“Clean water is a human right,” said Scott A. Ashford, Kearney Dean of Engineering, in his opening remarks at the 2024 Clean Water Showcase. “It is the foundation of life and the key to prosperity of communities worldwide.”
About the Clean Water Showcase
The showcase, hosted by the College of Engineering on May 22, highlighted current research supported by the Clean Water Technology Initiative. The all-day public event featured special guest speakers, poster presentations by student researchers, and informative breakout sessions for attendees.
The Clean Water Technology Initiative
Oregon State University launched the Clean Water Technology Initiative in 2018 with a generous gift from Jon and Stephanie DeVaan, who renewed their commitment in 2023. The DeVaans were also on hand for the showcase, both as attendees and as participants. In the morning, the DeVaans heard a series of “lightning talks,” rapid-fire presentations, by undergraduate researchers whose projects are supported by the initiative. Switching roles in the afternoon, the DeVaans led a well-received breakout session for those same students on the importance of developing strong leadership skills.
“I want to see you all go out there, take charge, and do the job you need to do,” Stephanie DeVaan told the students. “That takes confidence. In order to lead effectively, you need to think of yourself as a leader. Start now. Take ownership. Let your voices be heard.”
Dorthe Wildenschild, the Jon and Stephanie DeVaan Chair and Executive Director for Clean Water Initiatives, underscored the critical role of engineering research in securing clean water for current and future generations.
“The importance of clean water cannot be overstated,” Wildenschild said. “And yet, more than one in four people worldwide lack access to this most essential resource. The research presented here today provides a broad sampling of diverse, innovative, technology-based approaches to one of the greatest challenges of our time.”
Keynote Speakers
Keynote speakers were John Audley, principal of John Audley Consulting; Debora Rodrigues, Ezekiel Cullen Professor at the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering; Eric Hoek, professor at the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and faculty scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; and Aaron Wolf, professor in the College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences at Oregon State University.
Audley, who spoke on securing Oregon’s water future, addressed the need for state leaders to enact policy to ensure that all Oregonians have access to affordable, quality water. “A more resilient Oregon natural system will be founded on encouraging and rewarding innovative solutions to multiple water management challenges, reducing compliance and enforcement costs, and providing greater protections for our most critical natural resource,” Audley said. “Whether we achieve this vision will depend in large measure on the hard work and leadership of the Oregon Legislature and office of the governor.”
Rodrigues spoke on opportunities and challenges associated with providing affordable water treatment technologies for developing countries.
“Since I came from a developing country, my career goal has been to identify and develop novel technologies that are affordable to treat different water contaminants,” Rodrigues said. “Ultimately, my research group’s goal is to identify complementary technologies to enhance water treatment in an affordable manner to help reduce water crises in developing countries.”
Oregon State’s Role in Clean Water Research
Faculty within the College of Engineering are recognized nationally and globally for their innovative research on water systems. Areas of expertise include improving access to clean water, treating water and wastewater, strengthening upstream processes, protecting and remediating groundwater resources, and improving the infrastructure needed to manage water sustainably.
Ashford says Oregon State is uniquely positioned to create solutions.
“We have a long history of interdisciplinary collaboration,” he said. “We have a new strategic plan focusing on climate science, integrated health, biotechnology, and clean energy. And, most importantly, we care so much about creating a better future for everyone.”
