and Science (EES) in the 21 ST Century:

Transcription

1 Redefining Environmental Engineering and Science (EES) in the 21 ST Century: Closing the Knowing/Doing Gap Glen T. Daigger, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, NAE Professor of Engineering Practice President and Founder, One Water Solutions Presented at NSF-AEESP Workshops: Redefining Science and Engineering, Third Workshop Virginia Tech-Arlington, VA Campus May 19, 2016

2 We No Longer Live in the 2 nd Half of the 20 th Century and Must Plan for Middle of the 21 st Item Second Half 20 th Century Middle of 21 st Century Population 2.5 B Growing to 6 Billion Stable at 9 to 10 Billion Urbanization Less than Half Urban Nearly Three-Quarters Urban Economy Rapid Growth with Periodic Recession; Based on Material Use? Based on Knowledge? Water Abundant; Obtaining More is Only a Matter of Money Scarce and Limited; New Supplies Available Only Through Efficiency Energy Abundant and Inexpensive Limited and Increasingly Expensive; Related to Climate Change Materials Readily Available and Decreasing Prices Limited Availability and Increasing Prices Food Increasing Supply and Decreasing Price Expansion of Supply Not Keeping Up with Demand Prices to Increase? Technology Expanding at Increasing Rate Expanding and Diversifying at Increasing Rate Climate Predictable Wetter and Drier, But How Much? Social Stability Dynamic? Human Well-Being Improving?

3 Relative Price Population Least Developed Drivers and Responses to Change are Inter- Related and Complex GDP-US $ billion Less Developed More Developed Year Phosphorus Copper Energy Commodities Natural Gas Ag Raw Materials Jun-83 Dec-88 Jun-94 Nov-99 May-05 Nov-10

4 Relative Price Population Least Developed Drivers and Responses to Change are Inter- Related and Complex GDP-US $ billion Less Developed More Developed Year Phosphorus Copper Energy Commodities Natural Gas Ag Raw Materials Jun-83 Dec-88 Jun-94 Nov-99 May-05 Nov-10

5 Problem Solving Focus Environmental Engineering and Science Must Adapt to These Changing Realities Item Historic Future Scope of Activities Education Reduce Pollutant Discharges Remediate Past Impacts Minimize or Avoid Adverse Impacts Focus Within Individual Media: Air, Water, Solid Drinking Water, Rainwater, Used Water Applications Focused: Air, Water, Solid Drinking Water, Rainwater, Used Water Scale of Impact Local Global Resource Recovery Anticipate Problems and Prevent Future Harm Create Value Integrated Solutions Connection to Society Technocrats Part of Society Science Focused: Physics, Chemistry, Biology Physical, Chemical, Biological Unit Operations

6 I Would Suggest That Our Biggest Challenge is Closing the Knowing/Doing Gap

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10 Jim Contrasted the Old and New Models for Environmental Engineerng Old Model Dependent on Regulations Letting Others Determine Policy About Others Making the Ethical Arguments New Model Knowing Market Solutions Rather Than Regulatory Solutions Interdisciplinary Collaboration to a Much Greater Extent Raise Social and Political Issues Requires Ethical and Social Commitment

11 We are in the Midst of One of the Most Significant Transitions in the History of the Water Profession Item Past Future Water Supply Remote Local Optimization Function Infrastructure Cost System Components Separate Drinking Water, Rainwater, and Used Water Systems Water Use, Energy, Materials, Labor Integrated, Multipurpose Systems System Configuration Centralized Treatment Hybrid (Centralized and Distributed) Systems Institutions Single Purpose Utilities Integrated, Water Cycle Utilities Financing Volume Based Service Based System Planning Plumb up the Planned City Integrated with City Planning

12 The Water Profession Must Address Three Principal Priorities

13 1. We Must Fundamentally Change Our Approach to Water Management to Avoid Stress Population Growth Increased Living Standard Climate Change Urbanization Linear System Nearly Half of Human Population Will Experience Water Stress by 2025

14 1. We Must Fundamentally Change Our Approach to Water Management to Avoid Stress Future Water Supplies Provided by: Efficiency Local Water Capture: Rainwater Harvesting Restoring Local Ecosystems Reclamation and Reuse Desalination Wet Weather Treatment Becomes Increasingly Important

15 Eliminating Biases May Lead to Different Solutions Water Supply Wastewater Management Traditional Approach What are the Available Surface and Ground Water Sources? What are the Applicable Discharge Requirements? Revised Approach What are the Available Sources of Reuse Water? How Can the Effluent be Best Reuse?

16 Eliminating Biases May Lead to Different Solutions Water Supply Wastewater Management Traditional Approach What are the Available Surface and Ground Water Sources? What are the Applicable Discharge Requirements? Revised Approach What are the Available Sources of Reuse Water? How Can the Effluent be Best Reuse?

17 Built and Natural Infrastructure Increasingly Being Integrated to Create Multiple Benefits

18 2. Water Management Must Become Much More Resource Efficient to Sustain Into the Future Biodiversity Loss Nutrients Nitrogen Phosphorus Climate Change Chemical Pollution (Not Yet Quantified) * Rockström, et al., Nature, , September, 2009,

19 Relative Price Commodity Price Volatility is Consequence of Resource Constraints 10 Phosphorus Copper Energy Commodities Natural Gas Ag Raw Materials 0 Jun-83 Dec-88 Jun-94 Nov-99 May-05 Nov-10

20 Percent Wastewater Separation Creates Energy and Nutrient Recovery Options 100% Uncontaminated 80% 60% 40% Laundry/Bath Kitchen Feces Urine 20% Organic Matter 0% BOD5 Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Nutrients

21 Percent Wastewater Separation Creates Energy and Nutrient Recovery Options 100% Uncontaminated 80% 60% 40% Laundry/Bath Kitchen Feces Urine 20% Organic Matter 0% BOD5 Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Nutrients

22 3. The Human Right to Water and Sanitation Must be Extended to All ~3 Billion Without Water at Home or in the Vicinity (45 %) ~ 4 Billion Without Continuous Access to Water (60%) ~4.5 Billion With No Sewerage (70 %) ~ 5.5 Billion With No Treatment (80%)

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25 Number of Installations Adoption of Innovations is a Social Process Seek Advantage Copy Leaders Seek Advantage Leaders Like New Things Fund Research Adopt Out of Necessity Avoid Disadvantage Adopt to Survive Early Adopters Innovators Early Majority Late Majority Laggards Time * Rogers, E. M., Diffusion of Innovations, Free Press, NY, 2003.

26 How Well are We Connected to Maslow s Hierarchy???

27 Leadership is Required to Create Change Present State Direction Setting Establish Create Develop Communicate imperative guiding vision & the change for change coalition strategy vision Expanding Leadership is Key Desired Future State Source: Paul Reiter Kotter, P. J., Leading Change, Harvard Business School Press, 1996 Empower Generate Consolidate Anchor new broad-based short-term change & approaches action wins generate more in culture Implementation

28 New Practices Required to Transform EES Education, Research, and Practice Maximizing Value While Minimizing Harm Recovering Resources vs. Reducing Pollution Positive Microbiome vs. Destroying Pathogens Restoring the Environment Resilient Ecosystems Providing Multitude of Environmental Services Quantifying and Monetizing Resulting Value Lifelong Interdisciplinary and Multifunctional Learning Integrated vs. Silo-ed Education, Research, and Practice

29 New Knowledge and Skills Needed by EES Educators, Researchers, and Practitioners An understanding of complex systems and how to effectively use their characteristics and features to implement efficient solutions which also provide a broad and diverse range of benefits. An ability to develop working approaches to manage social-environmentaleconomic-technical systems that span a range of development levels, from the least to the most developed economies. Competence with professional practice which incorporates life-long learning and adaption. Knowledge of and competence in methods and procedures to broadly engage with society, not just in academic and professional circles. The routine application of business skills to compliment typical professional skills

30 Policy Changes Can Accelerate EES Transformation Increased use, and strengthening, of fore-site based approaches within existing regulation. Addition of new regulation, as necessary. Integrated regulatory approaches which consider broader benefits and impacts. Develop policies that integrate broader economic benefits for delivering environmental projects. Promote the formation of federal, state and/or local utility collaboratives to promote integration across the paradigms. Revised academic evaluation and promotion models which reward involvement in problem solutions.

31 Wisdom Comes From Surprising Places: You ve got to be very careful if you don t know where you are going, because you might not get there." Yogi Berra In theory there s no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is." Yogi Berra "The game isn't over until it's over." Yogi Berra

32 Redefining Environmental Engineering and Science (EES) in the 21 ST Century: Closing the Knowing/Doing Gap Glen T. Daigger, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, NAE Professor of Engineering Practice President and Founder, One Water Solutions Presented at NSF-AEESP Workshops: Redefining Science and Engineering, Third Workshop Virginia Tech-Arlington, VA Campus May 19, 2016