Measuring Sustainability: March 2008 Archives
Receiving the 2007 Stockholm Water Prize, Professor Perry L. McCarty of Stanford University marks a remarkable career. Since beginning his post at Stanford, Professor McCarty’s work has defined the entire field of environmental biotechnology, which is the basis for small-scale and large-scale pollution control and safe drinking water systems.
Professor Perry L. McCarty likes to think big but look small. He openly confesses an unabashed fascination with the inner workings of septic tanks, and his unbound excitement for getting behind the microscope to search for the next big thing in the sustainable and healthy reuse of water resources.
Biological processes to control and remove environmental contaminants
The author of over 300 publications and textbooks on biological processes that can be utilized to control and remove environmental contaminants, such as nitrogen and hazardous chemicals, McCarty’s research has provided key insights in the movement, fate, and control of groundwater pollutants that have allowed for new opportunities in water reuse and applied advanced wastewater treatment.
His decorated career devoted to engineering solutions to better use and protect people and water resources has been dedicated to showing that we simply can not afford to waste water like we do. Therefore, to change this we must shift the way we view a much needed resource.
So called ‘wastewater’ is not waste at all, it is rather its value to society that is far too often wasted. Reduced pollution of groundwater resources and better utilization of the understanding of scientific and natural processes, to which Professor McCarty’s work has greatly contributed, provides countries the capacity to clean and recycle for reuse invaluable water resources.
Cooperative Living -- Learn from Nature
While in Stockholm to receive the prize Professor McCarty gave sage advice for nations and scientists seeking sustainable solutions in the upcoming generations. Never straying from his passion for the miniature universes and infinite innovations still yet to be discovered in micro organisms, McCarty implored all listening to take lessons from the tiniest of sources for inspiration.
“Now I am not sure that I have made you as excited as I am about
what happens in a septic tank,” he quipped. “But it is the community of
organisms all working together that we need to study and learn more
about. We ourselves obviously have much to learn about living together
cooperatively, perhaps they can help us to learn how to do this much
better than we have. With the coming climate changes we will have to
adapt as well, and I hope we do it successfully. I expect we can if we
all work together as the micro-organisms in a septic tank have learned
to do.”
The 2008 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate is John Anthony Allan, for his pioneering work in how understanding and communication of water issues are linked to agriculture, climate change, economics, and politics.
A professor at King’s College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies, Allan introduced the “virtual water” concept in 1993 to measure how much water is used to grow, package, and produce various commodities.
People do not only consume water when they
drink it or take a shower. In 1993, Professor Allan, 71, strikingly
demonstrated this by introducing the “virtual water” concept, which
measures how water is embedded in the production and trade of food and
consumer products.
- Behind that morning cup of coffee are 140 litres of water used to grow, produce, package and ship the beans. That is roughly the same amount of water used by an average person daily in England for drinking and household needs.
- The ubiquitous hamburger needs an estimated 2,400 litres of water. Per capita, Americans consume around 6,800 litres of virtual water every day, over triple that of a Chinese person.
Virtual water has major impacts on global trade policy and research, especially in water-scarce regions, and has redefined discourse in water policy and management. By explaining how and why nations such as the US, Argentina and Brazil ‘export’ billions of litres of water each year, while others like Japan, Egypt and Italy ‘import’ billions, the virtual water concept has opened the door to more productive water use. National, regional and global water and food security, for example, can be enhanced when water intensive commodities are traded from places where they are economically viable to produce to places where they are not. While studying water scarcity in the Middle East, Professor Allan developed the theory of using virtual water import, via food, as an alternative water “source” to reduce pressure on the scarcely available domestic water resources there and in other water-short regions.
The relationship between the export and import of water-intensive products has “opened the door to more productive water use,” according to the Stockholm International Water Institute, which confers the prize. Thus, Allan proposes, importing food can reduce the pressure on scarce water supplies.About Professor Allan
Promoting Smarter Water Decisions
As
a scientist, educator and advisor, Professor Allan has built essential
knowledge and communication tools for sustainable and efficient water
resource management and policy. His research deploys a wide range of
environmental, economic, social and political theory to give insights
on global water resources and the extent to which they can be made
sufficient to meet the needs of future populations. Because of his
work, policy makers, scientists, water professionals and the general
public have greater awareness of the role of water in the production of
different types of products and its impact on global trade and economy.
Virtual water remains a central and active component of scientific
research and policy formulation, and has empowered individual consumers
to affect water management on a global scale.
“Beyond the Box” Thinker
Professor Allan has
furthermore developed the idea and terminology of “hydro-hegemony” and
the “problemshed.” This work has led to better understanding of
potential and real conflicts in transboundary regions such as the Nile
Basin, where water resources are shared between countries, while
providing perspective on economic and political processes that can make
food and water security possible for all nations in such water basins.
He remains a leading voice for sustainable water development and expert
advisor on balancing population growth and increasing food demand in
developing countries, institutional reform, valuing water, conflict
resolution, and on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
A Lifetime of Achievement
Professor Allan has
authored or edited seven books and has published over 100 papers in
political science, natural resource management, and interdisciplinary
water journals. He has also educated more than 1100 current or future
water professionals. He has worked for over 35 years with the MENA
region and has advised on joint management of shared water resources on
every basin in the Middle East. He also served as editor for the
scientific journal Water Policy and as a consultant for numerous
governments, the World Bank and the European Union. His keen
perceptions and scientific analysis have inspired new thinking on the
spectrum of water challenges, and is described by many as one of the
most influential thinkers in the global water sector today.
The Stockholm International Water Institute
The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) is a policy institute that seeks sustainable solutions to the world’s escalating water crisis. SIWI manages projects, synthesises research and publishes findings and recommendations on current and future water, environment, governance and human development issues.
SIWI serves as a platform for knowledge sharing and networking
between the scientific, business, policy and civil society communities.
Stockholm International Water Institute
The Stockholm Water Prize is a global award presented annually to an individual, organisation or institution for outstanding water -related activities. First presented in 1991, The Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious prize for outstanding achievement in water-related activities. The annual prize, which includes a USD 150,000 award and a crystal sculpture, honours individuals, institutions or organisations whose work contributes broadly to the conservation and protection of water resources and to improved health of the planet’s inhabitants and ecosystems.
U.S. Stockholm Junior Water Prize The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) is the most prestigious international youth award for high school water science research. www.wef.org/AboutWater/ForStudents/SJWP/
