The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) has given its Paul L Busch Award, its largest prize for a research project for water in arid areas, to Volodymyr Tarabara, associate professor of environmental engineering at Michigan State University.
Tarabara will use his award to validate innovative concepts that could lead to the widespread use of multifunctional membranes for a range of processes including the reduction or removal of halogens, nitrogen compounds and salt.
Each year, WERF recognizes an outstanding individual or team of individuals whose ongoing efforts contribute significantly to water quality research and its practical application in the water environment, with the prestigious Paul L Busch Award. The award carries a US$ 100,000 grant from the WERF endowment to support and promote work that will bring new benefits to the water quality community (utilities, industries, environmental firms) and the water-using public they serve.
“I can think of no one better suited than Volodymyr (Vlad) Tarabara to demonstrate the qualities of innovation, integrity and foresight rooted in advancing applications in environmental engineering, that the Paul L Busch Award recognizes,” stated Mark R Wiesner, director of the Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), Duke University, in a letter of recommendation.
WERF says that Tarabara has distinguished himself in the membrane field and has an extraordinary publication record associated with his work in membrane separation processes, advanced materials, and nanotechnology in water quality control, water treatment and reuse, and environmental implications of nanotechnologies.
Tarabara also has been noted for his amazing ability to stir excitement, says WERF. He often speaks of new directions in materials, addressing alternative applications of membranes to enhance water quality protection and recycling; and of using new social media approaches to continue collaborations and to teach.