The NWRI, a 501c3 non-profit sponsor of projects and programs that focus on ensuring reliable sources of water, has announced David Sedlak, Ph.D. as the winner of the annual Clarke Prize.

The National Water Research Institute has announced that David Sedlak, Ph.D., civil and environmental engineering professor at the University of California, Berkeley, will be the 21st recipient of the NWRI Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke Prize for excellence in water research. Sedlak is also Co-Director of the Berkeley Water Center and Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation's Engineering Research Center on Re‐Inventing the Nation's Urban Water Infrastructure (ReNUWIt).

Consisting of a medallion and $50,000 award, the NWRI Clarke Prize is given out each year to recognize research accomplishments that solve real-world water problems and to highlight the importance and need to continue funding this type of research.

Sedlak was selected as the 2014 recipient because of his pioneering research on advancing the way water resources and urban water infrastructure are managed, including implementing water reuse and reducing the discharge of emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products. His work has served as the foundation for major policy and technical initiatives to reduce the effects of these contaminants and protect public health.

"Dr. Sedlak has had a profound influence on all aspects of the scientific and technical issues arising from the presence of trace organic contaminants in wastewater discharges that ultimately impact the quality of water provided to consumers," said Michael Kavanaugh, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, Principal at Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. and Sedlak's colleague. "His academic, research, and publication achievements, combined with his communication abilities, make him an outstanding choice for the Clarke Prize." The Clarke Prize will be presented to Sedlak on Friday, November 7 at the 21st Annual NWRI Clarke Prize Lecture and Award Ceremony, which will be held in Huntington Beach, California. The award ceremony is the highlight of the NWRI Clarke Prize Conference, a 1-day event that features a mix of innovative research by leading academics complimented with practical case studies by industry practitioners.

"I am deeply honored to receive the 2014 Clarke Prize," said Sedlak. "To be recognized by my peers is simultaneously rewarding and humbling."

Established in 1993 in honor of NWRI's co-founder, the late Athalie Richardson Irvine Clarke, the Clarke Prize is one of only a dozen water prizes awarded worldwide and has been distinguished by the International Congress of Distinguished Awards as one of the most prestigious awards in the world.

More information about the Clarke Prize Conference and Award Ceremony can be found at www.clarkeprize.com and more information about NWRI can be found at www.nwri-usa.org.

Association news and events are listed at landscapearchitect.com. To view the calendar of upcoming events, visit www.landscapearchitect.com, go to the Associations/Events" tab and click on "Search for Events."

If your association has news and/or events that you would like featured on landscapearchitect.com, please send your information via email to associations@landscapearchitect.com.