WHAT IS WATER SCARCITY? WHY IS WATER SCARCITY A PROBLEM?
80% of the global population suffers from serious threats to water supply, and by 2030, we will lack 40% of the water needed to meet global needs. Without intervention, cities around the globe could soon hit Day Zero—the day that can no longer supply water to its residents.
HOW CAN WE SOLVE WATER SCARCITY?
Innovative solutions, like novel desalination technology to create drinking water from sea water, play a crucial role in addressing the global water crisis. XPRIZE Water Scarcity is a $119 million, 5-year global competition designed to drive widespread access to clean water by creating reliable, sustainable, and affordable seawater desalination systems.
MEET THE JUDGES OF XPRIZE WATER SCARCITY
These experts are not only leaders in their respective fields, they are personally, and deeply, committed to addressing the global water crisis. We are grateful for their assistance, and proud to announce their involvement with this 5-year $119M global competition.
THOMAS ALTMANN
Thomas Altmann is the EVP for Innovation and New Technology at ACWA Power, and a renowned expert in energy and desalination.
With 30+ years in technical and managerial roles, Altmann has played an influential role in the desalination industry with leadership positions in organizations like the International Desalination Association (IDA).
His work in new technologies positions him as a forward-thinking judge for XPRIZE Water Scarcity.
HASSAN ARAFAT
Professor Hassan Arafat is an expert in sustainable desalination and the former director of the Center for Membranes and Advanced Water Technology (CMAT) at Khalifa University.
His extensive work includes supervising over 59 postdoctoral fellows and graduate students and his research has been featured in more than 310 book chapters, journal papers, and conference presentations. He has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Mohammad Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Excellence.
His contributions are shaping the future of desalination, making him a pivotal figure in the XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition.
PAUL BUIJS
Paul Buijs has over 30 years of experience in water treatment, focusing on desalination and reverse osmosis systems.
As the founder of FirstWater Consultancy, based in the UAE, he helps accelerate innovation in water technologies. Paul’s practical experience with both governmental and private stakeholders makes him a strategic asset to the XPRIZE Water Scarcity judging panel.
ISABEL ESCOBAR
Isabel Escobar is the Chellgren Chair Endow Professor at the University of Kentucky with 20+ years of expertise in membrane fabrication.
Escobar has received over $20M in grants and made significant contributions to environmental engineering. As a Fellow of the North American Membrane Society (NAMS), Escobar brings a wealth of knowledge to the competition, particularly in innovative membrane technologies.
VIATCHSLAV (SLAVA) FREGER
Professor Viatcheslav Freger, based at the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, specializes in membrane technology, desalination, and water treatment.
His extensive academic and industry contributions include over 100 scientific papers and collaborations with international companies. His expertise in novel materials and membrane separation technologies makes him a key judge in identifying groundbreaking solutions.
JANTJE JOHNSON
Jantje Johnson is a Dutch chemical engineer with more than 25 years’ experience in water treatment. She is the founder and CTO of OrangeBoat, which provides water treatment systems consulting services around the world with an emphasis on membrane technologies.
Her working career started at NIVOBA in the Netherlands where she was responsible for the design, engineering, and start-up of solid/liquid separation equipment in food and wastewater applications. She has presented papers at international conferences and conducted workshops and trainings. She is also a peer reviewer for scientific journals and is currently a Board Director & Vice President at the International Desalination and Water Reuse Association (IDRA).
MARIA DOLORES KENNEDY
Professor Maria Kennedy, based at IHE Delft in the Netherlands, has 30 years of experience in desalination and water treatment.
With over 165 peer-reviewed publications and numerous international and EU projects, Kennedy has a multitude of experience in international collaboration. Her focus on education and capacity-building brings a unique perspective to XPRIZE Water Scarcity.
TOM PRANKATZ
Tom Pankratz is the editor of the Global Water Intelligence’s (GWI) weekly Water Desalination Report and an independent consultant. He has served as an expert advisor on some of the world’s largest and most technically advanced desalination projects.
Pankatz has authored several water-related books and served on committees for the US National Academy of Sciences, World Health Organization, and the Middle East Desal Research Center, among others.
For the past 17 years, he has organized and moderated GWI’s Technology Idol event, which showcases early-stage desalination technologies.
M. KEVIN PRICE
Kevin Price is a Senior Science and Technology Advisor at the Middle East Desalination Research Center (MEDRC) and has a 30-year career in water treatment and desalination.
Price has led groundbreaking projects including the USAID Desal Prize and MEDRC’s Oman Humanitarian Desalination Challenge. With his extensive experience in advanced water treatment and international collaboration, Price will aid with innovative solutions for global water challenges.
AMIR RAZMJOU
Dr. Amir Razmjou is a leading figure in desalination and membrane technology with over 20 years of experience.
Razmjou has a long list of academic and industry accolades and his work in direct lithium extraction and water treatment innovation will play a crucial role in evaluating breakthrough technologies in the competition.
CORRADO SOMMARIVA
Dr. Corrado Sommariva is a world-renowned consultant in desalination and sustainability, having held leadership roles in international desalination organizations.
Sommariva’s 30+ years of experience and significant contributions to water safety and sustainability make him a valuable addition to the judging panel of XPRIZE Water Scarcity.
JOHN TONNER
John Tonner is Executive Director of the American Membrane Technology Association, President of Water Consultants International, a consulting firm, and has provided due diligence oversight services for some of the largest desalination projects in Asia, Australia and the Middle East.
Mr. Tonner has more than 35 years of experience with both thermal and membrane technologies, including patented reverse osmosis energy recovery techniques. He was a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Desalination Technical Committee and served on the U.S. National Academy of Science’s Research Committee for Advancing Desalination Technology.
SHANE TRUSSELL
Dr. R. Shane Trussell is the President of Trussell Technologies, Inc. with more than 25 years of experience studying membrane bioreactors.
Dr. Trussell is a registered professional engineer in California and has authored more than 75 publications. He is a leader in the development of potable reuse alternatives world-wide and has been involved with the planning, permitting, design, operation and optimization of indirect and direct potable reuse projects. In addition, his firm has advised seawater desalination facilities on water quality, pre-treatment design, biofouling control for reverse osmosis, and management of harmful algal blooms.
GREG WETTERAU
Greg Wetterau is the Vice President and Membrane Technology Leader at CDM Smith.
Wetterau has 30 years of consulting experience in water treatment and has contributed to various high-impact projects, including EPA guidelines on potable reuse. His focus on sustainable water solutions makes him an invaluable judge for this competition.
We’re thrilled to have these judges join our mission to find innovative solutions to address the global water crisis. Their assistance is essential for finding and evaluating novel technologies in desalination and membrane materials. To learn more, visit our judges page today.
Together, with our competitor teams, we can alleviate water stress worldwide.