BlueTech Forum

Hydro Nation Chair Research & Innovation Programme’s Innovation Leads, Deryck Irving and David Millar, attended the BlueTech Forum 2024. Their participation highlighted the forefront of global water technology innovations, addressing critical challenges such as PFAS treatment and water recycling. The event fostered deep discussions and new ideas to shape the future of sustainable water management. 🌐  Explore their perspectives and the transformative potential of these innovations here: https://lnkd.in/dTtxDNYs #BTF24 #InnovationInAction #Sustainability #HydroNation

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿'𝘀 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺? In this episode of the #BlueNotes podcast, Rhys and Divya fondly recall experiences at the Bluetech Forum in Edinburgh, including memorable talks and award-winning innovations. ✨ Key highlights include Professor Kongjian Yu's pioneering work on China's sponge cities and various personal, Ikigai stories shared during the event. The conversation delves into pressing water issues like PFAS, with discussions on viable solutions and the importance of community collaboration. They also touch on future research topics, including Earth observation science and rainwater capture, and upcoming industry events like #WEFTEC. Full episode available on: 🎧 Apple Podcasts https://lnkd.in/dwy75MVR 🎧 Spotify https://lnkd.in/dADZqc2w 🎧 Amazon Music https://lnkd.in/dt_PuhkY #BTF24 #BlueNotes #Podcast #BlueTechTeam

Excited for our upcoming discussion on Hydrogen! We discussed this topic at BlueTech Forum earlier this month and just like the colours of hydrogen mean something, we give you a glimpse into the the colourful perspectives shared by delegates who participated in the 6 thinking hats workshop session in Edinburgh! Join us next week!

Last week, our team was in Edinburgh for #BlueTechForum2024 to learn about the remarkable advancements in water management and sustainability. With so many first-time attendees, it was great to network and collaborate with our peers. This year’s theme was “innovation in action,” and based on what we saw and heard, the future looks promising. It was a highlight to see a screening of Brave Blue World Foundation ’s documentary “Our Blue World: A Water Odyssey,” a powerful and inspiring film that calls for action to protect our water resources. It also made us realize we all have a purpose that inspires us in this industry. Some takeaways from the event include: 🌊 Impact of action: The industry has some lofty goals for the next generation of water innovation, like reducing water leakage from 30% to 10% and household water use from 200L to 50L daily. Organizations are also embracing hybrids of green-blue, grey, and digital solutions that protect water resources. ♻️ Increasing reuse: There is hope for closing the loop on industrial water cycles and embracing decentralized water reuse systems. Recovering water and other valuable resources can enable a circular economy. The industry aims to reduce the cost of green desalination to $0.30 per cubic meter. 🤖 AI for water: Like many other industries, there is a buzz about artificial intelligence, which brings optimism for water. Many companies are starting to experiment with #GenAI tools in small pilot groups to make documentation more accessible, improve productivity, and retain easy access to knowledge as experts leave the workforce. 🤝 Collaboration: Year after year, the Bluetech Forum continues to showcase the power of collaboration in the water industry. We saw great examples of partnership, but it seems like we need to move beyond individual efforts. The challenge is finding facilitators who can orchestrate complex, multi-stakeholder initiatives across a diverse range of stakeholders. 💼 Diversifying the workforce: We need to continue to bring new voices to the water conversation. As an industry,we need to recruit and attract new talent across a variety of backgrounds so we can make water more equitable. At Veolia, we are committed to making this ecological transformation possible with initiatives like our #GreenUp campaign which intends to decarbonize, depollute, and regenerate resources through three growth boosters. Let's continue to innovate and collaborate for a more sustainable and resilient water future! 💧 Veolia Water Technologies #WaterInnovation #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #GenerativeAI Andrew Collier Jon Freedman Shaun Summers Kalia Farrell

𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗔𝗚 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀! We’re throwing it back to last week’s unforgettable BlueTech Forum in Edinburgh. 💙 The forum was a whirlwind of engaging roundtables, dynamic 5x5 sessions on radical collaboration, and inspiring keynotes from Gary White and Kongjian Yu. We heard personal Ikigai water stories from industry leaders , celebrated achievements with the Lighthouse Awards and groundbreaking Innovation Showcase Awards, enjoyed the film screening of “𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱,” and took a refreshing botanic walk led by Scottish Water. A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, and to all our partners for making this event possible! Aquatech AqueoUS Vets GRUNDFOS Kemira REWAISE EU project Sciens Water The Scottish Government Veolia Xylem Yokogawa #BlueTechForum #InnovationInAction #BTF24 What resonated most with you from the forum? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 👇🏼

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲! 🌟 The audience has spoken! We're thrilled to reveal the winners of the 2024 BlueTech Forum Innovation Showcase: 🏆 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆: Membrion, Inc. Greg Newbloom Membrion's cutting-edge ceramic ion exchange membranes impressed the judges with their ability to recover up to 98% of water and open up new applications for EDR/ED with their extended lifespan. 🏆 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗼-𝘁𝗼-𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆: WASE LIMITED Dr. Thomas Fudge WASE's innovative approach to treating organics in wastewater from the food and beverage industry won over the delegates. Their Electro-Methanogenic Reactor (EMR) not only produces 30% more biogas but also boasts a smaller footprint than traditional methods. A big round of applause for both these companies for their dedication to advancing sustainable water technologies! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 #BTF24 #BlueTechForum #Innovation #WaterTreatment

Day 2 of BlueTech Forum was all about harnessing the power of storytelling, collaboration, and innovative thinking to tackle global water challenges. The day began with the insights of Prof. Kongjian Yu, whose opening keynote on sponge cities and nature-based solutions set the stage for a day focused on sustainable water management. The highlight was a captivating panel discussion on the 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱: 𝗔 𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗢𝗱𝘆𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘆 documentary, moderated by Corina Shika Kwami, PhD. Each speaker brought a unique perspective: 🎤 Paul O'Callaghan of BlueTech Research reflected on the importance of belief, bravery, and collaboration in driving change. He highlighted the transformative power of storytelling and the need for supportive networks. Each speaker powerfully emphasized the significance of storytelling, innovation and collaboration in addressing global water challenges. 🎤 Gary White Water.org championed the power of stories to inspire action. His book The Worth of Water highlights the crucial role of women in solving water issues. Gary emphasized collaboration and resource sharing to empower communities. 🎤 Aimee’ Killeen Killeen of Water Environment Federation advocated for clear communication and positive storytelling to improve the public image of the water sector. She shared her personal connection to water issues and the ongoing struggle for clean water in the US. 🎤 Laura Gallindo from GRUNDFOS showed the impact of water access projects installing solar-powered groundwater pumps in locally led projects. She stressed the importance of storytelling and aiming for global impact by 2030. The day continued with inspiring personal 'Ikigai' water stories from Andrew Collier from Veolia, Kenny Khoo from Xylem and Laura Gallindo from GRUNDFOS. Then came the ultimate test in creative thinking: three rounds of 'six thinking hats' workshops! 🎩 Participants tackled a total of 16 water topics from various perspectives. The day culminated in the exciting announcement of the Innovation Showcase Awards and the Lighthouse Awards. (more news on this soon!) And of course, the BlueTech Forum wouldn't be complete without a night of hidden musical talents! 🎸 The improv music night was a fantastic way to unwind and connect after two jam-packed days. #BTF24 #BlueTechForum #OurBlueWorld #SixThinkingHats #Ikigai

On day 2, at the BlueTech Forum, we had the chance to hear from key stakeholders about the making of #OurBlueWorld: A Water Odyssey, in a panel discussion moderated by Corina Shika Kwami, PhD. Here is a summary of what each speaker said: Laura Gallindo, GRUNDFOS Emphasized commitment to water access projects, mentioning the partnership showcased in the documentary Highlighted the use of solar-powered pumps and drilling projects to provide water access. Stressed the importance of storytelling in highlighting the heroes within communities and inspiring future generations. Advocated for equity and inclusion in water access, aiming to make a positive impact globally by 2030. Gary White, Water.org Discussed the critical role of storytelling in solving water crises. Mentioned a book he co-authored, "The Worth of Water," focusing on women's efforts to solve water issues. Emphasized innovation, collaboration, and bringing together resources from wealthier countries to support local communities. Shared his lifelong commitment to water issues, highlighting the need to match the scale of solutions to the scale of the problems. Aimee’ Killeen, Water Environment Federation Highlighted the importance of communication and storytelling in the water sector. Emphasized the need for the water industry to change how it talks about itself and to better engage with the public. Discussed the challenges of gaining public trust and the necessity of sharing positive stories to improve the sector's image. Shared her personal background and connection to water issues, underscoring the ongoing struggle for clean water and sanitation in the U.S. Paul O'Callaghan Reflected on his journey and the people who have supported him along the way. Highlighted the importance of belief, bravery, and taking chances in making progress. Emphasized the role of the Water Environment Federation in making the documentary and the challenges of maintaining optimism in the face of difficulties. Discussed the transformative power of storytelling and the importance of surrounding oneself with supportive and courageous individuals. Each speaker stressed the significance of storytelling, innovation, collaboration, and changing perceptions to address global water issues and inspire action.

Using de Bono's 6 Thinking Hats approach to navigate solutions to our #water challenges brings #BlueTechForum2024 delegates out of their comfort zones. Together they tackle approaches from #EarthObservationScience for catchment management, to #NatureBasedSolutions, to radical decentralisation of water and wastewater treatment #BTF24 #InnovationInAction

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰: 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗽 - 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝘁𝘀! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 What a phenomenal first day at the BlueTech Forum! Yesterday, we started with a warm welcome from Paul O'Callaghan, setting the stage for a day packed with inspiration. Gary White ‘s keynote address was deeply thought-provoking, leaving us all buzzing with ideas! The rest of the day was a whirlwind of technology and innovation. We heard from inspiring accelerator voices, met the brilliant minds behind the Innovation Showcase companies, and were captivated by "My Ikigai" - #water stories from professionals in our community. The 5x5 radical collaboration case studies were testament to the power of successfully bringing diverse stakeholders together for critical water initiatives. Thought leadership roundtables provided a fantastic platform for deep dives into a range of hot industry topics. And to top it all off, Paul masterfully moderated a Water Factfulness Quiz - a fun and informative twist on the classic gameshow! Delegates then took a sunny tour at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Expert guides from Scottish Water shared exemplar installations to manage water and urban flooding - including a spectacular raingarden. 🍃 We finished the day on a high - with the truly historic experience of a dinner reception at Edinburgh Castle, overlooking this beautiful city. Delegates were led by a bagpiper into a private tour of the crown jewels worn by Mary Queen of Scots! 👑 Huge thanks to our fantastic MCs, Tom Ferguson and Corina Shika Kwami, PhD for keeping the energy high throughout the day! 🎤🎤 Here's to another amazing day at the BlueTech Forum! #BlueTechForum2024 #BTF24 #InnovationInAction #Edinburgh