Dr. Abul Hussam, Professor and Director of the Center for Clean Water and Sustainable Technologies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Born in Bangladesh, Professor Abul Hussam received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his postdoctoral training from the University of Minnesota and Georgetown University. Professor Hussam joined George Mason University in 1985 where he is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

Professor Hussam was awarded the 2007 Grainger Challenge Prize Gold Award from the National Academy of Engineering for his SONO filter, a household water treatment system that removes arsenic from contaminated groundwater. This was the highest prize given to an individual by the National Academy of Engineering which comprises a citation, a gold medal, and one million dollars. Professor Hussam has given away most of his prize money for the cause. To date, about 100,000 SONO filters have been distributed in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, which are saving millions of people from drinking arsenic contaminated water and suffering its health effects. In 2007, he was named one of the “Heroes of the Environment” by TIME Magazine. Professor Hussam is now Director of the Center for Clean Water and Sustainable Technologies at George Mason University where he directs a research team to work on sustainable methods for water purification.