Scott Hardy, extension educator, Ohio Sea Grant College Program, was awarded a 2023-2024 Fulbright U.S. Specialist grant to the Universidad de Atacama (UDA) in Chile to share his expertise in sustainable water management.

From December 18, 2023 – January 17, 2024, Hardy will address water scarcity in northern Chile by collaborating with local experts, researchers and government agencies who are all working towards the reduction of freshwater consumption through reuse, recycle and optimal design of water treatment systems. Hardy will collaborate with partners at UDA and community representatives from the cities of Vallenar and Copiapó. 

By developing a suitable system for the removal of toxic elements and contaminants from the wastewater and reuse of the water, the project will address wastewater management from the mining industry through recycling. In addition to providing expertise on the design of  wastewater management institutions, Hardy will help identify a selection of sustainable practices for the removal of toxic elements and contaminants from the wastewater.

Hardy will also evaluate a new master’s curriculum to study clean technologies and waste management recently developed by Professor Carolina Elizabeth Venegas Abarzúa at the Universidad de Atacama.

As a Fulbright Specialist, Hardy will present seminars and engage with local students and experts. Topics include: green infrastructure for water treatment and reuse; design of distributed water treatment; integration of water management systems; and establishment of a water research group.

In addition to the successful termination of water scarcity in Atacama region, this Fulbright project aims to develop long term collaboration between the U.S. and Chile for the betterment of academic curriculum development, joint project development and the establishment of research partnerships.

Hardy has significant international experience, including studying abroad in Venezuela, volunteering as a sustainable agriculture Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras and research work in Costa Rica. “I feel this project is the culmination of all my experiences and will draw on the knowledge I have gained through years of work on water quality and quantity issues,” reflects Hardy, who has presented his research work in Peru, Kenya, New Zealand, India, Canada, the United Kingdom and across the United States.

The Fulbright Specialist Program is administered by World Learning and is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State.

For more information about the Fulbright Specialist Program, contact Joanna Kukielka-Blaser.