The International Desalination Association (IDA) concluded its 2011 World Congress on Desalination and Water Reuse by recognising the achievements of several participants in the Technical Programme as well as the contributions of other members of the desalination community. The Awards Ceremony began with Keynote Remarks by Philippe Cousteau Jr., a respected international journalist and advocate for the environment.
Presentation of awards for Best Papers – always a highlight of the IDA World Congress – followed these remarks. Honours were conferred in several categories, with each winner receiving a monetary prize of $5000. The winners were:
Best Poster Presentation – Dr Uday G Kelkar for ‘Use of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) Process for Treatment of Polluted Yamuna River Water’
Best Oral Presentation, Young Leader – Victor S T Sim for ‘Development of Novel Monitors for Early Detection of Fouling in Reverse-Osmosis Systems’
Best Oral Presentation, Water Reuse – Dr Craig R Bartels for ‘Optimising Membrane Bioreactor/Reverse Osmosis (MBR/RO) Performance for Treatment of Municipal Wastewater’
Best Oral Presentation, Thermal Desalination – Prakash Govindan for ‘Status of Humidification Dehumidification Desalination Technology’
Best Oral Presentation, Membrane Desalination – Dr Professor Tony G Fane for ‘Advances in MD and FO: Membranes, Modules and Applications’
- Dr Professor Tony G Fane, Winner of Best Oral Presentation, Membrane Desalination
In addition, Hiep Le was the winner of the Emerging Leaders Achievement Award, a $5,000 cash prize sponsored by Saline Water Conversion Corporation (SWCC) that was open to members of the IDA Young Leaders Programme.
Outgoing IDA President Imad Makhzoumi then presented the Host Country Award to Water Corporation, Principal Sponsor of the 2011 World Congress. Sue Murphy, CEO of Water Corporation, accepted the award, a sculpture by renowned Steuben artist Eric Hilton. Entitled Beacon of Light, this work of art captures the powerful beam cast out into the storm by a lighthouse, which towers above frothing waves.
IDA also presented nine Presidential Awards to individuals and organisations whose work on behalf of IDA and the desalination industry demonstrates outstanding achievement, leadership and vision. “Over the past years – most notably during my term as president of IDA – I have had the great pleasure of working closely with each of this year’s recipients. Individually and collectively, they have made our industry – and IDA – stronger and better,” noted Makhzoumi.
The first Presidential Award was given to the Australian Water Association, strategic partner for the 2011 World Congress and IDA’s Australian Affiliate Association. Also receiving Presidential Awards were two of IDA’s strategic partners – Faversham House, publisher of D&WR Magazine, desalination.biz and other media, and Global Water Intelligence, publisher of the IDA Desalination Yearbook, DesalData and organiser of the annual Global Water Summit, which IDA co-sponsors.
In addition, Presidential Awards were presented to Neil Palmer and Gary Crisp, co-chairs for the 2011 IDA World Congress Technical Program, Dr Corrado Sommariva, Dr Jim Birkett, John Deputy and Ann Seamonds.
