Perspectives in 2026

This Perspective explores the multiscale transport mechanisms of water and solutes in desalination and ion selective membranes, offering mechanistic insights to guide the design of next-generation membranes and nanoporous systems for applications in water purification, separations, and energy technologies.

Quantifying water sustainability relies on limited and non-uniform metrics that risk greenwashing and hinder effective investment decisions. To address this, the proposed water sustainability index (WSI) offers a transparent, quantitative framework that accounts for water withdrawals, discharges, consumption, reuse and watershed stress to guide cost-effective sustainability improvements.

Urban water hazards like flooding and contamination are worsening due to climate change, and their risks are deeply influenced by historical oppression and inequitable infrastructure decisions. This Perspective examines how urban flood risk is inequitably distributed and argues that climate adaptation should prioritize systemic, justice-focused reforms to address both resilience and historic social injustices.