National Water Research Institute
October 27, 2014, E-Newsletter
In This Issue
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Experts in Water Treatment Technology to Speak at Clarke Prize Conference
New NWRI Corporate Associate: RMC Water and Environment
Meet the New NWRI Graduate Fellowship Recipients
Experts in Water Treatment Technology to Speak at Clarke Prize
Conference
One of the highlights of this year’s Clarke Prize Conference on Urban Water Sustainability is the
participation of accomplished researchers in the field of water resources science. Several of these
internationally recognized experts are Clarke Prize Laureates who will speak about their research during
the session on “New and Innovative Sustainable Treatment Technologies.” They include:
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Menachem Elimelech, a professor of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale
University, was awarded the Clarke Prize in 2006. His research is in the area of the water-energy
nexus and includes membrane-based processes for energy-efficient desalination and wastewater
reuse, as well as the sustainable production of water and energy generation with engineered
osmosis. Dr. Elimelech’s Clarke Prize presentation will focus on forward osmosis treatment
technology.
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Bruce Logan, a professor of Environmental Engineering at The Pennsylvania State University,
was awarded the Clarke Prize in 2009. His research interests include perchlorate bioremediation
and biological treatment of wastewater. Dr. Logan’s Clarke Prize presentation will focus on the
use of reverse electrodialysis and capacitive mixing to extract energy from salinity gradients.
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Mark Wiesner, a professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University, was
awarded the Clarke Prize in 2011. His research interests include membrane processes,
nanostructured materials, transport and fate of nanomaterials in the environment, colloidal and
interfacial processes, and environmental systems analysis. Dr. Wiesner’s Clarke Prize
presentation will focus on nanomaterial behavior in complex environments.
The highlight of the event will be the Twenty-First Annual Clarke Prize Award Ceremony, which will honor
David L. Sedlak, Ph.D., of the University of California, Berkeley, as the 2014 recipient of the NWRI
Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize. Sedlak will also present the annual Clarke Lecture on “Delivering
the Fourth Water Revolution.”
To download the full conference agenda or to register, please visit www.ClarkePrize.com.
New NWRI Corporate Associate: RMC Water and Environment
NWRI is pleased to announce a new member of the NWRI Corporate Associates Program.
RMC Water and Environment is a California-based environmental engineering company focused on
developing innovative solutions to the complex challenges of using and protecting water — one of the
earth’s most vital resources. It is a recognized leader in water resources, integrated water supply, and
recycled water planning in California, and has been involved in strategic water supply planning since its
founding in 1998. From integrated regional water management planning and climate change analysis to
potable reuse, RMC’s wide range of services help agencies and local communities effectively address
their water and environmental challenges. There are eight RMC offices throughout California. For more
information about RMC Water and Environment, please visit its website at http://www.rmcwater.com/.
The NWRI Corporate Associates Program is designed to promote collaboration and information exchange
between our corporate partners, the water and wastewater utilities that serve as NWRI member agencies,
and our colleagues in the water industry. For more information on this program, please visit
http://www.nwri-usa.org/associates.htm. If you would like to discuss potential activities and collaborations
through the program, please contact Jeff Mosher, NWRI Executive Director, at (714) 378-3278 or
jmosher@nwri-usa.org.
As an NWRI Corporate Associate, RMC Water and Environment will be a sponsor of the upcoming 2014
Clarke Prize Conference and Award Ceremony. We thank RMC for their support!
Meet the New NWRI Graduate Fellowship Recipients
NWRI is pleased to introduce our four new NWRI Graduate Fellows, who have been awarded $5,000 a
year for two years to support outstanding graduate research projects related to developing and enhancing
water supplies.
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Khadeeja Abdullah is a third-year doctoral student at the University of California, Los Angeles,
working on a project called “Matrix Acidization: A Survey of an Unconventional Oil
Stimulation Technique's Use in California, It's Impact on Water Quality and Humans,
Possible Wastewater Treatment Techniques, and Policy Implications.” Her work is important
because little is known about how the use of strong acids by the oil industry is affecting the
environment. Dr. Michael Stenstrom is her academic advisor.
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Chen Chen is a first-year doctoral student at the University of California, Riverside. Studying
under Dr. Sharon Walker, Chen is investigating “Filtration Mechanisms Involved with the
Removal of Engineered Nanomaterial from Drinking Water.” Her work will advance the ability
of filtration technologies designed to protect our water resources from a range of common
contaminants.
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Matthew Flood is a first-year doctoral student at Michigan State University who is working under
Dr. Joan Rose. His research project on “New Molecular Technologies for Groundwater
Surveillance: A Survey of Groundwater in Four Distinct Regions of the United States” aims
to develop a rapid assessment procedure for identifying pathogens in groundwater.
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Natalia von Reitzenstein is a second-year doctoral student at Arizona State University. The goal
of her project on “Polymer-Nanoparticle Electrospun Novel Fiber for Water Treatment” is to
optimize the functionality of fibers used to remove pollutants during the water treatment
process. Her academic advisor is Dr. Paul Westerhoff.
The NWRI Fellowship program is underwritten by the Joan Irvine Smith & Athalie R. Clarke Foundation,
community partners, and the NWRI Corporate Associates, including:
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ARCADIS
Black & Veatch
Carollo Engineers, Inc.
CH2M Hill
DUDEK
Hazen and Sawyer
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
RMC Water and Environment
Trussell Technologies, Inc.
Graduate students must be enrolled full-time at a university in the United States to be eligible for
fellowship awards through NWRI. For more information about the fellowship program, visit www.nwriusa.org.