The Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, located at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, is proud to announce a $60,000 prize for outstanding achievements in water research. This prestigious award, recognized as one of the most significant globally, will be bestowed upon an individual or organization demonstrating exceptional impact and contributions to the field of water.
The award ceremony will take place during the Second International Water Summit, hosted by the Zuckerberg Institute. This summit, scheduled for May 5-6, 2025, at Ben-Gurion University’s Sde Boker Campus, will bring together leading researchers and experts from across the globe to address the pressing issue of global water scarcity.
Nominations for the Zuckerberg Prize are currently open and will be accepted until December 1, 2024. The summit itself will explore the complex challenges of water scarcity, focusing on the impact of climate change, water challenges in developing regions, and innovative water technologies.
This prestigious award is made possible thanks to the generous contribution of Mr. Roy Zuckerberg, Honorary Chair of the Institute, who also holds an honorary doctorate from Ben-Gurion University and served as the Chair of its Board of Trustees. Mr. Zuckerberg, a renowned investment banker and philanthropist, is dedicated to advancing education, health, and human resources.
The Second International Water Summit aims to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among researchers, policymakers, and practitioners working to address the global water crisis. Participants are encouraged to share their research through poster presentations. Abstracts for poster presentations are invited by February 18, 2025, and can be submitted through the summit website: https://www.watersummitziwr.com.
The inaugural Zuckerberg Water Prize in 2022 was awarded to Professor Ashok Gadgil from the University of California, Berkeley, in recognition of his pioneering work in bridging water engineering and the development of resource-poor regions.
Professor Noam Weisbrod, Dean of the Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research and Director of Ben-Gurion University’s Sde Boker Campus, emphasized the significance of the event: “The International Water Summit is becoming a tradition and will be held here in the Negev Desert in Israel, during a complex and challenging period, adding even greater significance to the summit’s topic. We encourage individuals and organizations around the world who believe they are deserving of the award to submit their nominations by the December 1st deadline.”
Professor Amit Gross, outgoing Director of the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research and a member of the summit’s organizing committee, added: “We are proud to have the honor of presenting this prestigious and significant award for the second time, thus beginning to establish an important tradition in the field. This tradition is based on excellence and professional/academic distinction, with the goal of serving humanity.”
The Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, situated within the Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, is dedicated to conducting groundbreaking water research using both experimental and theoretical approaches. The Institute’s interdisciplinary team of experts, including hydrologists, soil scientists, geologists, chemists, microbiologists, and engineers, investigates environmental challenges and develops innovative solutions for water-related issues.
The Institute fosters a vibrant international environment, welcoming researchers and collaborators from diverse backgrounds to address the evolving global water needs and challenges. Its vision is to serve as a leading international interdisciplinary hub for water research and a national center of expertise and training on water issues.
For more information about the Zuckerberg Prize and the Second International Water Summit, please visit: https://www.watersummitziwr.com/zuckerbergwaterprize.
