read the full Q&A, click here.