PAIR Distinguished Lecture: Prof. Glen DAIGGER, University of Michigan, U.S.A., delivers “Global Water Management Trends”
PAIR Distinguished Lecture Series
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Date
02 Feb 2026
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Organiser
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research
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Time
14:30 - 16:00
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Venue
Senate Room (M1603), 16/F, Li Ka Shing Tower, PolyU (Seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis) Map
Speaker
Prof. Glen DAIGGER
Enquiry
PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research info.pair@polyu.edu.hk
Summary
A combination of reduced water supply and increased demand is leading to significant changes in water management practices. Global sustainable water supplies have been fully used (or overused in some cases) for some decades. In recent times, climate change has resulted in an increased frequency and intensity of droughts and floods, making the available water supply less accessible and posing unprecedented challenges to existing water management infrastructure. At the same time, demand is increasing, not only because of the growing human population, but also because of the increased standard of living requiring more food and energy, and significant economic development. Fortunately, water management practices are advancing to address this increasing shortfall. Key to this transition is the evolution from managing individual components of the water cycle to an integrated approach characterized by the One Water paradigm. The greatly increased implementation of water reuse, coupled with the desalination of brackish and saline water, is expanding local water supplies. Combining nature-based and traditional solutions with relocations out of flood-prone areas is also addressing flooding. The recovery of useful materials from the water cycle is also increasing. These changes are enabled by new technologies and expanded use of existing technologies but also require changes in institutions both within and related to the water sector. These trends, and the resulting changes in water management, will be addressed in this presentation.
Prof. Glen DAIGGER
Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Michigan, U.S.A.
Foreign Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering
Prof. Glen T. Daigger is an internationally recognised leader in wastewater engineering and sustainable urban water management, with profound and long-standing influence on both scientific advance and professional practice worldwide. He is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan, where his research and professional activities focus on advancing the science and practice of biological wastewater treatment, solids separation, nutrient removal, resource recovery, and membrane-based processes. Beyond academia, Prof. Daigger has played a pivotal role in shaping the global water sector through professional leadership, standards development, and technology translation. Prof. Daigger is a Fellow of both the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, as well as a Distinguished Fellow of the International Water Association (IWA) and a Fellow of the Water Environment Federation (WEF). He served as President of the IWA from 2010 to 2014, during which he guided strategic initiatives on sustainability and global capacity building for water utilities and regulators. Prof. Daigger has received over 30 major international awards, including the Eddy Wastewater Principles/Processes Medal (WEF), the Gordon Maskew Fair Award (AAEES), and the Gascoigne WWTP Operational Improvement Medal (WEF). His authoritative textbooks, including Biological Wastewater Treatment and the Manual on the Causes and Control of Activated Sludge Bulking, Foaming, and other Solids Separation Problems, are foundational references in the field.
Personal website: https://cee.engin.umich.edu/people/daigger-glen/
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