The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) is accepting submissions for the Paul L. Busch Award, which offers $100,000 to support innovative research in wastewater, water reuse, biosolids, storm water, watersheds and other areas that will lead to solutions for communities and the organizations that serve them.
The annual Paul L. Busch Award is one of the largest in the water quality industry. Now in its eighth year, the award has provided nearly three quarters of a million dollars to support researchers imbued with the visionary spirit of its namesake, a leader in the water quality community who challenged engineers and scientists to devise new technologies and solutions for addressing ongoing water quality issues. Recent recipients are breaking new ground, exploring issues like the fate of commercial nanomaterials in wastewater treatment receiving waters, self-sustaining wastewater treatment facilities through the use of microbial fuel cells and the effective removal of endocrine disrupting compounds in the waste streams of biofuel producers.
Cutting edge research is often just far enough ahead of the curve to be overlooked by more traditional funding sources, says 2004 award recipient and Penn State professor Bruce Logan. "There aren't a lot of opportunities for people with truly groundbreaking ideas to get funding," he points out. "This award is wonderful because it rewards innovation; gives researchers pursuing new, creative solutions an outlet for their work; and provides some much appreciated visibility."
The award is granted to an individual or team. Utilities, universities, environmental firms and others conducting water quality research or engineering work are encouraged to apply. Applicants may self-nominate or be nominated by a third party. Interested individuals or teams must submit their application to WERF by June 1, 2008. All submissions should be sent to the Water Environment Research Foundation, Paul L. Busch Award, 635 Slaters Lane, Suite 300, Alexandria, Va., 22314. More information on the Paul L. Busch Award, as well as the application process, is online at www.werf.org/PaulLBuschAward.
Source: Water Environment Research Foundation
