Analysis and networking about topics of future research on sustainable materials for decentralized water purification in rural India

The availability of drinking water and access to sanitation facilities is deficient in parts of rural India. Hence, we focused this project on studying research questions of related importance.

Note that the ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all is one of the sustainable development goals of the UN.

The project involves studies of research gaps and research opportunities when it comes to functional materials that are relevant for decentralized and self-sufficient drinking water treatment. The main focus is held on sustainable and inexpensive functional materials.

Still, interdisciplinary aspects with considerations of economy and life cycle aspects of the functional materials are critical and are also assessed in the project. Practically, the project starts with a workshop in Stockholm followed by virtual seminars.

We will also in parallel write jointly at least one research application on studies of functional materials for decentralized water treatment in rural India.

During 2022, we expect that the research network crystallizes and that we would better understand which research projects would be of highest importance to execute in the future.

We are a team of researchers from Stockholm University, Mahatma Gandhi University, and the organization The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in India.

This project enables increased collaboration between Swedish and Indian researchers with a focus on one urgent global sustainable development goal.