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Northwestern Students Explore Water Technology in Israel
Karyn Simpson | November 24, 2018
From ancient history to today, Israel’s ability to become water-solvent in the middle of the desert is an engineering marvel. That’s why the Northwestern Center for Water Research, Crown Family Center for Jewish and Israel Studies, Northwestern Engineering Global Initiatives Program, and Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern (ISEN) developed a program for undergraduate students to explore water engineering challenges and solutions in Israel. Building on the success of last year’s inaugural Global Engineering Trek (GET) to Germany, the GET Water Israel trip gave 12 students the opportunity to travel across the desert country studying ancient and modern water technology, infrastructure, and innovation.
The program was open to rising sophomores and juniors of all majors, though most students who attended are studying engineering. Students visited a mixture of historic and modern water infrastructure sites, and spoke with engineers and officials who develop and operate the technology that is securing Israel’s future water supply.
“The trip was really informative and engaging,” said Layton Guyton, a sophomore environmental engineering major. “Learning about Israel’s water reclamation, sanitation, and transportation centers has prompted me to think a lot about the systems we often take for granted in the U.S.”
Students visited Israel’s Technion Institute of Technology and the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev where they met with professors and researchers, toured the universities’ labs, and learned about current research and potential internships, research opportunities, and study abroad opportunities. They also met with Yossi Rosenwaks, Dean of Engineering from Tel Aviv University, to learn about the university’s research and entrepreneurship programs. In addition, students toured important water infrastructure sites such as the Eshkol Water Treatment Plant, Sapir Water Pumping Station and Sorek Desalination Plant, which gave them the opportunity to speak with water engineers and explore potential job opportunities.
“The Israel Trek was a fantastic combination of science and innovation with history and culture.” — Natalie Hanson, Manufacturing and Design Engineering Student
“On campus, we explore science, technology, geography, and culture conceptually in the classroom,” said Aaron Packman, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Northwestern and one of the trip leaders. “The GET Water Israel program allowed students to experience all of these first-hand. Seeing critical water systems like the Jordan River, visiting Israel’s state-of-the-art water facilities, and talking directly with the engineers who design, build, and operate these technological marvels provided a deep understanding and appreciation of the skills and effort required to solve critical water challenges.”
By visiting ancient sites such as Caesarea and Masada, as well as more modern sites such as Sapir and Sorek, students were able to juxtapose the old and new technology that has allowed civilizations to live in Israel’s deserts since Biblical times. Seeing both ancient and modern water structures allowed students to analyze how water engineering has evolved throughout time and also provided perspective on how these practices can be applied globally.
“The Israel Trek was a fantastic combination of science and innovation with history and culture,” said Natalie Hanson, a junior manufacturing and design engineering major. “I went into this program expecting to learn a lot about water. I was not only amazed with Israel's tech and water research, but I was also blown away by the hike to Masada, swimming in the Dead Sea, exploring an underground canal underneath Jerusalem, and so much more.”
Applications for the 2019 Global Engineering Trek programs will open in February. Interested students should visit the GET website for additional information.
Photo credit: David Gordon