The International Desalination Association (IDA) has extended the deadline for applications for its 2014-15 Fellowship Programme, giving candidates until 31 January, 2015 to apply.
The programme offers a US$ 10,000 award from IDA as well as a six-week attachment with the host agency for the 2014-2015 IDA Fellowship, the Public Authority for Electricity and Water (PAEW) in Ruwi, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman.
PAEW is responsible for implementing government policy in securing and distributing electrical power supplies and potable water to residential, industrial, and commercial consumers. The authority studies and evaluates techniques for providing fresh water and power production. Oman has seven desalination plants, online or under construction, with capacity exceeding 50,000 m³/d.
Applicants for the 2014-2015 Fellowship Award must be IDA members and should have at least eight years experience in potable water utilities management such as water supply/distribution networks and/or seawater desalination, including design of water networks or seawater desalination, construction, commissioning as well as operation and maintenance.
The attachment with PAEW will cover the water cycle from desalination to distribution. Beginning with an overview of PAEW’s operations, it will include:
·comparison of Build-Own-Operate with other plant procurement methods;
·an environmental impact assessment study on construction of seawater intakes;
·design and standards of evaporation ponds;
·brine disposal for small, inland desalination plants;
·visits to plants and PAEW’s customer service operations; and
·meetings with top management.
IDA launched the Fellowship Award Programme six years ago to facilitate the advancement of global expertise in desalination and water reuse through the exchange of talents, knowledge and skills. It is now considered to be one of the industry’s most prestigious awards, recognizing individuals who have demonstrated exceptional professional achievements and dedication to advancing desalination and water reuse.
It provides recipients with an unprecedented opportunity to spend time with a host agency – a high profile, well-respected public utility or research organization – working alongside peers in the desalination industry and gaining insights into the host agency’s operations, strategies and policies. The host agency also benefits from the IDA Fellow’s experience and knowledge.
The monetary award covers the Fellow’s airfare and accommodations. The host agency covers his or her in-country living expenses while on attachment to work on a specific project and reserves the right to determine the specifics of the attachment and the level of monetary commitment. The IDA Fellow must also demonstrate the ability to secure additional sources of funding to allow him/her to complete the attachment.
Previous host agencies are PUB in Singapore, Saline Water Conversion Corporation in Saudi Arabia, Water Corporation and Murdoch University in Australia, the United States Bureau of Reclamation, and the Ministry of Electricity and Water of the State of Kuwait (with sponsorship from Alghanim International).
For complete details on the Fellowship Programme, application and guidelines, visit http://idadesal.org/educationtraining/ida-fellowship-award-program/ Inquiries may be directed to Darlene Seta, manager of education programmes via email to education@idadesal.org. For more information about PAEW, visit http://www.paew.gov.om/