Engineered Systems for Water Security
Visioning Event of the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA)
to be held virtually on February 1-2, 2023
The National Science Foundation-supported Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) seeks to identify co-hosts for the upcoming virtual visioning event, Engineered Systems for Water Security. As a co-host, you will work with ERVA staff and volunteers to create and execute a visioning event that convenes top researchers from various sectors and other interested parties to discuss and develop a bold strategy for addressing contemporary engineering research themes of national interest.
These invitation-only events bring together an interdisciplinary group of top researchers and other relevant parties from the public and private sectors to accomplish our mission to identify and develop bold and transformative new engineering research directions and to catalyze the engineering community's pursuit of innovative, high-impact research that benefits society.
Engineered Systems for Water Security
Managing water in urban and rural communities across the United States can be understood as a system of systems, analogous to how the various organs in the body use and cycle water. Each organ has its own needs and its own way of recovering resources from the water. At the same time, each has a symbiotic relationship with other organs in the body; the healthy function of one system affects the healthy function of others. Despite these complex interdependencies, the human body is more efficient at processing water than our engineered water systems.
ERVA invites you to participate in an event to re-envision the relationships between the components comprising today’s water systems and to prioritize new research directions for future sustainable systems. Event participants will identify bold engineering visions for interconnected, secure water systems architecture that optimizes the bio-circular economy through energy neutrality and resource recovery. These systems could include distributed digital sensing control and treatment, marginal water sources, and the development of low-water system technologies for the socially equitable provision of water. The event will include a range of engineering disciplines--from bioengineers to civil engineers—to catalyze innovative thinking on sustainable systems for drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater, as well as waterless and new water systems.
This visioning event will be held virtually over two days on February 1-2, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET. The selected organization/organizations will act as a co-host on ERVA’s virtual platform.
Co-Host Benefits:
Co-hosting an ERVA virtual visioning event bolsters an institution’s reputation as a thought leader in engineering research and promotes the organization as a driver of new ideas and collaboration. Co-hosts have the opportunity to recommend sessions, speakers, and topics of interest, as well as the potential to deepen existing partner relationships and develop new ones.
By creating an environment for the engineering community to speak with one voice while addressing the nation’s greatest challenges, ERVA seeks solutions through collaboration across different sectors. Therefore, we encourage submissions that partner academia and industry to create a joint bid to demonstrate ERVA’s commitment to convergence, diversity of ideas, and inclusion.
As a visioning event co-host, your organization will work with ERVA staff, our Executive Committee, and a Thematic Task Force on:
- Technical Expertise. Identify a representative to serve on the Thematic Task Force (TTF). The TTF meets weekly to guide the overall direction of the visioning event.
- Participant recruitment. Identify subject matter experts from relevant sectors (academia, companies, government, and nonprofits).
- Welcoming remarks/panel. Deliver the greeting and set the tone to bring visibility to your organization.
- Breakout Facilitation. Provide an expert to lead discussions, guide event flow, and optimize the experience and results.
- Report review and dissemination. Review report that reflects conversations and findings of the visioning event and shares actionable recommendations that can be evaluated by government funding agencies for adoption.
Submission Process:
Please submit your interest to us at info@ervacommunity.org by December 9, 2022.
In your response, please provide:
- A signed cover letter indicating your desire to host;
- Responses to the critical review elements and any additional information that will help the ERVA team in making a determination on visioning event co-hosts; and
- Availability to co-host the virtual two-day event on February 1-2, 2023 , from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET.
Please join us for a virtual information session on December 6, 2022 from 1 p.m - 2 p.m. Eastern to learn more about this opportunity and to ask any questions. We welcome you to reach out to us at info@ervacommunity.org for additional support or to request the recording if you are unable to join the information session. Submitters will be notified of ERVA's decision by December 14, 2022.
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About ERVA
The Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) is a neutral convener that helps to identify and develop bold and transformative new engineering research directions, directly supporting the nation’s ability to compete in a rapidly changing global economy. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Directorate for Engineering, ERVA is a diverse, inclusive and engaged partnership that enables an array of voices to impact national research priorities. The five-year initiative convenes, catalyzes and empowers the engineering community to identify nascent opportunities and priorities for engineering-led innovative, high-impact, cross-domain, fundamental research that addresses national, global and societal needs.
Learn more at https://www.ervacommunity.org.
ERVA Role
The engineering research community is the target audience for this event. We will work with the host and members of the thematic task force (comprised of senior research officers, company representatives, and others) to develop a high-impact program and ensure that the event delivers value to the host and participants.
Good Faith Statement
All information provided by ERVA is offered in good faith. Specific items are subject to change based on business circumstances. ERVA does not guarantee that any item is without error. ERVA will not be held responsible or liable for use of this information or for any claims asserted therefrom.