Pakistani Green Talents Awards winner takes on world's most pressing concern: water scarcity

Jury was impressed by potential of Dr Kashir Rasool’s research on water security

Dr Kashir Rasool, a Pakistani scientist, who recently won the Green Talents Award 2017 in Berlin last month, is taking on two of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns; water contamination and water security.

Rasool creates methods for extracting contaminants from industrial wastewater so that it can be safely and sustainably returned to the freshwater supply.

According to Green Talents – an International Forum for High Potentials in Sustainable Development – his research seeks to provide a solution for advanced sustainable and economical water treatment. His work focuses on the biological removal of organics, heavy metals, nutrients and emerging micro-pollutants from a variety of wastewater streams, coupled with renewable bio-energy production.

The jury was impressed with the potential of the 33-year-old’s research to deal with one of the world’s most pressing concerns: water security, it added.

As a researcher at Qatar Environment & Energy Research Institute (QEERI), Rasool works on the identification, selection and scientific application of water quality and sustainable innovative water/wastewater treatment for further water reuse strategies.

He is currently testing an anti-biofouling membrane for water desalination and biological water treatment as membrane processes are proving to be sustainable, economical and efficient desalination and water purification technologies.