J-WAFS and MIT News
2018 News
2017 J-WAFS Fellow Profiled by MIT NewsRead about how Zijay Tang, 2017-2018 J-WAFS Fellow for Water Solutions, became interested in creating bio-materials and living water sensors. |
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J-WAFS Announces 2018 Solutions GranteesThese two newly funded MIT Solutions grant projects will aid commercialization of novel MIT technologies to test water safety and improve agricultural productivity in the Global South. |
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“Former Water Innovation Prize Winner Named on Forbes “30 under 30”A 28-year-old MIT graduate has created a leak-detecting robot that could eliminate some of the 2 trillion gallons of wasted drinking water annually. |
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J-WAFS funded PI explores solutions to pesticide runoffIn addition to related research funded by J-WAFS, MIT professor Kripa Varanasi has discovered a key factor to ensure that agriculture sprays that carry fertilizer and pesticides hit and stick to plants efficiently: size. This development has the potential to significantly decrease pollution due to runoff. |
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Xylem makes Fortune 2018 list of “Change the World” companiesJ-WAFS Research Affiliate Xylem has been named one of the top 10 "Change the World" companies by Fortune magazine. The company has been recognized for its innovation and meaningful global impact. |
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Krithika Ramchander and Andrea Beck awarded J-WAFS fellowships for water solutionsGraduate students receive J-WAFS fellowships to support research focused on improving water access for rural as well as urban communities. |
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J-WAFS Newsletter Highlight: Water Management: Global Risks, Local SolutionsFor nations without sufficient or reliable local water sources, the global market can be a ticket to food and water security. These nations import food and goods, and in doing so, access “virtual water”. The growing inter-dependence of nations through the virtual water trade, however, poses new risks. |
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Urban storm flooding may no longer be a threat to citiesTo combat the increasing numbers of U.S. cities that are suffering from urban storm flooding and damage, J-WAFS-funded MIT researchers released a report recently highlighted by Progrss, a website dedicated urban innovation. They discuss the report and how it illuminates the necessity for engineered greenspaces. |
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China could face deadly heat waves due to climate changeA recent MIT study shows that China’s most populous and agriculturally important region may soon push the boundaries of habitability. Compared to previous studies that predict increased heatwaves in the Persian Gulf area and South Asia, researchers anticipate that China’s will be the deadliest. |
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Fog may help quench world’s thirstTwo-thirds of the world’s population experience water shortages annually, and with climate change and growing populations, water supplies will need to be stretched even further. This cost-effective MIT solution could help these regions obtain water through fog. |
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MIT economists help solve problem of disappearing riceIn the late 1990’s, Indonesia set up a rice subsidy program known as Raskin, yet less than 50% of the 100 kilos distributed actually made it the intended households. MIT economists have found a solution: post-cards. |
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J-WAFS-funded project pulls drinking water out of thin airUsing only energy from the sun, a group of MIT researchers led by Evelyn Wang and Mircea Dinca, have developed a device that captures vapor in the air, and transforms it into liquid water. The device works for air with levels of humidity as low as 20%, where it could provide important relief in water scarce regions. |
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J-WAFS PI Taylor Perron named EAPS associate department headMIT Associate Professor Taylor Perron has been appointed associate department head for MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences. Perron, an expert in landscape evolution, will build upon the work of outgoing associate department head Tim Grove, supporting the EAPS education mission. |
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Study finds climate determines shapes of river basinsA recent study by MIT scientists reports that the shape of river basins, whether they’re long and thin or short an squat, is heavily influenced by the climate in which they are formed. This research, which shows a large-scale connection between hydrogeology and geomorphology, may help researchers identify ancient climates on Earth or other planets. |
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A solution for urban storm floodingMIT researchers have released a study detailing viable solutions to handle storm water runoff in urban areas. This research, funded by a J-WAFS seed grant, shows how engineered green spaces can capture and purify storm water while delivering ecosystem and recreational benefits. |
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Study finds potential in brackish groundwater desalinationIn a study led by J-WAFS director John Lienhard, MIT researchers have discovered a large, untapped water resource. Based on measurements taken from more than 100,000 wells in the U.S., the research team has shown how water-starved areas could benefit from desalinating sources other than seawater. |
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MIT tech review recognizes J-WAFS solutions alumShreya Dave, CEO of Via Separations, a spin out company of a 2015 J-WAFS Solutions-funded project, was named one of MIT Technology Review's "35 Innovators Under 35." Selected from over 600 nominees, Dave joins other innovators from across the world in fields such as in AI, biomedicine electronics, energy, and more. |
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Discovering hidden stories in the Flint water crisisGraduate student and Flint native Elena Sobrino studies the questions the ongoing water crisis has raised about science, power, and where to go from here -- as people continue to deal with not knowing if their water is safe or not. |
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J-WAFS Newsletter Highlight: How Much Water Did You Eat Today?For the novice, the term “virtual water” might conjure images of a computer game or the next digital currency, but virtual water is far from a cyber term. This term emerged as a way of highlighting the intertwined nature of food production and water. After all, drinking, washing, and domestic uses of water comprise only 10% of the water consumed across the globe. The rest, nearly 90%, is devoted to food production |
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2016 Rabobank-MIT Food Prize winner Ricult raises $1.85m to improve smallholder farmer profitability with digital tech platformThe third place winner in the first Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize, Ricult empowers over 1,000 smallholder farmers in Thailand and Pakistan through a platform that bridges credit, information, and access gaps. Since the 2016 Food Prize, Ricult has been backed by the Gates Foundation and recently raised $1.85 million in seed funding. |
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MIT study shows climate action can limit Asia’s growing water shortagesA new MIT study shows that following the Paris accord could reduce the risk of severe water-access problems across Asia. It is published in the journal Environmental Research Letters by researchers in MIT's Joint Program: Xiang Gao, Adam Schlosser, Charles Fant, and Kenneth Strzepek, who also co-led this J-WAFS-funded project. |
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New system recovers fresh water from power plantsA new system devised by MIT engineers could provide a low-cost source of drinking water for parched cities around the world while also cutting power plant operating costs. This technology captures water evaporating from nuclear power plant cooling towers and is to be installed at MIT’s Central Utility Plant soon. |
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How many people can China feed?MIT graduate student Tiziana Smith studies links between water availability and crop yields in the world’s most populous country. This profile details her research, campus involvement, and lifelong commitment to water issues. She is also a recent recipient of a J-WAFS Travel Grant which she will use to attend 2018 Stockholm Water Week. |
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J-WAFS awards over $1.3 million in fourth round of seed grant fundingEleven principal investigators from six MIT departments will receive grants totaling over $1.3 million, overhead free, for research on food and water challenges. |
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J-WAFS PIs Seek Optimal Design for Urban WetlandsDesign guidelines for urban stormwater wetlands, released by an interdisciplinary MIT Pi team in April 2018 and developed with the support of a 2015 J-WAFS seed grant, are reviewed here by The Dirt blog. |
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Infinite Cooling wins Cleantech University Prize competitionMIT startup technology recaptures up to 80 percent of the water vapor that would normally escape from power plant cooling towers. Infinite Cooling technology could have a significant environmental and economic impact worldwide by greatly reducing high water usage by power plants. |
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J-WAFS expert workshop explores intertwined future of food production, water, and climateWhat do we know, and what remains unknown about the impact of climate change on food, water, and agriculture, now and in the future? To answer this question, J-WAFS gathered global specialists from around the world at a two-day workshop at MIT in May, 2018. Here, MIT News captures the knowledge that was shared, as well as areas with pressing need for further research. |
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Water flows through the 2018 World Economic Forum Global Risks ReportFor the first time, water and food crises were among the top ten global risks identified by the World Economic Forum in their 2018 Global Risks Report. In this article for Opening Doors, J-WAFS provides an analysis, putting into context how our funded projects are seeking solutions that could reduce the potential impacts of the water and food crises and related global challenges that the WEF have identified. |
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Prize-winning projects promote healthier eating, smarter crop investmentsMeal kits for “food deserts” and crowdsourced crop-pricing platform win Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize. The competition was sponsored by Rabobank—one of the largest banks in the world that caters specifically to food and agribusiness clients—and supported by J-WAFS and the MIT Food and Agriculture Club. |
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What will we eat in the year 2050?An MIT-sponsored gathering of experts in the sciences, humanities and design focused on the role and impact of models to envision the global food system under climate change. |
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MIT PhD student grows a living water sensorIn this J-WAFS student spotlight, we interview biological engineering PhD student Tzu-Chieh Tang (Zijay), who is a 2017-2018 J-WAFS fellow. Zijay works across disciplines to develop engineered living materials that can sense contaminants and be used as living sensors that can both record contaminant levels in water supplies and serve as bioremediation tools. Read more to learn about his fascinating research area, and the path that led him to it. |
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J-WAFS news: new mobile-friendly designWe’ve spruced up our newsletter just in time for spring! Sign up for our monthly J-WAFS e-newsletter to peruse our new design and get the latest updates, events, and opportunities in water and food at MIT and across the globe. |
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Simple, low-cost E. coli test wins MIT Water Innovation PrizeCongratulations to the winners of the 2018 MIT Water Innovation Prize! The prize, organized by the MIT Water Club and co-sponsored by J-WAFS, is a startup competition that attracts student teams from around the US. Nine student teams competed for $30K in awards. Three top teams received awards with Oasis, a student team from Georgia Tech, winning the $15,000 grand prize. |
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J-WAFS-Funded Xylem Water Filter Poster Awarded at MIT Water NightOn World Water Day, March 22nd, the J-WAFS-sponsored MIT Water Club celebrated water research of all kinds with an art and science-filled celebration: Water Night. There, Krithika Ramchander, PhD candidate in MechE, won first prize in the Water Technology category for the J-WAFS Solutions-funded water filter made of tree xylem. |
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J-WAFS milk testing device to improve food safety in dairy industry in IndiaA sensing device currently being developed by MIT MechE professor Sanjay Sarma, covered here in Gulf News, tests the quality and safety of milk to allow early detection of contamination. This piece shows how this J-WAFS Solutions project could address current challenges that India's dairy industry faces by providing an affordable and accessible tool that could be used throughout the supply chain. |
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How a J-WAFS-funded device harvests water from airAn MIT-developed system could provide drinking water even in extremely arid locations. This technology, which is supported by a 2017 J-WAFS seed grant, uses metal organic frameworks (MOFs) to extract potable water from even the driest of desert air. Here, MIT News catches us up on recent advancements and the PIs scale-up plans. |
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Two J-WAFS projects featured in Water Desalination ReportThe March volume of the Water Desalination Report covered two J-WAFS-funded projects that will be presented at the Global Water Summit to be held in April in Paris, France. MIT's Shreya Dave will present on NUfiltration, a nanofiltration membrane made of graphene that J-WAFS funded in 2015. MechE associate professor Evelyn Wang will present on the currently funded research that uses metal organic frameworks (MOFs) to passively capture water vapor, which can be released by natural sunlight. |
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J-WAFS director John Lienhard's snapshot of J-WAFS' impactFollowing a talk on February 15th at the Universidad de Alcalá (UAH), J-WAFS director John Lienhard spoke with iAgua, a media group in Spain focused on water sector news. This interview provides an introduction to MIT's unique approach to water and food research and J-WAFS' mission to catalyze research in these areas across the Institute to solve the world's most pressing global challenges. |
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J-WAFS PI Tim Lu reprograms biological systems to combat diseaseMIT EECS associate professor Timothy Lu develops novel ways to engineer cells, both bacterial and human, to perform new functions. This MIT News profile captures the roots of his research, which is also being put to use in this J-WAFS-funded project that uses engineered bacteriophages to create a quick and affordable food safety test. |
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MIT/BU collaboration takes microbial approach to agricultureAn MIT class, offered in January by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, took a group of undergraduate students to Israel to learn cutting-edge techniques used to study microbial communities. The goal of this work was to understand the influence of microbiomes on farm animals' conversion of plants to protein in hopes that a greater understanding gut bacteria could be used to increase the efficiency of the plant-to-biomass conversion pipeline. |
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J-WAFS PI's models help decision makers advance food securityMIT Research Scientist Kenneth Strzepek has devoted his career to poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development in resource-limited countries. This MIT News profile details his approach and captures how his collaboratively developed J-WAFS-funded project uses models to help decision makers advance food security in Africa in the face of climate change. |
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MIT’s growing global leadership in water, fueled by J-WAFS, achieves industry recognitionWater and Wastewater International's 2018 Top 25 Global Water Leaders list shows how MIT research is fueling advancements across the water industry. The list recognizes J-WAFS director John Lienhard and three others with strong connections to MIT, including the CEO of J-WAFS' current Research Affiliate, Xylem, Inc. |
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Intensive agriculture influences U.S. regional summer climateStudy finds that an increase in corn and soybean production in the Midwest may have led to cooler, wetter summers there. MIT researchers showed that there was a strong correlation between the intensification of agriculture in the Midwest, the decrease in observed average daytime temperatures in the summer, and an increase in the observed local rainfall |
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J-WAFS PI Stephen C. Graves elected to National Academy of EngineeringJ-WAFS PI Stephen C. Graves, Abraham J. Siegel Professor of Management Science, Sloan School of Management, is one of four MIT faculty members elected to the National Academy of Engineering. These MIT professors are among the 83 new members and 16 foreign members elected by the Academy this year. |
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How J-WAFS PIs Are Producing Water out of Thin AirIn a recent article in Opening Doors magazine PIs Evelyn Wang, Gail E. Kendall Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Mircea Dincă, Associate Professor, Department of Chemistry discuss their J-WAFS-funded project, which uses Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) to harvest water from air. The technology in development could be a critical tool to increase water supply in remote or water-stressed areas in arid regions. |
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Three Water Management Strategies to Address Future Climate ScenariosOn January 31st, an interdisciplinary panel of five MIT graduate students and postdocs discussed their water-related research. The panelists presented a variety of approaches to water management, including constructed urban wetlands specially designed for stormwater filtration; a strategy using corporate data to spur more accurate water risk assessments; and a decision tool for water planners to use when evaluating new water infrastructure that accounts for climate uncertainty. |
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Food insecurity challenges and responses at MIT and other Boston area college campusesA February 5th article in the Boston Globe covered the challenge of food insecurty on college campuses in the area. MIT was included as one of several local institutions seeking to address this problem after the results of a recent MIT survey that showed that a small percentage of students experience food insecurity on campus. The article includes several approaches each of the institutions are taking to find solutions. |
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J-WAFS PI Susan Solomon awarded for contributions to climate scienceSusan Solomon, a professor of atmospheric chemistry at MIT, was honored with the award of the 2018 Crafoord Prize, which recognized "her fundamental contributions to understanding the role of atmospheric trace gases in Earth’s climate system." Prof. Solomon's climate research has also been supported by a J-WAFS seed grant. Find out more about that project here. |
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J-WAFS Director John Lienhard Named #4 in Top 25 Global Water Leaders ListIn growing recognition of MIT’s significant contributions to innovation in the water sector, MIT professor and J-WAFS director John Lienhard was the only academic on the annual list of the top 25 thought leaders in the global water sector just announced by Water and Wastewater International (WWi). Also recognized is Patrick Decker, CEO of Xylem, the first member of J-WAFS’ Research Affiliate program. Xylem is supporting students and sponsored research at MIT through their engagement with J-WAFS. |
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MIT professor’s five recommendations for how to achieve sustainable water sharing agreements among Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam stakeholdersIn this article on Nature Middle East, Elfatih Eltahir, Breene M Kerr Professor of Hydrology and Climate in CEE, discusses how the water sharing conflicts related to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) project are tied to problems of population growth and agricultural productivity in the region. Here, he shares five recommendations for how the governments of Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan might achieve an agreement that benefits everyone. |
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J-WAFS-funded innovators join Forbes’ 2018 “Encyclopedia of creative disruption”Forbes Magazine, recently announced their 2018 “30 under 30” lists, which include over 30 MIT faculty, research staff, and alumni. These lists, organized by theme, represent a compendium of what Forbes calls “an encyclopedia of creative disruption” in various fields of expertise. This year includes four J-WAFS-supported faculty, students, and alumni and an additional two MIT affiliates whose work in water and food was also recognized. |
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J-WAFS PIs use vibration to improve desalination processesXuanhe Zhao, Noyce Career Development Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at MIT, was recently interviewed by Opening Doors Magazine. There, he discusses the 2017 J-WAFS-funded project that he is co-leading with John Lienhard, Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Food and the director of J-WAFS. The team plans to develop a chemical-free, vibration-based membrane that could dramatically improve the efficiency—and reduce the costs—of reverse osmosis, the most widely used desalination process in the world. |
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J-WAFS PI transforms rocks into fertilizer for cropsAntoine Allanore, assistant professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at MIT, was interviewed by Opening Doors magazine for their Autumn 2017 issue. This article covers his 2017 J-WAFS-funded seed grant project. In it, Allanore explains the method he's developed to turn the rock K Feldspar into potassium fertilizer. His goal is to provide farmers in Africa access to affordable fertilizer that meets the needs of their tropical soils. |
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J-WAFS grants $15,000 to two MIT teams addressing water and food challenges in IndiaIn fall 2017, J-WAFS announced a new grant opportunity for shovel-ready MIT projects that focus on water and food challenges in India. One winning team from the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering and another from J-PAL and the MIT Department of Economics and were selected by an interdisciplinary group of faculty reviewers. Selected teams will receive $15,000 to support work through December 2018. |
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J-WAFS PI Noelle Selin profiled by MIT NewsIn this MIT News profile, Noelle Eckley Selin, associate professor in MIT’s Institute for Data, Systems, and Society (IDSS) and the Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), discusses her MIT research. Selin uses chemistry models to understand how international environmental treaties and regulations affect the transport of toxins they aim to control. Selin received a J-WAFS seed grant for a project that examines the impact of mercury contamination on rice in China. |
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MIT field study shows that arsenic in groundwater reduces rice yields in BangladeshGroundwater in rural Bangladesh contains very high levels of arsenic but is still used widely for drinking water and irrigation. MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) researchers are looking at how contaminated groundwater, deposited through irrigation, impacts rice yields, with recent results published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. |
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Deshpande Center and J-WAFS announce fall 2017 research grantsThe MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation announced today the award of $768,000 in grants to 17 MIT research teams currently working on early-stage technologies. The Deshpande Center also manages the J-WAFS Solutions program, which awarded $675,000 in project funding to five teams this year. The 2017-2018 projects span a wide range of areas, including drug delivery, energy, 3-D printing, medical device, displays, and data communications. |
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MIT research team proposes alternative to straw burning in IndiaThe Economic Times of India reports that a joint effort is under way by Indian scientists and an MIT research team to end the harmful practice of rice and wheat straw burning in Punjab and convert the crop residue into a product of value to benefit the farmers. The process is called "torrefecation." The MIT research team is Ahmed Ghoniem, Alexander Slocum, and Kevin Kung. Their pre-prototype torrefecation reactor processes crop residue into biochar. |
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MIT spinout, PipeGuard Robotics wins HUBweek’s Demo Day Pitch CompetitionMIT spinout and 2017 Water Innovation Prize winner PipeGuard took first prize at the Demo Day Pitch Competition, part of Boston’s HubWeek. Their product uses sensors to detect early leaks in pipes, which can prevent infrastructure damage in urban settings. The MIT team competed against 100 other MA-based startups, winning $20,000. |
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Hydrogel that extracts uranium from water wins MIT’s MADMEC competitionA team of MIT materials science and engineering students, named A Salt Solution, won $10,000 in the DMSE’s annual MADMEC competition on October 10th. Their prize-winning prototype is a simple, low-cost hydrogel that can extract uranium from water to provide more fuel for nuclear power plants. The project can be incorporated into water desalination plants or placed directly into bodies of water. |
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MIT alumna on J-WAFS funded research project and why researchers should step out of the labShreya Dave, when an MIT doctoral student, was working on a J-WAFS-funded research project on the use of graphene membranes for desalination. While pursuing the research, she visited a working reverse-osmosis desalination plant in Spain. Dave, now a research affiliate at MIT and CEO of the startup Via Separations which is focused on graphene membrane filter systems, credits this visit for helping her team develop a more useful set of applications for their work. |
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J-WAFS PI Michael Strano elected to the National Academy of EngineeringMichael Strano, the Carbon P. Dubbs Professor of Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical Engineering, was elected in early 2017 to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to nanotechnology, including fluorescent sensors for human health and solar and thermal energy devices. Professor Strano receives J-WAFS Solutions grant support for: A Multiplex, Nanosensor Platform for the Real Time Monitoring of Food and Water-Borne Contaminants |
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J-WAFS fellow Sarah Fletcher on challenges facing water planning and urban infrastructureThe September 25th edition of Water Desalination Report discusses a paper by lead author Sarah Fletcher, MIT doctoral candidate in IDSS and a 2017-18 J-WAFS fellow. The paper, “Water Supply Infrastructure Planning: Decision-Making Framework to Classify Multiple Uncertainties and Evaluate Flexible Design” uses the Victorian Desalination Plant in Wonthaggi, Australia, to evaluate opportunities for a reduction in capital investment for water supply infrastructure planning. |
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J-WAFS projects make inroads on global food and water challengesNearly two dozen research teams supported by J-WAFS presented updates on their work at a day-long event on Sept. 15th, 2017. This MIT News article reviews the event, highlighting the objectives and outcomes of projects that take a variety of approaches to solving food and water sector challenges, including finding better ways to purify and desalinate water, improving fertilizer production, and preventing food contamination, and many others. |
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J-WAFS Solutions project is recipient of The Engine's first round of fundingA new venture launched by MIT will support “tough-tech” companies at work on transformative ideas that take time to commercialize. Via Separations, a company that launched out of a 2015 J-WAFS Solutions project led by materials science and engineering professor Jeffrey Grossman, is one of The Engine's first seven startups. |
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MIT researchers identify opportunities to improve quality, reduce cost of global food assistance deliveryProper food assistance packaging can be a major contributing factor toward preventing spoilage and infestation, a challenge that is important for international food assistance programs. Research from MIT's CITE program has identified opportunities for improving these issues through food aid supply chains. Mark Brennan, CITE Research Assistant and a J-WAFS-funded student, with a team of MIT researchers, has just released a report that analyzes this issue. |
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J-WAFS PI Susan Solomon interviewed about climate change in storm's wakeIn an interview in the Boston Globe, Susan Solomon, Ellen Swallow Richards Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry & Climate Science at MIT, shares perspectives on and pedagogical approaches to discussing climate change and climate policies with students. |
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J-WAFS PI Evelyn Wang joins leadership team in MechEMechanical engineering alumna, J-WAFS PI, and internationally recognized professor Evelyn Wang was appointed in September 2017 as the new associate head of the department of Mechanical Engineering. |
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J-WAFS awards commercialization grants to develop technologies for water and food solutionsOn September 7th, 2017, J-WAFS announced three new recipients of J-WAFS Solutions grants, as well as the award of a second year of funding to two current projects. Together, the funded projects demonstrate MIT’s application of innovative technologies to food and water challenges such as improving irrigation, reducing pesticide use, and improving water filtration and monitoring. |
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Bringing poverty-alleviating solutions to market in India, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Uganda2017 MIT D-Lab Scale-Ups Fellow is providing irrigation solutions to small commercial farmers, who need technology that is powerful enough for commercial-scale production but that have low upfront investment costs and requires minimal technical know-how. |
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Katherine Taylor, 28: MIT alumna's simple water pump could transform the lives of millions of farmers in IndiaKatherine Taylor MS’15, who is CEO and co-founder of the MIT spinout Khethworks, has been named one of “35 Innovators Under 35” by MIT Technology Review. The simple water pump that she developed during her mechanical engineering master’s program at MIT could transform the lives of millions of farmers in India. |
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MIT Study: For food-waste recycling, policy is keyA national study by MIT researchers provides one of the first in-depth looks at the characteristics of places that have adopted food recycling, revealing several new facts in the process. The study, published in the journal Resources, Conservation, and Recycling, shows that successful programs aren’t limited to well-off towns with strong environmental movements |
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Case study suggests new approach to urban water supplyAn MIT News spotlight on August 14th, 2017, featured MIT researchers who have found a strong case for building modest, incremental additions to water infrastructure in advanced countries, rather than expensive larger-scale projects that may be needed only rarely. This research team, which includes 2017-18 J-WAFS Meswani Fellow Sarah Fletcher, used a case study in Australia to explore what water planning should look like in a future of global warming, drought conditions, and population growth. |
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World Economic Forum highlights water leak detecting MIT technologyRobot Daisy, a water leak detection technology created by MIT mechanical engineering PhD candidate You Wu, was profiled by the WEF in October, 2017. This article highlights how the robot can detect leaks in urban water systems and, as a result, reduce cost and wasted water. Wu's startup, PipeGuard, was a winner of a 2017 water prize. |
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Deadly heat waves could hit South Asia this centuryA new MIT study, published on August 14th in the journal Science Advances, shows that deadly climate change-induced heat waves could begin, within as little as a few decades, to strike regions of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. The affected regions include the fertile Indus and Ganges river basins that produce much of the region's food supply. |
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How climate change might affect the NileThe Economist highlights a study by MIT researchers that shows climate change could cause the flow of the Nile River to become more variable, increasing strain on regional water conflicts. THe researchers found that while output could increase by up to 15%, variability would also increase, resulting in, "more (and worse) floods and droughts." |
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MIT spinout SproutsIO aims to power a “Personal Produce” movementSmart, soil-free microgarden lets users optimize growing conditions while cutting water and resource use. |
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J-WAFS PI Susan Solomon awarded the Royal Society's Bakerian MedalProfessor of atmospheric chemistry honored for her contributions to atmospheric science. Solomon has been a leader in the fields of atmospheric chemistry and climate change for more than three decades. |
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Back to our roots: MIT short program, Innovation and Technology in Agriculture and the Environment, unifies industry and academiaAgriculture is one of the industry sectors identified by the charter of MIT, and is inscribed inside the dome of Lobby 7 on campus. The MIT Professional Education short program Innovation and Technology in Agriculture and the Environment, which is led by several J-WAFS faculty affiliates, furthers this connection between research at MIT and industry practitioners. |
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J-WAFS in action: Creating food and fuel from algaeOpening Doors, the corporate magazine of Abdul Latif Jameel, includes an interview with MIT's Mathias Kolle, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Here he describes plans for his 2017 J-WAFS seed grant: improve industrial algae production for use as both food and fuel. He intends to develop a new optical fiber to distribute light and CO2 more efficiently through algae production tanks andreduce the energy required to produce algae for food and fuel. |
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J-WAFS in action: Enabling local fertilizer production in AfricaIn the corporate magazine of Abdul Latif Jameel, Opening Doors, Karthish Manthiram, Warren K. Lewis Career Development Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at MIT, was interviewed about his 2017 J-WAFS-funded Seed Grant project: ‘Electrochemical Nitrogen Fixation for Distributed Fertilizer Production’. Here he shares the motivations behind the proposed solar-powered electrochemical device that he and his team are building that will convert nitrogen from air and water for fertilizer. |
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Addressing the impact of air and water pollution worldwideCommunity Jameel's online magazine, Opening Doors, captured highlights from J-WAFS initiatives from spring 2017 including the research of J-WAFS PIs Colette Heald, Associate Professor and Associate Department Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), and T. Alan Hatton, Ralph Landau Professor of Chemical Engineering, as well as winners of the MIT Water Innovation Prize. |
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Making the Global Food Supply Chain SaferA J-WAFS Seed Grant project on improving food safety via supply chain management was featured in the Sloan School of Business alumni magazine. PIs Tahuid Zaman and Retsef Levi share how the project sparked collaborations among multiple faculty across several schools at MIT and outline their plans to take the project to the next step where they will focus on supply chains in China. |
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Water sourced from desert air – and it's no mirageAn article published in The National, an Abu Dhabi-based publication, covers a collaborative project of Profs. Evelyn Wang and Mircea Dinca funded by J-WAFS. Wang and Dinca are building a device that can extract water from air, even in the most arid climates. This piece outlines the project and how the technology could, when deployed, contribute to improving water security and access in the MENAT region. |
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Climate change to deplete some US water basins, reduce irrigated crop yieldsA new study published in the journal Earth's Future by MIT climate scientists, economists, and agriculture experts finds that certain hotspots in the country will experience severe reductions in crop yields by 2050, due to climate change’s impact on irrigation. The paper's first author, Elodie Blanc of MIT’s Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, says, “in the Southwest, water availability for irrigation is already a concern. If we mitigate, this could prevent added stress... but it will be even worse in the future if we don’t do anything.” |
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2016 Food Prize winner Kevin Kung named a “Solver" in MIT's 2016 Carbon Contributions ChallengeKevin Kung, of Safi Organics, intends to help rural farmers produce local fertilizer so that they don’t have to pay to import it. His startup, which won a Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Prize in 2016, uses technologies that to turn local agricultural residues in Kenya into an effective, high-yield fertilizer. Kevin was selected as a "Solver" in MIT Solve's 2016 Carbon Contributions Challenge because of this carbon-negative solution that his startup has created. |
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Three MIT students selected for inaugural J-WAFS fellowships for water solutionsJ-WAFS is pleased to announce the selection of three MIT PhD students who have been awarded J-WAFS fellowships for water solutions for the 2017-2018 academic year. This is the inaugural year for both of our fellowships: the Rasikbhai L. Meswani Fellowship for Water Solutions and the J-WAFS Graduate Student Fellowship Program. |
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J-WAFS director John Lienhard on desalination technologiesOn June 22nd, 2017, J-WAFS director, MIT's Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Food John Lienhard, published an Op-Ed in The Mark News about how oceans could provide the answer to the world’s growing water crisis. In it, Lienhard describes the role desalination plays in ensuring a sustainable water supply for growing populations across the globe. |
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MIT contributions to food system futures at 2017 EAT Stockholm Food ForumIn a presentation at the 2017 EAT Stockholm Food Forum on June 12th, 2017, J-WAFS director, MIT's Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Food John Lienhard, spoke about how science and technology make contributions that are integral to building sustainable food systems, now and into the future. The speech included examples of J-WAFS funded research and innovation in food and agriculture. |
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MIT PhD student recognized for work on water supply planningJ-WAFS Meswani Fellow Sarah Fletcher, who is an MIT PhD student in the Institute for Data, Systems, and Society and affiliated with the Joint Program on the Science and Policy of Global Change, was recently recognized for her innovative work on water supply planning. She received the "best presentation" award at the Technology Management and Policy Graduate Consortium in June in Stony Brook, New York, for her project entitled “Flexible water supply planning under multiple uncertainties: A differentiated approach". |
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MIT student startup wins an Infy Maker AwardPipeGuard, an MIT student startup that has one several MIT entrepreneurship awards this year, was counted among the 25 winners from across the US of the Infosys Foundation's 2017 Infy Maker Awards. PipeGuard has developed a sensor that can be sent through water pipes to detect leaks. It's a technology that could radically reduce the amount of waste in urban water systems. |
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Two water solutions-based projects take home awards at MIT's 100K Entrepreneurship CompetitionTwo startups focused on water solutions took home cash prizes from MIT's annual $100K Entrepreneurship Competition in May. The competition has helped to launch more than 160 companies founded by student entrepreneurs at MIT. The $5000 Audience Choice award went to change:WATER Labs a team of MIT researchers and others making toilets that can condense waste in areas where people live without indoor plumbing. PipeGuard, an MIT team developing a sensor that can be sent through water pipes to detect leaks, won a $10,000 Booz Allen Hamilton data prize. |
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Explore Technology Evaluation in Global Development via edXSix MIT professors have teamed up to produce a six-week online course via edX where students will learn the fundamentals of technology evaluation for global development. The course, beginning June 1, 2017, will cover topics ranging from the history of appropriative technology to technology suitability, sustainability, and methods for evaluating results. |
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J-WAFS: How smart investment is forging answers to one of mankind’s biggest challengesIn a Spring 2017 article in Opening Doors, the online magazine of Abdul Latif Jameel, challenges in food and water security posed by population growth and climate change in the coming years are featured. The article addresses how the Middle East could be impacted, and calls for energy efficient and sustainable solutions. It highlights J-WAFS' contributions, featuring three Seed and Solutions grant projects that could provide valuable support to the water and food-related issues facing the Middle East. |
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Krithika Ramchander wins 1st place in MIT Mechanical Engineering de Florez CompetitionMechanical engineering PhD student Krithika Ramchander won first place for graduate science in the 2017 MIT Mechanical Engineering de Florez Competition. Ramchander's award was for "Development of low cost water filters using plant xylem," a J-WAFS Solutions project on which she has been working with PIs Professor Rohit Karnik, associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Amy Smith, founding director of MIT's D-Lab and senior lecturer in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. |
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J-WAFS awards $1.4 million in third round of seed grant fundingJ-WAFS awards $1.4 million in third round of seed grant funding to support innovative research at MIT related to water and food that will have a measurable and international impact as humankind adapts to a rapidly expanding population on a changing planet. The seven winning projects include various fertilizer technologies, technologies for water supply, and policy-oriented research addressing the uptake of irrigation technologies in Africa. |
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New technology could offer cheaper, faster food testingArab News, the largest English language newspaper in Saudi Arabia, highlights Prof. Timothy Swager's J-WAFS Solutions project, which is a new safety test for foodborne pathogens. |
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A new dam on the Nile reveals threats from warmingClimate change could play a role in exacerbating water conflict in Africa, likely worsening geopolitical wrangling over issues like the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, which was a focus of a J-WAFS expert workshop in 2014. The dam will allow the Ethiopian government more control over flood prevention and help the approximately three-fourths of Ethiopians who currently don't have access to electricity, however downstream countries like Egypt and Sudan are concerned that it will impede their water supply. |
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MIT researchers develop new way to clear pollutants from waterResearchers funded by a 2016 J-WAFS Solutions Grant have developed a new method for removing even extremely low levels of unwanted compounds from water. The new method relies on an electrochemical process to selectively remove organic contaminants such as pesticides, chemical waste products, and pharmaceuticals. |
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Teams tackling crop spoilage, pesticide pollution, and farming efficiency win annual Rabobank prizeAt the second annual Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize competition, an event supported by J-WAFS, seven finalist startups and teams from MIT and other universities pitched their business ideas to a panel of judges, for a chance to win prizes totaling $25,000. The pitches addressed some of today’s most pressing issues in the food and agriculture industries. |
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MIT enters Academic Partnership with EAT FoundationIn April, 2017, MIT joined the EAT Foundation as an Academic Partner. MIT Vice President for Research Maria T. Zuber will join the EAT Advisory Board, which includes heads or senior executives from EAT’s academic partner institutions in addition to world-renowned experts from the scientific disciplines that intersect with food system challenges. J-WAFS will be closely involved in this affiliation, with J-WAFS' director John Lienhard presenting in June 2017 at the EAT's 2017 Stockholm Food Forum. |
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Watering the worldNew design cuts costs, energy needs for drip irrigation, bringing the systems within reach for more farmers. |
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Graphene holds up under high pressureUsed in filtration membranes, ultrathin material could help make desalination more productive. |
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Nile faces greater variabilityResearchers at MIT have found that climate change may drastically increase the variability in Nile’s annual output. Climate change could lead to overall increase in river flow, but more droughts and floods, study shows. |
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MIT Desalination startup PV Pure featured on WGBH’s “Under the Radar”Boston’s WGBH radio host Callie Crossley featured MIT researcher Huda Elasaad, co-founder and chief scientist for PV Pure a startup that is marketing an affordable solar-powered purified water system in the 4/21/17 edition of her program “Under the Radar”. PV Pure and WrightGrid were highlighted as examples of green tech startups who serve remote populations across the globe. |
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New MIT Course on Agriculture and the EnvironmentWith water and food systems challenges becoming increasingly urgent around the globe, MIT has launched a course that brings these issues to the forefront. This new course, titled “Innovation and Technology in Agriculture and the Environment”, is now available through the MIT Professional Education program. |
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MIT graduate student Natasha Wright wins a Lemelson-MIT prize for a solar-powered desalination system for off-grid water production in India and GazaNatasha Wright of MIT, $15,000 Lemelson-MIT “Eat it!” Graduate Winner for a solar-powered desalination system for off-grid water production in India and Gaza, and a usage sensor for household water treatment devices. Wright is a grad student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering who also works with the MIT Tata Center and a student of J-WAFS faculty member Amos Winter. |
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Scientists from MIT and Berkeley discover a way to harvest fresh water from airSevere water shortages already affect many regions around the world, and are expected to get much worse as the population grows and the climate heats up. However, a new technology developed by scientists at MIT and the University of California at Berkeley offers a solution – a novel, passive solar device that can obtain clean, fresh water almost anywhere on Earth using a variety of porous material known as a metal-organic framework (MOF). The findings are reported in the journal Science by a team including MIT associate professor of mechanical engineering Evelyn Wang, MIT and other researchers. Read More... |
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J-WAFS Solutions project could offer cheaper, faster food testing using smartphone technologyA new safety test for foodborne pathogens is in development by J-WAFS Solutions grantee Timothy Swager, John D. MacArthur Professor of Chemistry at MIT, and his lab. A paper published on March 23rd in the journal ACS Central Science, details this new way to perform food safety sensing – using a novel type of liquid droplet that can bind to bacterial proteins. This interaction could offer a much faster and cheaper alternative to existing food safety tests. |
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MIT scientists find climate change to worsen drought, diminish corn yields in AfricaIn a paper published on March 15 in the online journal Earth’s Future, MIT scientists found that climate change will likely worsen drought conditions in parts of Africa, dramatically reshaping the production of maize throughout sub-Saharan Africa as global temperatures rise over the next century. The paper was authored by Amy Dale, a postdoc in MIT’s Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences (EAPS), along with J-WAFS PIs on this project, Kenneth Strzepek (Joint Program), and Susan Solomon (EAPS), and others. |
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The next-generation water coolerMIT spinout Bevi believes it can cut the world’s use of bottled drinks with a smart beverage machine of the same name that delivers high quality, flavored water — straight from the tap. Dubbed by some media as an “ecofriendly water cooler,” Bevi is a smart beverage-dispensing machine — made with high-quality components inspired by medical devices — that filters and adds carbonation and customizable flavors to tap water in offices, gyms, and hotels. |
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New evaluation report by CITE on post-harvest technologies in UgandaMIT researchers have just released a new report evaluating various post-harvest storage technologies sold as a part of a special operation run by the World Food Programme in Uganda to better understand which technologies are best poised for scale. Details of the study design and findings are available on the CITE website |
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MIT research scientist C. Adam Schlosser assesses long-term risks to regional water and energy systemsAdam Schlosser along with his colleagues are applying Monte Carlo methods to determine the odds of plausible future water stress scenarios that can help guide policymakers and decision-makers on how best to “weight the dice” to minimize risk to lives and infrastructure. |
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Seven teams selected for Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation PrizeMIT Food and Agriculture Club announced the seven finalist teams chosen for the second Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation prize. |
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Reducing spoilage in food aid shipmentsLarge-scale tests compare damage from insects and moisture using a variety of containers... |
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2016 News
Batch desalination configuration bests standard reverse osmosis approachResearchers develop a new way to create more clean water with less energy, thanks to clever timing.... |
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Xylem becomes first J-WAFS Research AffiliateGlobal water technology company signs agreement with J-WAFS for directed research and support of student activities and other water-related initiatives... |
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How to achieve “green” desalinationJ-WAFS convenes expert workshop to explore ways to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint of seawater desalination plants... |
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J-WAFS Seed Grant researchers launch large-scale collaboration with the Walmart Foundation on food safety in ChinaTwo J-WAFS-funded research teams working on food safety have partnered with the Walmart Foundation to build on this research, developing new models and robust testing capabilities that will help strengthen the food system in China and support safe food supply chain design, best practices, and government oversight... |
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MIT Launches New Venture for World-Changing EntrepreneursIn his announcement of the launch of The Engine -- an accelerator that will provide funding, space, and expertise for new ventures -- MIT President Rafael Reif emphasized MIT's intent to deliver serious technological solutions to urgent global challenges – like clean water, climate change, and sustainable energy .... |
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J-WAFS-funded PI Rohit Karnik, associate professor of mechanical engineering, seeks sustainable solutions through nanotechnologyEngineer’s designs may help purify water, diagnose disease in remote regions of world... |
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MIT-USAID program releases technology evaluation of water test kitsStudy of water test kits used in Gujarat, India, assesses suitability, scalability, and sustainability... |
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Reducing runoff pollution by making spray droplets less bouncyMIT researchers find a way to make pesticides stick to leaves instead of bouncing off... |
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J-WAFS Solutions program awards $750k in commercialization grants.Four new projects and one renewal receive $150,000 in funding for 2016-2017... |
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MechEConnects summer 2016 issue highlights the global water crisis and some of the solutions being developed in MechE.The quest for clean water gets attention from the Mechanical Engineering Department’s faculty, students, and alumni... |
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Talking Shop: Professor John H. Lienhard V interview in MechEConnectsJ-WAFS director John Lienhard discusses water as a resource in crisis... |
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MIT Students Win Recognition at Water Sector ConferencesDoctoral Students Emily Tow and Quantum Wei Win Awards for Best Poster and Best Presentation... |
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Technology Review article: China’s Massive Effort to Purify Seawater Is Drying UpStalled projects and underperforming plants have hampered China’s desalination plans... |
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J-WAFS PI Valerie Karplus named one of 2016’s "Best 40 Under 40 Profs"Sloan professor Valerie Karplus is bringing her expertise on air pollution, climate change, and China’s energy system to cross-border, multi-disciplinary research teams working at the intersection of technology, innovation, the natural sciences, and engineering... |
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MIT professor Amos Winter named "Game Changer" innovator for work on clean water for the developing world.The Boston Globe named 46 innovators making a difference in lives around the world, citing Amos Winter's work with graduate student Natasha Wright on a low-cost technology for purifying salty ground water... |
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MIT Water Club president awarded Fulbright grant to work on climate policy.Matthew Willner from the Department of Urban Studies and Planning is the first MIT student to win a Fulbright-Clinton Public Policy Fellowship... |
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Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel earns MIT Alumni Association's highest honor.J-WAFS benefactor honored for history of service and philanthropy at MIT... |
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J-WAFS announces 2016 recipients of seed grant funding.Principal investigators will receive grants of up to $100,000 per year for up to two years for innovative research on food and water challenges... |
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“Do You Know Where Water Comes From?”: An interview with Fair Observer.J-WAFS executive director Renee Robins sits down with Fair Observer to discuss the need for a fresh perspective on water and what J-WAFS is doing to help… |
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J-WAFS conference reflects growing interest in food and water research on campusThe MIT community turned out in force, along with attendees from corporate, government, and non-profit sectors. |
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Winners announced in the first annual Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize.GoMango, the team of MIT and Harvard University students that took home the first place prize, will strive to make India’s temperature-controlled supply chain for food more affordable. This team was just one of several to be changing the way we tackle some of the largest food and agribusiness issues. |
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The MIT Water Innovation Prize hosted its final pitch showcase, with nine finalist teams competing.The night culminated with two teams winning the Veraqua Prize for water quality challenges in China, and a three-way tie for the overall prize... |
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MIT Water Night 2016 awards prizes in five poster categories...MIT Water Night packed Walker Memorial with over 200 attendees. Following a great keynote by Dr. Matt Silver (SM '05, PhD '10 CEO Cambrian Innovation), prizes were awarded in five poster categories, and the first-ever Freshman Challenge was launched. |
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Boston Globe J-WAFS Op-Ed: Flint water crisis is a wake-up call to reinvest in our water infrastructureFor weeks, the tragedy of the drinking water contamination in Flint has dominated the news. J-WAFS director John Lienhard along with MIT professor Andrew Whittle and former senior lecturer Windsor Sung wrote an op-ed piece looking at lessons for New England... |
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News Archive - 2015
Envisioning the future of water for 900 million peopleResearch from an MIT Tata Center team led by Professor James Wescoat is making strategic planning of India's rural water systems possible for the first time... |
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Grow your own wayStudy: Trade may not help a warming planet fight its farming failures... |
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Shocking new way to get the salt outMIT team invents efficient shockwave-based process for desalination of water... |
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MIT startup brings urban agriculture indoorsCo-founders of the Somerville-based startup Grove enable people to grow their own produce with an intelligent indoor gardening appliance... |
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Students challenged to drive change with new Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation PrizeJ-WAFS receives a gift from Rabobank in support of a new student innovation competition, to be run by the MIT Food and Agriculture Club... |
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J-WAFS Solutions awards two $150,000 commercialization grantsRenewable grants awarded to PIs in materials science and engineering, chemical engineering, and biology... |
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MIT-USAID program releases evaluation of water filtersStudy of water filters used in Indian homes assesses suitability, scalability, and sustainability... |
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New York Times J-WAFS Op-Ed: "How to Share Water Along the Nile"Following the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam expert worskhop convened by J-WAFS in the fall of 2014, J-WAFS director John Lienhard and MIT research scientist Kenneth Strzepek penned an op-ed piece based on the workshop report... |
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MIT strongly represented at International Desalination World ConferenceAt the recent International Desalination World Conference, MIT was well-represented in the awards. |
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Toward cheaper water treatmentMIT spinout makes treating, recycling highly contaminated oilfield water more economical. |
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J-WAFS awards $1.8 million in first round of seed grant fundingNine grants of $200,000 for two years, overhead free, have been awarded to Principal Investigators from 11 MIT departments, representing all five schools. |
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Powering desalination with the sunPhD student Natasha Wright makes water safe to drink for rural, off-grid Indian villages. |
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Spectrum summer issue focuses on "Water + Food" at MITMIT is playing a key role in helping to ensure the sustainability of human civilization into the future. Across the Institute, and across the world, faculty and students are pursuing transformative research to address the urgent challenges of water and food. |
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New program aims to commercialize innovations in food and water“J-WAFS Solutions” will provide seed funding for promising new approaches to water, food supply. |
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International experts analyze impacts of Ethiopian damReport from conference at MIT addresses potential effects of huge construction project. |
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News Archive - 2014
Searching for global water and food solutionsJohn Lienhard leads coordinated interdisciplinary research efforts to confront resource challenges at the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab. |
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MIT alumnus Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel gives major gift to solve urgent challenges in world food and water securityProfessor John Lienhard will lead the new laboratory. |
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