RNS: In a landmark development, Dr Amit Gross, a renowned academician associated with the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and serving as the Director of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research (ZIWR) at the Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, has established a momentous partnership with the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras). This collaborative effort sets out to drive an educational initiative focused on the development of innovative solutions for clean water.
Dr Gross is renowned for his expertise in various areas related to water treatment and efficient resource management.
His research activities encompass treating and efficiently utilising marginal water, sludge, and bio-waste, including wastewater, agricultural wastes, and contaminated groundwater. He is committed to developing waste management practices that facilitate efficient reuse and minimize environmental pollution.
This collaboration between Dr Amit Gross and IIT Madras addresses the critical challenge of clean water scarcity, which has become a pressing issue globally.
By leveraging their collective expertise, the ZIWR-IITM team will collaborate on a joint online course, exploring innovative approaches in research, workshops, and educational programs in various water-related topics. The topics cover water supply, mitigation of environmental risks associated with contaminants in water sources, and treatment of wastewater and greywater for reuse purposes, including nutrient and energy recovery.
An MOU has been signed and approved between the universities, and the team has worked to create a curriculum for their online course: Water and the Environment: Current Challenges & Solutions.
IIT Madras, recognized for its pioneering research and technological advancements, has a commitment towards sustainable development and its strong academic community makes it an ideal partner for this endeavor. Together, Dr Gross and IIT Madras aim to develop practical solutions that address the challenges faced in the field of clean water.
Talking about the ongoing project, Dr Amit Gross said, “As part of the ZIWR activity, I am excited and proud to team up with Prof. Thalappil Pradeep from IIT Madras and to join in this new collaboration – which is part of a larger effort between Israel and India – involving different stakeholders from the water sector: research, industry, and government.
Being a very large country facing so many water-related issues, India has the potential to make a lasting global change, and it is a privilege to take part in this endeavour with the advanced technologies and knowledge from Israel. In terms of the environment and water issues around the world, I am hopeful that our efforts will lead to a significant impact.”
“This is a wonderful initiative to address the challenges in water, together with one of the most renowned groups of the world, that too from Israel, which is a leader in water technologies.
In the course of time, we will build on the collective expertise of the participating institutions, extending to other universities, industries, water utilities, startups, administrators and thought leaders from both the countries and across the world”, Prof. Thalappil Pradeep, Professor, IIT Madras and project lead added.
This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainable water management and underscores the importance of global partnerships in tackling water-related challenges. The project’s outcomes will contribute to academic advancements and the welfare of communities worldwide, particularly those affected by water scarcity and pollution.
