BookClub

Welcome to the BlueTech Book Club Podcast—where water meets the written word. Hosted by Paul O’Callaghan, joined by Lily Chen, this is the only podcast dedicated to exploring the books that are shaping how we think about water. Each episode features conversations sparked by a book—conversations that uncover the ideas, innovations, and stories behind water technology, sustainability, and the people driving change in the sector. From recent titles by academic powerhouses to big-vision narratives from filmmakers, founders, and futurists, we dive deep into what makes these books matter. This isn’t just a podcast for water experts. It’s for the curious, the committed, and everyone in between—whether you’re just dipping your toes in or already knee-deep in the water space. You’ll discover books that challenge and inspire new thinking in the sector, hear directly from authors, innovators, and thought leaders, and explore the human stories behind water technologies and movements. It’s also a way to stay connected to emerging trends, research, and radical ideas shaping the future of water. BlueTech Book Club is brought to you by BlueTech Research. Join us—and bring a book.

集數

  1. The Dynamics of Water Innovation: A Conversation with Dr. Reinhard Hübner, CEO, Skion Water

    2021/09/14

    The Dynamics of Water Innovation: A Conversation with Dr. Reinhard Hübner, CEO, Skion Water

    At BlueTech, innovation in the water sector is our favourite subject to discuss. Did you know that just under 10% of water technology innovations have a successful application and even then the impact is often disappointing. If you are wondering why this is the case than this is certainly the podcast episode for you! Towards the end of last year Paul O’Callaghan the CEO and founder of BlueTech Research was awarded his PhD at Wageningen University on the Dynamics of Water Innovation. The PhD aims to provide insights into the rate of adoption, diffusion and success of innovative water technologies globally. As well as discussing what makes certain innovations successful in his PhD, he also presented the water technology adoption model. Which can be used to monitor the spread of innovations. In this highly anticipated podcast episode, Paul will speak to one of the challenges of his PhD, Dr Reinhard Hübner, the CEO at Skin Water. In this episode Paul and Reinhard will unpack the different types of innovation, rates of success, adoption and give some very valuable advice to start ups in the water industry. 💡 Got a suggestion for a book or author we should feature? Drop us a line at lily.chen@bluetechresearch.com 📘 Paul’s book The Dynamics of Water Innovation is available at braveblue.world/book—Lily will personally make sure it wings its way to you. 🔗 Connect with Lily and Paul on LinkedIn, and visit bluetechresearch.com and braveblue.world to learn more.

    1 小時 8 分鐘
  2. SDG6 – Clean Water & Sanitation – how innovation can lift us out of water poverty

    2021/06/21

    SDG6 – Clean Water & Sanitation – how innovation can lift us out of water poverty

    We are on our third attempt since the 1980s to provide universal access to water. SDG 6 – achieving clean water & sanitation for all by 2030, was not on track even before the pandemic. According to the UN, the rate of progress needs to quadruple if we are to get there by 2030. One of the fundamental challenges we face is that the UN’s sustainable development goals use outdated assumptions of water availability; water scarcity is not adequately taken into account and if we were to roll out the established Victorian system of piped water to every home, to an extra 2 billion people will most certainly end up replicating all of its current problems. A paradigm shift is needed which focuses on innovations in technology, but also within business models: how can we realise the market opportunity of meeting SDG6? Paul O’Callaghan, CEO, BlueTech Research, recently conducted a thought leadership interview with David Lloyd Owen, author of ‘Global Water Funding: Innovation and Efficiency as Enablers for Safe, Secure and Affordable Supplies’ (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020). David began following the water sector in 1989, previously at BNP Paribas and Ecofin Limited and is a member of the Advisory Board for the Pictet Water Fund. He has been carrying out detailed surveys for clients on the current status and future role of PSP in water in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas since 1995. These have evolved into studies on specific aspects of privatization and the analysis of PSP’s evolution since the 1980s. Three major surveys on the practicalities of global water finance have been published between 2006 and 2020. The conversation sets the scene on our current progress towards SDG6 and asks the following questions: • What is the role of the private sector? • How do we make water affordable for people? • Are bottled water kiosks the “cell phone” of water infrastructure? • Rural vs. urban – which problem do you solve first? • What innovative practices and technologies for water and sanitation exist? How do they scale up? • Funding vs. the funding gap – how much money have we spent and how much more money is required BlueTech will be producing a report in the near future looking at both how alternative business models will shape the water industry between now and 2030, and where the business opportunities are in addressing SDG6. We believe it to be one the most significant market opportunities in the water sector so far. This article also takes a look at how nations can be lifted out of water poverty through water innovations.  💡 Got a suggestion for a book or author we should feature? Drop us a line at lily.chen@bluetechresearch.com 📘 Paul’s book The Dynamics of Water Innovation is available at braveblue.world/book—Lily will personally make sure it wings its way to you. 🔗 Connect with Lily and Paul on LinkedIn, and visit bluetechresearch.com and braveblue.world to learn more.

    23 分鐘
  3. Seth Siegel – What’s Wrong with What We Drink (and how to fix it)

    2021/06/01

    Seth Siegel – What’s Wrong with What We Drink (and how to fix it)

    Seth Siegel, NY Times Best-Selling Author Troubled Water: What’s Wrong with What We Drink, Seth M. Siegel explores how America’s drinking water became contaminated, how it impacts public health, and what solutions exist that can make US drinking water safe. Full of shocking stories about contaminated water found across the country, Troubled Water explains how we got to this point, highlights the everyday heroes who have tried to force changes in the quality and safety of drinking water, and concludes with what America must do to reverse decades of neglect. Due to years of Congressional inaction and lack of enforcement by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contaminants, including pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and lead, have been getting into drinking water across America. Many of these contaminants are linked to cancer, heart disease, birth defects, and lowered IQ. Because many of these contaminants are not regulated, no testing is required – leaving millions of households unknowingly at risk. Many communities have been forced to drink bottled water, but the quality and safety of this alternative is also unreliable. Fortunately, technologies already exist that are able to remove these harmful contaminants and make drinking water safe. Since most of the pipes and treatment plants are far beyond their useful life, over $1 trillion is needed to upgrade the US drinking water infrastructure. This crisis provides an opportunity for corporations, academics, and others who can play a part in improving America’s drinking water system, and improving the nation’s public health. Interviewing Seth is Reinhard Hubner, Investment Manager, Skion  💡 Got a suggestion for a book or author we should feature? Drop us a line at lily.chen@bluetechresearch.com 📘 Paul’s book The Dynamics of Water Innovation is available at braveblue.world/book—Lily will personally make sure it wings its way to you. 🔗 Connect with Lily and Paul on LinkedIn, and visit bluetechresearch.com and braveblue.world to learn more.

    35 分鐘
  4. Mark Nelson – Tales from the Biosphere: Interconnection and Isolation

    2021/06/01

    Mark Nelson – Tales from the Biosphere: Interconnection and Isolation

    Ecologist and author, Mark Nelson was one of the original ‘biospherians’ and we were honoured that Mark joined us at BlueTech Forum 2020 to share his fascinating story. A renowned international speaker, Mark is also a founding director of the Institute of Ecotechnics and has worked with water, wastewater and natural systems for several decades. Mark was interviewed by Aoife Kelleher, Lead Researcher, Brave Blue World.  Mark shared lessons he learned from his time in Biosphere II around closed loops, connectivity, conservation, isolation and the need to tackle global problems with global cooperation. His research focuses on closed ecological system research, ecological engineering, restoration of damaged ecosystems, and wastewater recycling. Mark is the author of numerous papers and books, including the excellent ‘Wastewater Gardener: Preserving the Planet One Flush at a Time’, co-author of a newly published 2nd edition of “Life Under Glass: Crucial Lessons in Planetary Stewardship from 2 years inside Biosphere 2” (Synergetic Press, 2020) and is featured in the new documentary exploring the Biosphere II journey, Spaceship Earth. 💡 Got a suggestion for a book or author we should feature? Drop us a line at lily.chen@bluetechresearch.com 📘 Paul’s book The Dynamics of Water Innovation is available at braveblue.world/book—Lily will personally make sure it wings its way to you. 🔗 Connect with Lily and Paul on LinkedIn, and visit bluetechresearch.com and braveblue.world to learn more.

    34 分鐘

簡介

Welcome to the BlueTech Book Club Podcast—where water meets the written word. Hosted by Paul O’Callaghan, joined by Lily Chen, this is the only podcast dedicated to exploring the books that are shaping how we think about water. Each episode features conversations sparked by a book—conversations that uncover the ideas, innovations, and stories behind water technology, sustainability, and the people driving change in the sector. From recent titles by academic powerhouses to big-vision narratives from filmmakers, founders, and futurists, we dive deep into what makes these books matter. This isn’t just a podcast for water experts. It’s for the curious, the committed, and everyone in between—whether you’re just dipping your toes in or already knee-deep in the water space. You’ll discover books that challenge and inspire new thinking in the sector, hear directly from authors, innovators, and thought leaders, and explore the human stories behind water technologies and movements. It’s also a way to stay connected to emerging trends, research, and radical ideas shaping the future of water. BlueTech Book Club is brought to you by BlueTech Research. Join us—and bring a book.

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