Kartik Chandran

Kartik Chandran is Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University and a global leader in sustainable wastewater treatment and engineered resource recovery. Chandran’s work is enabled through understanding and harnessing the biochemical potential and metabolism of microbial communities and developing appropriate technologies towards addressing global environmental and societal needs.  Applications of his work have ranged from energy and resource-efficient treatment of nitrogen-containing wastewater streams to the development and implementation of novel models and sustainable approaches to sanitation.   Through his groundbreaking research and its practical applications, Chandran is demonstrating the hidden value of wastewater, conserving vital resources, and protecting public health.  

Prior to joining Columbia University, Chandran served as a senior technical specialist with the private engineering firm Metcalf and Eddy of New York, where he contributed to New York City’s efforts to achieve significant improvements to its water quality.

More details on his work can be found at https://www.eee.columbia.edu/faculty/kartik-chandranor at https://kchandranlab.wixsite.com/kclab.

Kiyonori Nakamura

Born in Brazil from Japanese raised parents and blended since his childhood in Oriental and Western culture, Kiyonori Nakamura has a solid track record of participation on international partnership projects since university student era among several countries on Environmental, Infrastructure and Agricultural fields. Has a master’s degrees in biology at Kobe University in Japan and because of acquired multicultural mindset, worked with almost all continents around the globe. Nowadays, as a Deputy Director of Overseas Business Department at a Japanese Company named Kyowa Kako Co., Ltd., is delivering Japanese technologies on treatment of sewage sludge and other biodegradables, transforming the byproduct into sanitary safe fertilizer to the Philippines and Brazil, with international partnerships between private and public sectors, helping to tackle the challenge on resource recycling, circular economy, and food security.

Luana Siewert Pretto

Luana Siewert Pretto is a Civil Engineer (UFSC), with a master’s degree in Multicriteria Analysis (UFSC) and a postgraduate degree in Project Management (FGV). She has worked at the state water and sanitation utility of Santa Catarina (CASAN) and served as president of the municipal public sanitation company, Companhia Águas de Joinville. Currently, she is the Executive President of the Trata Brasil Institute.