Extension of the fourth term of the "UNESCO Chair on Water Reuse" until 2030/Continuning global trust in the scientific capacities of the University of Tehran

According to the Public Relations Department of the College of Engineering, the official extension of the agreement on the “UNESCO Chair on Water Reuse,” which was adopted based on a four-year performance evaluation and a review of the chair’s future plans, further solidifies the position of the University of Tehran as one of the region’s scientific reference centers in the field of water reuse, unconventional water resources, and sustainable development.

UNESCO Chair; A Bridge Between University, Industry, and Policymaking

The UNESCO Chair on Water Reuse at the University of Tehran, which is headed by Dr. Mohammad Hossein Sarafzadeh, a professor at the School of Chemical Engineering at the University of Tehran’s, has become one of the country’s most important scientific platforms for connecting universities, industry, policymakers, and international institutions in the field of water in recent years. With a focus on water security, circular economy, resource recycling, climate change adaptation, and improving water efficiency, this chair provides scientific and practical solutions to address the growing challenges of water scarcity.

“Water Closed-Loop System”: An Achievement Beyond Wastewater Treatment

One of the most prominent achievements of this chair is the development and promotion of the concept of “Water Closed-Loop System”. This approach, which considers water as part of a smart resource cycle, goes beyond conventional wastewater treatment. This system is now used in various industries, including oil and gas, food, pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and other industrial sectors, and in many cases, without the need for heavy investment and simply through the optimal management of water flows, it has brought about a significant reduction in water consumption.

Range of Activities: From New Technologies to International Cooperation

The UNESCO Chair on Water Reuse has carried out extensive activities in various fields, including the development of new technologies for water purification and reusing, the removal of emerging pollutants, nitrate control in drinking water sources, the desalination of unconventional waters, the recovery of energy and valuable materials from wastewater, and the use of nature-based solutions. To date, dozens of industrial and research projects and more than one hundred postgraduate theses have been implemented in line with the themes of this chair.

This chair has also played an effective role in promoting scientific flow and promoting the culture of water reusing in the country by holding conferences, specialized meetings, training courses, and collaborating with national and international institutions. Collaboration with UNESCO hydrological programs, the UNESCO National Commission, universities, and various research centers around the world is among its other notable activities.

The extension of this chair until 2030 can be seen as a sign of the international community's trust in the scientific capacities of the University of Tehran and the effective role played by Iranian researchers in solving one of the most important challenges of the 21st century: the security and sustainability of water resources.