Professor Jan Hofman, Director of the University of Bath’s Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), has been awarded the Fellowship of the International Water Association.
Prof Hofman, who is based in the University’s Department of Chemical Engineering, was given the prestigious honour in recognition of his sustained contributions and the IWA over more than 30 years.
IWA fellows become members of a community of global water professionals, known for their guidance, leadership and commitment for evolving the water sector. Membership of the fellowship runs for 5 years, after which it can be renewed.
Prof Hofman was presented with his Fellowship during the World Water Congress, which took place last week in Toronto. He said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to become a Fellow of the IWA. The water industry is continually evolving through a huge variety of research and innovations, and we are seeing strong recognition of its importance in policy and by organisations around the world. To be a fellow of the IWA and have to opportunity to help steer the impact of water research globally is tremendously exciting.”
The recognition also comes with obligations: fellows need to support IWA’s mission and contribute to the implementation of its strategic plan. Nominees must submit an activity plan describing how they will contribute to the association.
Prof Hofman’s work in the coming years will see the creation of a global action plan for water security, developed alongside Professor Blanca Antizar of Isle Utilities, who also became a fellow in Toronto. The plan will be developed through a series of workshops at the flagship conferences of the association, supported by IWA itself, and by global institutions as The World Bank, UNESCO, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor, and other stakeholders.
Alongside this, Prof Hofman plans to deepen the links between young water professionals in the IWA, as well as taking on a role as the association’s Assessment and Control of Hazardous Substances in Water group.
Dr Tom Arnot, co-Director of WIRC, said: “We are delighted that Jan has been recognised for his outstanding contributions to water research. It is a mark of both his own excellent work and the water research capabilities he has helped us to develop at the University of Bath. The most recent work on water security is particularly important. Many congratulations Jan!”
