Peiying Hong, an associate professor of environmental science and engineering at KAUST, has won the 2019 James J. Morgan Environmental Science & Technology Early Career Award. The award recognizes her contributions to environmental science, particularly her research on wastewater and its potential for addressing global water scarcity. Hong will receive the award at the 257th American Chemical Society National Meeting & Exposition in Orlando, Florida. Why it matters: This award highlights KAUST's contributions to environmental research and its focus on addressing critical global challenges related to water scarcity and sustainability.
KAUST Assistant Professor Peiying Hong is researching methods to improve the safety of treated wastewater for reuse, motivated by increasing global water scarcity. Hong's work builds on Singapore's success in achieving water self-sufficiency through desalination and wastewater treatment. She aims to apply similar solutions to address water scarcity in countries like Saudi Arabia, where freshwater is limited. Why it matters: This research addresses critical water security challenges in water-stressed regions like Saudi Arabia and promotes sustainable water management practices.
Professor Peng Wang of KAUST has received the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award for his research using renewable energy for clean drinking water production. The award, given by Suqia UAE, recognizes projects with sustainable solutions to water scarcity, focusing on technologies that produce, distribute, and purify water using renewable energy. Wang's research focuses on leveraging solar energy to develop inexpensive, low-carbon technologies for clean water production suitable for off-grid communities. Why it matters: This award highlights the importance of innovative research in addressing water scarcity challenges in the Middle East and globally, aligning with the UAE's commitment to sustainable development goals.
KAUST Assistant Professor Ying Sun won the 2017 Section on Statistics and the Environment Early Investigator Award. The award recognizes early-career researchers making significant contributions to environmental statistics. The award was given by the American Statistical Association. Why it matters: This highlights KAUST's strength in interdisciplinary research and its faculty's recognition on the international stage.
KAUST Associate Professor Peiying Hong delivered a lecture on using wastewater testing to detect outbreaks earlier. The lecture explains how wastewater testing could lead to faster detection and more effective response to future pandemics. The research was presented at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Why it matters: Wastewater epidemiology can provide early warnings for emerging pathogens and improve public health preparedness in the region.