Water Sustainability in Santiago, Chile

Water Sustainability in Santiago, Chile

Join NDI staff from Santiago, Chile and Notre Dame Environmental Engineering Professor Rob Nerenberg to discuss how population growth and climate change are increasing the need for more sustainable and energy-efficient water management technologies. The Nerenberg research group focuses on biological processes for water and wastewater treatment and reuse. Dr. Nerenberg's group uses advanced experimental tools, molecular tools, and modeling to understand and predict the behavior of biofilms.

Meet the Director: Juan Esteban Montes

Juan Esteban Montes is the Director of the Santiago Global Center. He also serves as president of the Board of Colegios Diaconales, a group of three PK-12 private Catholic Schools in the Santiago area, related to his family. Esteban has authored two books on civil-military relations in Chile and articles on political parties, electoral systems and constitutional reform in Chile. Esteban earned his MA and PhD. candidacy in Political Science from the University of Notre Dame and his Law Degree from the Catholic University in Santiago.

Meet the Guest Speaker: Dr. Robert Nerenberg

Presented by Juan Esteban Montes

Dr. Robert Nerenberg is a Professor at the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame. The Nerenberg research group focuses on biological processes for water and wastewater treatment and reuse. Dr. Nerenberg’s group uses advanced experimental tools, molecular tools, and modeling to understand and predict the behavior of biofilms. Our research is helping develop the next generation of treatment technologies for sustainable water management.

Meet the Other Guest Speakers

Ignacio Vargas is an Associate Professor in the Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering. His specialties include: environmental engineering, microbial fuel cells, biocorrosion, environmental biotechnology and water treatment systems.

Marcela Vega is a Postdoctoral Researcher at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is currently working on biocatalysis for removal of drinking water contaminants.

Perchlorate Research and Joint PhD Program

Presented by Dr. Robert Nerenberg

Dr. Robert Nerenberg, Professor at the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame, provides an introduction to his research project surrounding Perchlorate and the PhD joint program between Notre Dame and PUC in Chile.

Ignacio Vargas: Perchlorate Research in Chile

Presented by Professor Ignacio Vargas

Professor Ignacio Vargas of the Catholic University in Chile (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) discusses his ongoing research surrounding Perchlorates in Chile and the collaborative work he began with Dr. Robert Nerenberg through a grant given by Notre Dame that has since grown.

Bringing Perchlorate Research to an International Stage

Presented by Dr. Robert Nerenberg

Dr. Marcela Vega talks about her research about Perchlorates and reflects on her time continuing her research at Notre Dame and the United States.

Additional Resources

Presented by Juan Estaban Montes

View the Live Virtual Event

Presented by Juan Estaban Montes

Wednesday, March 16, 2022 3:00 pm

Subscribe to the ThinkND podcast on Apple, Spotify, or Google.

Featured Speakers: 

  • Juan Esteban Montes, Director of the Santiago Global Center, University of Notre Dame
  • Dr. Robert Nerenberg, Professor at the Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Notre Dame
  • Ignacio Vargas, Associate Professor in the Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, University of Notre Dame
  • Marcela Vega, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

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Water Sustainability in Santiago, Chile
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