The GWRI was established in 1993. It is supported by funds from the American Technion Society, and a philanthropic foundation located in Israel. An agreement was reached in May 2001 with Stephen and Nancy Grand from Detroit through the ATS for a major naming gift and the Water Research Institute (WRI) was named The Stephen and Nancy Grand Water Research Institute (GWRI).
[pb_slideshow group=”4″]GWRI Mission
The Stephen and Nancy Grand Water research Institute (GWRI) Mission is to promote and support research and management of Israel’s water resources, maintaining Technion’s leading position and Israel’s world leadership in the domain.
The Technion, given its international and regional pre-eminence in science, engineering and technology, relies on the GWRI leadership to continue the line of research excellence that provides solutions to water-associated problems.
Clean and contaminant-free sources of water are existential to a country located in one of the most water scarce regions of the world. Israel heavily relies on new resources derived from desalination, sustainable use of reclaimed wastewater, mainly for irrigation, and on purification of brackish water. The ability to coordinate and jointly manage the severe water scarcity problems in the middle-east is crucial for establishing good regional relations and can serve as a platform for cooperation leveraging!
GWRI Commitment
The GWRI emphasizes advancement of water science, engineering and management tools in Israel, the Middle East and other water sensitive regions worldwide. The GWRI focuses on innovative approaches, technologies and approaches aiming at finding sustainable and new ways to overcome water shortage and preserve the quality of the water resources: at lowest possible cost, while saving energy and considering environmental and ecological impacts. The GWRI is committed to lead water research in Israel, while maintaining good working relations with the academic, research and industrial sectors both locally and internationally.
A national dimension of the GWRI is its Cooperation with The Governmental Authority for Water and Sewage, “Mekorot” – Israel’s national water company, the Water and Sewage corporations and other national agencies, to consider the research needs as perceived by the managers and planners of Israel’s water sector and to cooperate in meeting these needs.
The national perspective of the GWRI expresses itself in the participation of researchers from various disciplines, in different institutions, in its projects. It has currently 50 members: 42 professors in 7 academic departments of the Technion and 8 professors/researchers from other Israeli universities. The Institute is managed by a Director, Prof. Ori Lahav.