The National Academy of Inventors (NAI) has honored Ashok Gadgil, an Indian-American professor at the University of California, Berkeley, as a fellow, recognizing his outstanding contributions as an inventor. Gadgil, a renowned civil and environmental engineering professor, has dedicated his career to developing affordable solutions to meet the needs of underserved communities globally. Notable inventions include UV Waterworks, a portable water purifier, and ECAR, an arsenic removal technology. His innovations have positively impacted over 100 million people across four continents. Gadgil’s recent accolades include being named the 2023 R&D leader of the year and receiving the National Medal of Technology and Innovation from President Joe Biden.
Gadgil, the Andrew and Virginia Rudd Family Foundation distinguished chair in Safe Water and Sanitation, has been acknowledged for his humanitarian inventiveness. His contributions extend to setting up an arsenic treatment system for a rural community in California. The NAI Fellows program, recognizing inventors’ societal and economic impact, now includes Gadgil among its distinguished members. With over 63,000 U.S. patents and 13,000 licensed technologies collectively, NAI Fellows play a crucial role in advancing science and consumer technologies.
Paul R. Sanberg, president of the NAI, highlighted the significant contributions of this year’s class of NAI Fellows, emphasizing their impact on both science and society. Since its establishment in 2012, the NAI Fellows program has grown to include 1,898 exceptional researchers and innovators, showcasing the caliber found within the innovation ecosystem.
