Research and Innovation Community

The WEF Research and Innovation/Research and Innovation for Strengthening Engagement (RISE) Community will continue to support the core value of accelerating the adoption of innovative technology within the water industry, integrating utilities, academics, and consultants in the discussion.

The community will:

  • Ensure communication between researchers working in academic and other research settings and coordinate input to WEF's efforts to understand and address priorities such as knowledge development and transfer, research funding, and so forth.
  • Support and foster the participation of members from the academic and research communities in WEF's critical objective of driving innovation.
  • Lead and support efforts to increase the participation of academics and other researchers in WEF programs.
  • Provide leadership for and coordination of WEF's research-related conferences, including proposing events and meetings.

Chair
Pusker Regmi, 2024-2025
Email:  pregmi@brwncald.com

Xavier Fonoll-Almansa, 2024-2025
Email:  xavier.fonoll@utexas.edu 

Past Chair
Erika Bailey, 2024-2025
Email:  erika.bailey@raleighnc.gov

Staff Manager
Bianca Pinto
Email: Bianca Pinto


View archived RIC Forum Webcasts and Research and Innovation Community Technical Resources.

Below are the latest RISE focus groups. The focus group topics were selected by the RISE community. Each focus group has a timeframe of about one year, after which the focus group members vote to continue the work for another year, or to sunset the group. If you would like to join any of the focus groups, or to join the RISE community, please email Bianca Pinto (bpinto@wef.org). 

Bioforms and Intensification

Digestion Intensification 

Hydrothermal Liquefaction

Improvements in Pre-digestion Hydrolysis Processes

Mainstream Carbon Efficient Nitrogen Removal through PdNA

  • Chair: Stephanie Klaus, Hampton Roads Sanitation District - sklaus@hrsd.com 

Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR)

Resource Recovery Through FOG 

Soft Sensors and Machine Learning Possibilities and Applications

Related Areas

Latest News
Latest News
Industrial Water Solutions Conference Convenes Business and Utility Leaders Driving the Circular Water Economy
See more
WEF Laboratory Practices Resources
See more
Safety & Security in Water Operations
See more
WasteWaterDesign
See more
WEF Encourages Congress to Protect Against Proposed Cuts to Federal Funding
See more
Upcoming WEF Events
Upcoming WEF Events
AWWA/WEF Utility Management Conference 2025
See more
Joint Conference: Residuals & Biosolids and Innovations in Treatment Technology
See more
WEF Webcasts
See more

Join a Community

WEF members can join almost all communities using our Community Platform. 

  • Meet other members
  • Interact in the forums
  • Find opportunities
  • Join calls and meetings
Visit the Community Platform

LEARN, TRAIN, NETWORK

View the WEF Calendar of Events

Join or Renew Your WEF Membership Today

Be part of the community powering clean water and public health. Explore member benefits and find the right fit for you.

Join or Renew Online