An engineering research project to deliver clean potable water to the developing world received $112,000 in funding last month through the federal government's Grand Challenges Canada.
The goal of the Waterloo Engineering Stars in Global Health project, led by Michael Tam, a Waterloo chemical engineering professor, is to remove dyes and heavy metals using sustainable nanomaterials derived from biomass. Currently, effluents from textile mills are contaminating lakes and rivers in Myanmar, Vietnam and Malaysia, rendering the water unsafe for human consumption.
Grand Challenges Canada, funded by the government of Canada, supports "bold ideas with big impact in global health." December 2014's round of funding of almost $2.6 million will support projects based in 10 countries and to be implemented in 17 countries.