Indian-American scientist Ashok Gadgil was awarded the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Joe Biden on Tuesday, October 24, 2023.
The National Medal of Technology and Innovation is the nation’s highest honor for technological achievement. It is bestowed by the president of the United States on America’s leading innovators.
Gadgil was recognized for his groundbreaking work in developing sustainable and affordable water purification and air filtration technologies.
Gadgil, who specializes in heat transfer, fluid dynamics, and technology design for development, particularly in developing countries, has been instrumental in creating low-cost solutions to some of the world’s most pressing problems.
His work has had a profound impact on communities around the globe, providing life-sustaining resources and addressing urgent humanitarian crises.
Among his notable inventions are the “UV Waterworks,” a simple, effective, and inexpensive disinfection system for drinking water, the “Berkeley-Darfur Stove,” a low-cost sheet-metal stove that saves fuelwood in internally displaced person’s camps in Darfur, and ECAR (ElectroChemical Arsenic Removal) for removing arsenic from water. These technologies have helped more than 100 million people worldwide.
Who is Ashok Gadgil?
Gadgil is a Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and the Director of the Center for Environmental Research and Education at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the co-founder of several companies that develop and commercialize his technologies.
Born in Mumbai, Gadgil holds a physics degree from the University of Mumbai, an M.Sc. in physics from Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and an M.Sc. (1975) and Ph.D. (1979) in physics from the University of California, Berkeley. After completing his Ph.D., he spent five years working for a non-profit in India before returning to Berkeley.
One of Gadgil’s most notable inventions is the Berkeley Pit Water Treatment System, which removes heavy metals from the water in the Berkeley Pit, a former copper mine that is now one of the most polluted bodies of water in the United States. Gadgil’s system has also been used to clean up water contaminated by arsenic, lead, and other pollutants.
Gadgil has also developed innovative air filtration technologies that can remove particulate matter, including PM2.5, from the air. These technologies are used in a variety of applications, including air purifiers for homes and businesses, and pollution control systems for industrial facilities.
In addition to the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, Gadgil has received numerous other awards and honors, including the MacArthur Fellowship, the Heinz Award, and the Stockholm Water Prize. He is also a member of the National Academy of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In an interview with Berkeley Lab News Center, Gadgil reflected on his extensive career and what drew him to the field of science.
He said, “I was drawn to science because, in some sense, it is grounded in objective reality. It seemed like there was some objective universal thing that I could learn, and I was fascinated. The most fundamental of the subjects was physics, so that’s what I was interested in. I knew very early on that I wanted to be a scientist, and very soon thereafter that I wanted to be a physicist.”
Gadgil’s work is inspired by a belief in the dignity of all people and in our power to solve the great challenges of our time.
His innovative, inexpensive technologies help meet profound needs from drinking water to fuel-efficient cookstoves. His decades-long commitment to developing technologies that address urgent humanitarian crises epitomizes Berkeley Lab’s mission of bringing science solutions to the world.
Gadgil’s work is also an inspiration to other scientists and engineers to continue to innovate and develop new solutions to global challenges. His recognition by President Biden is a powerful reminder of the importance of science and technology in building a better future for all.
How did his invention UV Waterworks work?
The UV Waterworks is a water purification system developed by Dr. Ashok Gadgil. It’s a portable, low-cost, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient solution that uses ultraviolet light to render viruses and bacteria harmless.
The system operates by using UV light from a low-pressure mercury discharge, similar to that in a fluorescent lamp, to disinfect drinking water. The UV light kills waterborne pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and molds, thus purifying the drinking water.
One of the key advantages of the UV Waterworks system is its energy efficiency. It’s powered by only 40 watts of electricity. This is a significant improvement over traditional methods of water purification like boiling, which would require the daily burning of two or three tons of firewood to treat an equivalent amount of water. As such, each UV Waterworks unit has the potential to prevent a ton of carbon dioxide per day from being released into the air.
The system has no moving parts and can be run using even a car battery or solar cell to disinfect approximately 4 gallons per minute. This makes it an ideal solution for areas with limited access to electricity or clean drinking water.
Here’s how it compares to other water purification systems:
- UV vs. RO (Reverse Osmosis): RO systems use a semi-permeable membrane to remove a wide range of impurities, including heavy metals, dissolved solids, and harmful chemicals. UV systems, on the other hand, target the DNA of microorganisms, rendering them unable to reproduce. However, UV systems do not remove non-living contaminants like heavy metals or dissolved solids.
- UV vs. UF (Ultrafiltration): UF systems pass water through a fine membrane that blocks particles larger than a specific size, ensuring the removal of bacteria, viruses, and larger contaminants. Unlike RO, UF doesn’t need electricity and doesn’t strip water of its essential minerals. While UF is effective against harmful microorganisms, it may not eliminate dissolved impurities or chemicals.
- UV vs. Chlorine Treatment: Both UV and chlorine treatment produce very similar results in terms of disinfection. However, UV is effective against two chlorine-resistant microorganisms: Cryptosporidium and Giardia.
