Water Research Foundation seeks nominations for $100K water-quality research prize
The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is accepting nominations for the 2025 Paul L. Busch Award. The $100,000 prize recognizes an outstanding individual for innovative research in the field of water quality and the water environment.
WRF’s Endowment for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research supports this annual award. It was named in honor of Busch, who demonstrated creativity, visionary thinking and practical application of scientific research, which are essential to ensure a clean water environment for future generations. Busch also challenged engineers and scientists to devise new solutions to current and future water quality challenges.
“Paul Busch believed the purpose of engineering wasn’t just to build better tools, but to build them for the right reasons,” says Jeffrey McCutcheon, recipient of the 2024 award. “I’m grateful to my current and past students, who worked hard to make our new technology a reality, and for WRF seeing the possibility of what we can accomplish.”
The award highlights projects that will bridge research and practical applications. The recipient will receive a grant of $100,000 to further their work, take risks and explore new directions. Individuals from all segments of the water quality community are encouraged to submit nominations, either for themselves or others.
Applications can be submitted here. The deadline for nominations is June 2, 2025.
Launched in 2001, the award has provided more than $2 million in funding to researchers making breakthroughs in water quality science.
