In both the U.S. and Germany, government-funded research plays a crucial role in addressing societal challenges, driving innovation and fostering the well-being of citizens. Governments fund research to address pressing issues and needs of society, which includes issues related to sustainability. Research also helps inform the development of environmental policies and regulations, as it provides evidence and data to support decision-making processes. In fact, many of the water technology research projects on which my colleagues and I work are made possible by support by the government.
As I mentioned in my first journal, I work for the Water Chemistry and Water Technology Department of the Engler-Bunte-Institut (E.B.I.) of the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. This department is primarily concerned with researching how technology and microorganisms can be used to purify water and reuse resources that would otherwise go to waste. For my research project, I am working on a reactor, known as a microbial electrochemical cell (M.E.C.), which cultivates bacteria that consume organic matter to generate electricity and hydrogen gas. The M.E.C.
