Water future - problems and solution presented by professor Ashok Vaseashta

 ENG:

"Water is the source of life" a phrase often heard and used today. Even one of the Global Development Goals is focused on the protection of water resources.

To discuss several aspects related to the future of water, on February 8, a public lecture by Professor Ashok Vaseashta was organized by the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in collaboration with the Institute of Chemistry of USM and the Chemistry Society of Moldova. The lecture, entitled " Future of Water - Challenges and Solutions Using Nature-inspired and Bioplastics-based Nexus of Exponential Technologies", underlined the most important challenges of today - climate change and the water scarcity created and as a consequence thereof. These two challenges affect humanity in the long term as well as in the immediate term.

While existing megatrends dealing with sustainability are developing measures to mitigate the effects of global warming, the problem of water scarcity shows deficiencies in scientific preparation to address it. It is essential to shape the future of water resources, which must include a paradigm shift in its production, use, reuse, recycling, and discharge.

Professor Vaseashta presented a holistic and futuristic picture, including the use of exponential technologies and transdisciplinary research by using solutions inspired by nature, while mitigating the micro/nano plastic footprint in the environment. Mimicking nature among the available products a strategic combination of electrospinning and 3D printing, they are shapes and unique to capture atmospheric water, which is considered one of the largest sources of water. This is coupled with the latest technological advances including biomimicry, artificial intelligence, data analytics and smart building concepts to address sustainable development goals.

Academicians Gheorghe Duca and Anatolie Sidorenco highly appreciated the collaborative relationships established over several years in the framework of more than 10 research projects in the field of water analysis, treatment and decontamination carried out in partnership with Professor Vaseashta.

The results of the collaboration was materialized for wide dissemination through 2 books edited together: 2 volumes of Handbook of Research on Water Sciences and Society (2022) and Handbook of Research on Emerging Developments and Environmental Impacts of Ecological Chemistry (2020).

The fruitful collaboration with researchers from Moldova, evoked by acad. Duca also represents a well-founded reason to include Professor Vaseashta as an honorary member of the AȘM. This was also reiterated by the AȘM vice-president Svetlana Cojocaru, so at the next meeting of the AȘM Assembly, the topic of including Mr. Vaseashta as an honorary member of AȘM will be discussed. 

The public lecture was attended by the academician Ion Tighineanu, president of AȘM, corresponding member Svetlana Cojocaru, vice-president of AȘM, Coordinator of the Exact and Engineering Sciences Section, Grigore Stratulat, secretary of state Ministry of the Environment, academician Gheorghe Duca, head of the Center for Physical and Quantum Chemistry, president of the Moldovan Chemistry Society, academicians, teaching staff of the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology of USM, researchers of the Institute of Chemistry of USM.

The event was held in a mixed format, with a physical presence in Sala Mică of AȘM (bd. Ștefan cel Mare si Sfânt, 1) and online, on ZOOM.