Innovations in Clean Water Technology

Contemporary Science Issues and Innovations

December 20, 2011 Belmont Media Center, Belmont, MA

John Lienhard V, Ph.D.,Collins Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Worldwide, the need for drinkable water is increasing while the supply is decreasing. In some places water is simply too scarce; but in many areas there is plenty of water — it’s just not drinkable. Where the supply is seawater or brackish water, one possible solution is desalination, the removal of the salt. There has been impressive progress in this complex technology in recent years. Professor John Lienhard is a world leader in this field, and the Lienhard Research Group has developed a number of desalination technologies. Professor Lienhard discusses these recent advances and how desalination can address the urgent need for drinkable water as the present natural supply is rapidly dwindling.

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Professor John H. Lienhard V is the Samuel C. Collins Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the Associate Department Head for Education, and Director of the Center for Clean Water and Clean Energy at MIT and KFUPM. Dr. Lienhard is an international expert on desalination and has received many awards and honors for his work. He serves on the editorial boards of numerous professional journals and has also authored two mechanical engineering text books.

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