"Smart Pot" Finalists Named

TAMPA – The Patel School of Global Sustainability and the International Water Association (IWA) recently announced the four finalists of the Patel Smart Pot Grand Challenge at the IWA World Water Congress in Busan, Korea.

A gravity-operated, active carbon membrane filter with an optional second filter for chlorine removal and a cup for boiling water proposed by Jo Burgess.

The Patel Smart Pot Grand Challenge is a solutions-oriented research contest that was initiated and coordinated by the Patel School of Global Sustainability at the University of South Florida, and funded through a donation from Dr. Kiran C. Patel.

This year’s Smart Pot Grand Challenge was to produce low-cost, efficient technology that can produce safe drinking water and yet fit into the traditional, everyday water collection pots used all over the world.

The Smart Pot Grand Challenge is the first of a series of Grand Challenges that will be raised over the coming years. Each Grand Challenge will be focused on solving practical problems in developing countries using local knowledge, experience and expertise.

Dr. Patel launched the challenge at the 2nd IWA Development Congress, opening the competition to designers, researchers, inventors and entrepreneurs from developing countries.

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