New England Water Innovation Network
Alumnus Earl Jones connected WPI to the New England Water Innovation Network. “NEWIN is the water industry cluster for New England whose member are committed to helping solve water resource challenges globally.”
Jones believed WPI could play a role in the development and expansion of the Massachusetts—Israeli partnerships around water innovation and invited representatives to join the Massachusetts-Israeli Water Mission. Dean Karen Kashmanian Oates became part of a 46-member team from Massachusetts that traveled to Israel. The group included educators, entrepreneurs, scientists, technology executives, venture capitalists, and policy makers—with the goals of developing partnerships that will benefit both the Massachusetts and Israeli businesses; learning lessons from Israel’s leading water experts; and encouraging Israeli water companies to come to Massachusetts. While there, the group met with their Israeli counterparts, including Israel’s chief scientist and the minister of national infrastructure, as well as toured the country’s desalination and wastewater treatment facilities.