The Weekly Dive #20

/in /by

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we are highlighting 5 women using technology to protect the planet. The world’s first floating wind prototype produces its first kWh and the world’s first artificial energy island is being built in the North Sea. PepsiCo faces $4.4B of climate risk per year, according to think tank. Biden administration announces plan to protect water plants from cyberattacks. Quantum dots are the latest water disinfection technique. A new water purification membrane can generate electricity as it filters. This week, we are highlighting Dr Peter Williams, one of HydroDAO’s key advisors. Learn about his impressive background and why he is passionate about water.

Your weekly Bonus – A historic deal to protect international waters has finally been reached!

This week’s quote:

All the water that will ever be and ever was, is here right now.

Join Us in NYC for the UN Water Conference!

Meet Stuart and the Water Emissaries on March 22-24 in NYC at the UN Water Conference 

We will also announce the launch of our youth leadership and education group WaterCorps during a side event at the Blue Gallery, 222 E 46th St., on Thursday, March 23rd between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm. It will include a multi age panel discussing the importance of intergenerational collaboration and mentorship advocating for water and climate change initiatives. Let us know you can join us to send you a formal invite.

What’s New with Water Innovations?

These women are using technology to protect the planet

To mark International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting five past Champions leading the technological charge against some of the planet’s biggest environmental threats.

World’s first-ever artificial energy island to be built in the North Sea

Located 28 miles off the coast, it will host infrastructure to connect to offshore wind farms.

World’s first floating wind prototype with TLP system produces first kWh 

It reduces environmental footprint and improves compatibility with other sea uses.

SepPure’s nanofilters massively reduce energy cost of industrial separation

SepPure’s approach has attracted $12 million in a new funding round.

What’s New in the Industry?

PepsiCo faces $4.4bn of climate risk per year, ‘unclear’ it will meet 2040 climate goals, says think tank 

Planet Tracker attributes this risk to PepsiCo’s current emissions reduction trajectory, which is set to decline slower than the 45% reduction recommended by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).

Cleveland Water Alliance launches initiative to fund water technology 

The fund was created to address water stress in the region according to the press release.

SOURCE Global Acquires Proud Source Water

This creates a new standard — renewable water sourced from the air and delivered in recyclable packaging.

Biden Administration Announces Plan to Stop Water Plant Hacks 

This comes one day after the release of a national cybersecurity strategy by the White House.

What’s New in the Science?

Quantum Dots Offer Efficient Drinking Water Disinfection

When irradiated with near-infrared light, they kill bacteria in water with high efficiency through synergistic effects.

The Latest Technology Can Help Better Understanding PFAS

How the latest tools and techniques are being used to protect waterways.

Water purification membrane generates electricity as it filters 

The membrane actually generates electricity as it turns wastewater, seawater or groundwater into drinking water.

Detecting and catching microplastics in our tap water using light 

Researchers have revealed a new way of detecting and catching microplastics in water.

Our HydroDAO Advisor: Dr Peter Williams

Dr Peter Williams has over 35 years of experience in helping businesses and governments adapt to and make the most of new technology. By background a strategy and process consultant, he was formerly the CTO of IBM’s “Big Green Innovations” unit, Peter played a major role in the development of IBM’s “smarter planet” businesses in the areas of environmental management, water management, smart cities and disaster resilience. In focusing on disaster resilience, he was the lead author of the UN City Disaster Resilience Scorecard, now used by over 350 cities globally.

Having retired from IBM in 2018, Peter now leads the US Network of ARISE, the UN DRR’s vehicle for enabling public-private collaboration in disaster risk reduction. Peter was accorded the honor of being named an IBM Distinguished Engineer in 2009. Peter has lectured at Stanford University for several years on Smart Cities and Communities. In addition to leading ARISE, he is an independent consultant working on the application of information and data technologies to water, smart cities and disaster resilience with governments, vendors and NGOs. Peter is a regular judge on VC competitions and advises several innovative water start-ups.

Thank you Peter for your work and leadership improving water management around the planet and for your support to our HydroDAO community. We are also grateful for your active participation on our Discord server (which can be joined here).

What’s in the Future?

High seas treaty: historic deal to protect international waters finally reached at UN 

After almost 20 years of talks, United Nations member states agree on legal framework for parts of the ocean outside national boundaries.

Bradley Campbell

/in /by

LinkedIn

Company: Integrated Holistic Healthcare

Location: Wilmette, IL

Bradley is a holistic physician.

Bradley Campbell

/in /by

LinkedIn

Company: Integrated Holistic Healthcare

Location: Wilmette, IL

Bradley is a holistic physician.

Jes Chosid

/in , , /by

LinkedIn

Company: NixieDip, Inc

Location: New York City, NY

Since I was little, I was always making “stuff”.

My background involves the coming together of art and science. Engineering, Science and Art classes should be taught together. It’s a mistake to separate them.

Jes is the founder of NixieDip. NixieDip scales and automates water sampling by turning drones into flying water robots. It slashes costs up to 90% and speeds up surface sampling by 75%.

Jes Chosid

/in , , /by

LinkedIn

Company: NixieDip, Inc

Location: New York City, NY

Since I was little, I was always making “stuff”.

My background involves the coming together of art and science. Engineering, Science and Art classes should be taught together. It’s a mistake to separate them.

Jes is the founder of NixieDip. NixieDip scales and automates water sampling by turning drones into flying water robots. It slashes costs up to 90% and speeds up surface sampling by 75%.

Robert Cobbold

/in , , /by

LinkedIn

Company: Beach Collective

Location: Madrid, Spain

Robert Cobbold is an entrepreneur, public speaker and philosopher who has delivered transformative educational experiences to over 40,000 people worldwide.

COO at Beach Collective.

Founding editor of Conscious Evolution, an online publication, podcast and consultancy aiming to kindle an evolutionary transition and help individuals and organisations find meaning and purpose.

Former programme Manager of The Crowd, a network for senior sustainability professionals; and Common Vision, a thinktank specialising in creative public engagement.

Former programme Manager of Green Schools Project, a nationwide environmental education program.

Worked for the celebrity-led campaign Farms Not Factories which reached over 130M people.

Set up my own business teaching bridge to young people in London called SLAM!

Worked as a private tutor for top London tutoring agencies, including stints in India, China and around the UK.

Published writer, public speaker, podcaster and facilitator.

Marcus Coplin

/in /by

LinkedIn

Company: Alchemy Springs

Location: San Francisco, California

For over 20 years I have been working in the healing arts and with thermal waters. For more than a dozen years I have been a Primary Care Physician, with a speciality in Naturopathic Physiotherapy and Hydrothermal Medicine. I use biophysical agents, alongside patient specific diet programs, and herbal and nutrient based medicines to treat a variety of illness, from complex and chronic infections, to autoimmune/inflammatory issues, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and cancer.

I have advanced training in European Mistletoe therapy, Medical Rehabilitation, Balneology, and Physiotherapy.

I owned and ran a Biophysical therapy based practice in the San Francisco area for many years, as well as co-founding the Bay Area Center for Nutrient Therapy, an IV therapy treatment center focusing on Cancer patients and the Chronically ill.

In 2018 I took on a role at the Portland Clinic of Holistic Health as Attending Physician. In this capacity I saw 150-200 patient visits a week and managed complex cases using a full spectrum of interventions. In addition to my roles as attending physician, I led the clinic’s IV therapy and Mistletoe Programs for Caner care.

In mid 2021 I returned to my passion of Health Resort medicine. I have been consulting for a variety of Health Resort and Urban Thermal spaces on how to incorporate the Best Practices of Hydrothermal Medicine into their facilities. Hydrofos Consulting was established in 2022 to facilitate the growing number of interest in the Health Resort field.

In 2022 I became the Medical Director for The Springs Resort in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

I maintain a virtual advisory practice to help facilitate individuals whop have complex diagnosis in making the best choices for their medical care.

Dain Dunston

/in , /by

LinkedIn

Company: Reservoir LLC

Location: Austin, TX

How do you keep the innovations coming?

How do you keep your culture from eating your strategy?

How do you build leadership and engagement in your organization?

How do you build the future when you’re neck deep in managing the present?

How do you build your personal mastery?

How can you find joy in being in your work and life?

These are questions I work on every day, for myself and for my clients. And every day, we make breakthroughs. We identify better ways to respond to change with elegant innovation and disruptive execution. We develop programs to engage people in building better organizational cultures together. And we work on how individuals—you and me—can take personal action to improve both our performance and our happiness.

I’m in the business of innovation and organizational development. I help organizations focus on their purpose. I help them create better people, better products, better processes and better payoffs. I help build organizations that are branded to the bone.

I coach individuals and teams.

I help people find and tell their stories.

I write speeches and coach speakers.

I lead meetings and conferences.

I direct creative projects of all kinds.

And then I write books. Books about business. Books about leadership presence. Books about stories I want to tell.

For the past 35 years, I’ve provided communication strategy for some of America’s most respected companies. Working in a variety of media, from CEO speeches to comedy videos, my knowledge of business, innovation, organizational dynamics and engagement make me a valued partner in getting your message out.

I’m now on the board of The Watershed Association in Texas and serve as host for Ocean Exchange conferences and webcasts. Within Reservoir, we are establishing a program we call Rising Water Partners to support the growth of early-stage, emerging businesses that innovate in freshwater sustainability.

Michael Dyson

/in /by

LinkedIn

Company: Infinity Water Solutions

Location: Austin, Texas

Mike Dyson is a second-generation energy professional with more than 20 years of multi-disciplinary experience and an emphasis on early-stage project growth and development. Having founded or co-founded seven operations in his career, Mike’s track record includes five successful exits to date. In 2019, Mike founded Mako Strategies, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage and startup operations, for which he serves as managing director.

Mike received his BA from the University of Houston, graduating magna cum laude, and his JD from Rutgers University, graduating Dean’s Scholar. He also graduated from Stanford University’s Business Executive Program. He currently serves as a board director for several organizations in the technology, energy and real estate industries. Mike is committed to giving back to the community, serving in various local, regional and state commissions, most notably as Mayor of the City of Rollingwood from 2018-2021.

When he’s not working or volunteering, his passion for travel has taken him across the globe. Mike welcomes every new challenge life brings and is fortunate to share this journey with wife, Marsha, and their daughters, Mia and Maddie, who all share his passion for travel and adventure.

Mary Eggert

/in /by

LinkedIn

Company: Global Water Works

Location: Libertyville, Illinois

I’m a self-proclaimed geek, who’s passionate about seeing great technology transform our world for good.

I grew up on Water Street in Watertown, Wisconsin, and was giving speeches on water pollution by the age of 12 – aghast at the 30-foot piles of sulfites that accumulated on the Rock River that ran through our back yard. I naively assumed the Clean Water Act of the 1970s and the disappearance of visible pollution piles meant that our waters were safe and abundant.

Then, I found myself in the middle of the largest gathering of water technologists on the planet. What I learned at WEFTEC 2015 from those who have invested their entire careers in water was that we are just 14 years away from a place where demand for water could exceed supply by 40% (SEE: http://bit.ly/2030Report)… The keynote speaker, endorsed by these water industry leaders, motivated the audience to action with the mention that all marine life could cease to exist by 2048 if we don’t reverse the current trajectory (SEE: http://www.therevolutionmovie.com). These were harrowing statistics that prompted me to switch careers and focus on applying all of my talents, connections and resources on ensuring water works.