OU WaTER Center

10/06/2026

We are pleased to announce Professor Barbara Evans as the ninth recipient of the University of Oklahoma International Water Prize.

Professor Evans' work focuses on sanitation, hygiene, and water services, with an emphasis on resilient and equitable provision for low-income communities.

Congratulations, Professor Evans, on this well-deserved honor!

A trailblazer in improving global sanitation, Barbara Evans has been named the recipient of the University of Oklahoma’s ninth International Water Prize. This biennial award is sponsored by the OU Water Technologies for Emerging Regions (WaTER) Center, housed in the Gallogly College of Engineering, and is presented to individuals who have made notable contributions to the field of water supply and sanitation for developing regions.

Evans is a leader in public health engineering and urban sanitation at the University of Leeds, where she serves as a professor and the chair in Public Health Engineering in the School of Civil Engineering.

Learn more: link.ou.edu/4dmwKz3

09/21/2026

The OU WaTER Center welcomed jurors Philip Deal (Oklahoma Christian University), Styvers Kathuni (Millennium Water Alliance), Ali Mirchi (Oklahoma Water Resources Center), Charitie Ropati (UN General Assembly), and Abhishek RoyChowdhury (Bentley University) to campus to select the next OU International Water Prize winner.

We are honored to have received such an exceptional group of nominations for next year's award. Stay tuned as we announce our next Water Prize winner!

06/29/2026

The OU WaTER Center is proud to support student learning and global engagement! We were honored to provide travel scholarships to students at The University of Oklahoma participating in an international service trip to Ecuador with the Regeneration Field Institute.

Through this experience, students gained hands-on knowledge in agroforestry, immersed themselves in Ecuadorian culture, and built a shade structure for a local school in Pavón, Ecuador.

We're excited to support opportunities that inspire future leaders to make a positive impact both locally and around the world!
Read more: link.ou.edu/4cpMPnD

05/15/2026

Please join us in congratulating Yang Eric Hong on being named a recipient of the prestigious George Lynn Cross Research Professorship — the University of Oklahoma’s highest honor for research and creative activity.

This well-deserved recognition celebrates Dr. Hong’s outstanding leadership and global impact in hydrology, remote sensing, water resources, and climate research. We are proud to have him as part of the OU WaTER Center team! 🌍💧👏

Learn more: https://link.ou.edu/4uPLTir

05/07/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Randall Kolar, Associate Director of the OU WaTER Center, on being named a 2026 recipient of the Oklahoma Medal for Excellence! 🎉

The OU WaTER Center is proud to celebrate Dr. Kolar’s outstanding leadership, dedication to teaching excellence, and lasting impact on students in the School of Civil Engineering and Environmental Science. His commitment to mentoring and advancing engineering education continues to inspire the next generation of water and environmental professionals.

05/06/2026

Some of our WaTER Center team members had the privilege of reconnecting with Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe this morning. We are continually inspired by Sr. Rosemary's incredible work in Gulu, Uganda, where she has supported, empowered, and uplifted the lives of thousands of women.