ABSTRACTS OF COURSES OFFERED IN 2024-2025
Compulsory courses:
Mathematical Models in Water Processes
The course will lay the foundation for the student’s understanding of mathematical modeling applied to water processes. Following an introduction to the life cycle of a mathematical model, and some basic examples, the general PDE framework of hydrodynamic and chemical reactions will be described. A review of continuous, deterministic water processes will be presented. Each process will be defined together with modeling considerations and mathematical "closed" solutions for simplified cases. Introduction to numerical solutions for full-scale problems will be taught using COMSOL Multiphysics, HYDRANAUTICS freeware, and MATLAB/SIMULINK. The course will address examples of results from the literature for some of the processes.
Basics of System Engineering and Its Application in Water Engineering
Mr. Manfred Grumberg
The course objectives are to expose the students to the challenges of developing multidisciplinary projects and to provide them with basic tools and methods for developing complex systems.
In the course, it will be demonstrated that for an engineering project, it is necessary to consider the entire project environment including the stakeholders' needs and wishes, the way of use, the budget, and the constraints of the other participants in the project, and not only a focused problem in one of the engineering disciplines.
Research Methodologies in Water Engineering
Dr. Ofir Menashe (Lecture), Dr. Keren Yanuka (Laboratory)
Students enrolled in the graduate (MSc) studies program in the Water Industry Engineering track acquire knowledge through the application of research methodologies and evaluation, analysis, and presentation of information. Research methodologies in the water engineering course will provide students with fundamental elements that are required for their preparation before starting their own research activities. The course provides some research tools in water engineering studies, with emphasis on process engineering for wastewater treatment. Research design and
execution are the key elements in a research laboratory operation. Therefore, the course will provide the knowledge of study design and, accordingly, protocols assembling, presenting test-control water treatment models, results documentation, and results analysis, including statistics methods and test modification. In addition to study design and results documentation & analysis, several molecular and biochemical methods will be studied and practiced (FISH, PCR, and electrophoresis). The laboratory section will be conducted over a week and will include the practice of study design, protocol assembling, test running, and finalizing a scientific report production.
Internship courses (elective):
Advanced Design of Water Treatment Plants
Dr. Dmitry Lisitsin.
The objective of the course is to provide the student with practical abilities to design water desalination systems including membrane separation processes (UF, RO, and EDI) and ion exchange resins systems.
Commercially available process simulation software will be used intensively during the course. A strong theoretical background based on fundamental principles provided during the course together with practical tools will provide the student with a strong ability to design and optimize complex desalination systems involving several membrane-separation steps and hybrid systems.
Biofilms in Aqueous Environments and Water Industries
Dr. Oded Bergman
The term biofouling refers to the accumulation of undesirable organisms, including animals, plants, fungi, protists, microbes and viruses on surfaces immersed in or exposed to aqueous environments. This problem is shared by many sectors including power plants, water and wastewater treatment facilities, the food/beverage industries, and the maritime sector. The operative and economic impacts of biofouling are substantial and are estimated at tens of billions of dollars annually. In recent years, significant advances have been made in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying biofilm formation. These developments pave the way to novel, environmentally friendly, methods of biofilm control.
Focusing on microorganisms, the aim of the course is to introduce the students to the biofouling phenomenon in nature and in the water industries. The students will be exposed to the impact of biofouling on various water industries, and understand the different stages and underlying mechanisms of biofilm formation. We will bring examples of microorganisms involved in biofilm formation, and recognize the significance of biofilm microbial community composition. The students will be exposed to current and future methods and technologies employed in biofilm research, monitoring and control.
Water Technology Innovation, from Ideation to Commercialization
Dr. Udi Zukerman
Introducing the global water sector challenges meeting future demands under climate uncertainty & population growth, and the dynamics of water technological innovation,
while facing a highly conservative, heavily regulated, and decentralized industry with marginal revenues, and motivating students to innovate.
Data Science in Water Systems
Dr. Adnan Agbaria
The main objective of the course is two-fold: 1) To learn the basic concepts of data science, the data life cycle, and machine learning, and 2) To implement the concepts in a project in the Water Systems domain.
Modeling and Simulation of Environmental Processes (Water and Wastewater)
Dr. Liron Friedman
Teach and develop the ability of the students to perform process design and analysis using virtual simulators as a skill for future job application in the industry
Provide the students with tools to consider cost, regulatory requirements, and sustainability in the design of environmental processes.
Mathematical and Statistical models in water systems
Dr. Yair Farber
The operation of water systems requires the understanding of mathematical and statistical models. This course will provide the skills and tools to learn advanced mathematical and statistical models to be implemented in water and wastewater treatments processes.
Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Using Membrane Technologies
Dr. Dmitry Lisitsin
The aim of the course is to provide students with basic knowledge of different state-of-the-art technologies for industrial wastewater treatment and reuse, together with the ability to critically assess their advantages and shortcomings.
Microbial Diversity and Activity in the Water Industries: Importance and Implications
Dr. Bergman Oded
In the coming decades, an increase in the world's population together with a possible global climate change, are expected to cause a significant rise in the demand for clean water sources. Concurrently, an ever-pressing need for the treatment of wastewater from chemical and microbial contaminations is necessary. To meet these challenges,
we must ensure a consistent supply of clean water and treatment of wastewater, in adequate quality and quantity. To this end, novel applications and methods are required to detect, identify, and monitor specific microbial pathogens of various environments and industry related facilities. Furthermore, state of the art technologies enables us to characterize microbial community compositions and to identify geo-biological processes related to their activity.
The aim of the course is to expose students to the importance and impact of water quality on health, and the risks associated with microbial contaminations. We will examine specific microbial pathogens, microbial diversity and geo-biological activities in the environment and in the water industries. We will cover standard methods together with novel biochemical and molecular techniques, designed for identification, characterization and routine monitoring.
Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment
Dr. Nedal Massalha
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with anaerobic biochemistry, microbiology, advantages and disadvantages, application of various treatment technologies, AnMBR, and estimation of by-products.
The course will focus on high-rate anaerobic treatment systems for industrial wastewater and the recovery of valuable by-products. Modern technologies for anaerobic post-treatment such as (extensive) nutrient removal/ recovery will be introduced to the students.
