IDA’s Young Leaders Program was officially launched at the 2009 World Congress in Dubai. The goals of this exciting initiative are to help promote opportunities in the industry, support career advancement, and provide a forum for communication and the exchange of ideas among young professionals and the industry at large.

The YLP is open to any IDA member 35 years of age or under. If you are interested in joining the program, please direct your inquiries to npagels@idadesal.org.

We’re pleased to announce some exciting developments!

Age Limit Raised to 35

Please note that, in response to wide interest in the program, we have raised the age limit for YLP members to 35 years of age or younger. This change opens participation to a greater number of emerging leaders in the desalination and water reuse community.

YLP Best Paper Award

As part of the YLP launch, IDA presented an award for the best paper (co)authored and presented during the 2009 World Congress proceedings by a member of the Young Leaders Program. Congratulations to the inaugural recipient, Nelly Cannesson of Australia!

The immensely positive response for the awards initiative and the large number of strong nominations submitted for the inaugural prize in Dubai means the prize will be awarded again at the next IDA World Congress, to be held in 2011 in Perth, Australia. The award includes a monetary prize of 5,000 USD (subject to US Federal income tax rules and regulations) and recognition at the premier global event for the desalination industry.

Details on eligibility and the application procedure for the prize will be provided here on the YLP pages as well as in the Calls for Abstracts and Paper Submissions in the run-up to the 2011 World Congress.

YLP Educational Tour Takes Shape

Another exciting aspect of the YLP is a promotional Educational Tour. The aim of the tour is to promote IDA and the industry as a whole, as well as to reach young engineers and professionals as they take their first steps towards their future careers. The tour will include presentations and seminars delivered by regional IDA members, industry leaders and regional members of the YLP.

Plans for the 2010 tour are well underway. Our goal is to launch the tours in late March or early April in North America and expand into various regions of the world. Interested institutions, IDA members and YLP members may direct their inquiries comments and suggestions to npagels@idadesal.org. Now being refined, the tour schedule will be available soon – be sure to check back for details.

Applications Now Being Accepted for the IDA Channabassappa Memorial Scholarship

We would also like to highlight the existence of the IDA Channabasappa Memorial Scholarship Program. If you are enrolled in graduate study in science or engineering, here’s your opportunity to apply for a grant of up to 10,000 USD! The Channabasappa Memorial Scholarship Program was established by IDA to assist young engineers and scientists to further their education in subjects related to desalination. This scholarship provides assistance for graduate students and is awarded annually.

Applications are being accepted through June 1, 2010. Please go to: http://www.idadesal.org/t-ScholarshipInfo.aspx for details of eligibility and the application procedure for IDA’s Scholarship Program.