International Research and Outreach in Water

 

To do work in the Middle East, Asia, or any other part of the globe, one needs credibility; a brand name that people trust. For Professor Jagath Kaluarachchi, that brand is the Water and Irrigation Engineering Program at Utah State University. International water resource work is addressing immediate critical needs and has very unique challenges.   “What they have is real problems [that need] to be solved,” states Dr. Kaluarachchi.  

Dr. Kaluararchchi personally deals with the application side of water research when abroad.  He has done this by partnering with other professors, institutes, and governments in Iraq, Sri Lanka, Palestine, Ethiopia, and elsewhere overseas. He works in these countries, helping to solve the problems related to water resources, water quality and technology transfer.  Most importantly, he trains locals on how to work to improve and maintain water systems and relevant institutions.

            There are, of course, unique issues related to doing research internationally. Professor Kaluararchchi says the general problems he faces in each new area are the same.  For example, actually getting the work done, dealing with different cultures, and accessibility to technology are always challenges. One challenge that he is overcoming is “developing some relationships with people so they trust us.” He says that he and his colleagues are building the USU brand. “In the water area, USU has [had] a strong international presence since the 1920s…USU Water-Program is a brand name.” 

 

Dr. Kaluararchchi is The Associate Dean of The College of Engineering and is a professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.