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Water

Global Biomimetic Water Harvesting Project

● Water scarcity is one of the biggest issues facing society.

● A mere 2.5% of the world’s water is available as freshwater, of which only 0.3 % is readily accessible for human consumption.

● In regions of the world where clean water sources are not readily available, many of the simplest tasks such as drinking, washing, cooking, and farming are a major challenge.

● The Global Biomimetic Water Harvesting Project is aimed at tackling this issue using a research based approach.

● The work takes inspiration from nature to mimic the structure, mechanisms and techniques used by natural species to interact with water.

● These designs, honed over millions of years through evolution and natural selection, are being replicated in the laboratory to provide sustainable and affordable solutions for drinking water.

Bringing together research teams, NGOs, industrial companies, and communities from across the world, the project aims to:

► Create a database of natural species with interesting water properties, which can be used as a resource for research.

► Design and manufacture water harvesting devices which are affordable and sustainable.

► Work with communities in regions where water scarcity is a major issue, and provide them with safe drinking water.

[1]UN Water Statistics: Graphs and Maps – Water Resources. http://www.unwater.org/statistics_res.html

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