Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab (J-WAFS)

Throughout the MIT Water Club’s November Water Summit, attendees from industry, government, and academia engaged in detailed discussions on how cities across the globe can meet water scarcity with resilience strategies.

Urban water scarcity takes center stage at MIT Water Summit

Experts gather at MIT to share insights, techniques, and strategies for building resilient urban water systems.

December 6, 2018

Christopher Voigt, a professor of biological engineering, presents the latest research results for a J-WAFS-funded project that seeks to engineer cereal grains to produce their own fertilizer.

Collaboration runs through J-WAFS-funded projects

Researchers from across MIT showcase J-WAFS-funded projects tackling critical water and food systems challenges from solutions-oriented perspectives.

October 16, 2018

Reflecting the broader range of challenges embodied by the terms “food systems” and “water systems,” the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab announced that it is changing its name to the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab.

From security to systems: J-WAFS name change reflects its breadth and impact

Emphasizing the scope and interdisciplinary mission on which it was founded, J-WAFS has a new name: the Abdul Latif Jameel Water and Food Systems Lab.

September 28, 2018

“If you have a problem, and you look into the problem in nature and see how animals or plants deal with these kinds of problems and extract those design principles, you can try to replicate [them] using engineering approaches,” saysZijay Tang, a PhD candidate in MIT’s Department of Biological Engineering.

Inspired by nature, reaching across disciplines

PhD student Zijay Tang is developing a living material that can sense and filter water contaminants.

September 17, 2018

This wearable water quality test kit (early prototype pictured at left) provides a simple, accessible way to test the presence of E. coli in drinking water. A J-WAFS Solutions grant will enable an MIT research team to develop a regionally-appropriate commercialization strategy to ensure that these test kits can be accessible to rural and urban communities in Nepal as well as the other areas in Sou...

J-WAFS awards grants for commercialization of food and water technologies

Solutions grants will aid commercialization of novel MIT technologies to test water safety and improve agricultural productivity.

September 11, 2018

Krithika Ramchander (left), a PhD candidate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Andrea Karin Beck, a PhD candidate in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, have each received fellowships from MIT’s Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS) for 2018-2019. Their research explores solutions to global and local water supply challenges using engineering and q...

Krithika Ramchander and Andrea Beck awarded J-WAFS fellowships for water solutions

Graduate students receive J-WAFS fellowships to support research focused on improving water access for rural as well as urban communities.

August 9, 2018

A proof-of-concept MIT prototype of a sun-powered device extracts drinking water from the desert air in Tempe, Arizona.

Featured video: Pulling drinking water out of thin air

Powered only by solar energy, a new device developed at MIT could provide relief to regions where water is scare.

July 23, 2018

A rendering of Los Angeles depicts green space and wetlands as envisioned by the MIT team.

A solution for urban storm flooding

Engineered green spaces can capture and purify stormwater while delivering ecosystem and recreational benefits, MIT researchers report.

July 12, 2018

Based on measurements taken at more than 100,000 wells around the country, the MIT researchers identified these locations, indicated by green dots, that have a combination of a severe shortage of freshwater, and a large reserve of brackish groundwater that could potentially be desalinated and used.

Study finds potential in brackish groundwater desalination

Water-starved areas could find new sources by desalinating water that’s much less salty than seawater.

July 4, 2018

Seven new projects focusing on solutions to water and food systems challenges, led by 11 faculty principal investigators across five MIT departments, will be funded by the Abdul Latif Jameel World Water and Food Security Lab (J-WAFS) with two-year grants of up to $200,000.

J-WAFS awards over $1.3 million in fourth round of seed grant funding

Eleven principal investigators from six MIT departments will receive grants totaling over $1.3 million, overhead free, for research on food and water challenges.

May 25, 2018

While all global climate models show an overall increase in surface temperatures over the coming decades, when it comes down to regional effects on temperature and rainfall there are areas of significant uncertainty.

Workshop explores intertwined future of food production, water, and climate

Choices by consumers and farmers can help limit global warming, but climate change may also curtail those choices in the future.

May 11, 2018

3Q: Hazel Sive on MIT-Africa

Faculty director discusses the future of the initiative and Africa’s position as a global priority for the Institute.

May 7, 2018

Dan Wexler (left) and Priya Patel of EatWell, which won the $15,000 grand prize at this year's Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize competition.

Prize-winning projects promote healthier eating, smarter crop investments

Meal kits for “food deserts” and crowdsourced crop-pricing platform win Rabobank-MIT Food and Agribusiness Innovation Prize.

May 4, 2018

On Wednesday night, Oasis, a student team from Georgia Tech (center), won the $15,000 grand prize in the MIT Water Innovation Prize competition for its simple, inexpensive test for detecting E. coli in drinking water in India. Second-place prizes for $7,500 went to Velaron (right), developing a smart sensor system for aquaculture shrimp farmers, and Majik Water (left), developing a system that use...

Simple, low-cost E. coli test wins MIT Water Innovation Prize

Nine student teams pitched solutions to global water issues at annual event.

April 6, 2018

Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water and Food John Lienhard was ranked fourth in Top 25 Global Water Leaders list by Water and Wastewater International.

MIT’s growing global leadership in water achieves industry recognition

Water industry publication recognizes J-WAFS director John Lienhard and other influential water sector leaders with strong connections to MIT, in 2018 Top 25 list.

February 21, 2018

MIT News | Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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