The course ‘’Towards a Circular Water Future’’ introduces the principles of the circular water economy and highlights innovative approaches to water reuse. Participants will explore the importance of water reuse at global and European levels, compare traditional and circular water systems, and examine enabling technologies across agricultural, industrial, and urban contexts. The course also presents different technological innovations and solutions, offering concrete examples of applied practices. Through videos, readings, and interactive quizzes, learners will acquire both theoretical foundations and practical insights to address current challenges in water sustainability.
This MOOC has been developed by the consortium of researchers and practitioners coming from the University of Bologna (www.unibo.it, Italy), Bioazul (www.bioazul.com, Spain), Ecofilae (www.ecofilae.fr, France), AGENSO (www.agenso.gr, Greece), ZSI (www.zsi.at, Austria), Isle Utilities (www.isleutilities.com, UK) and Fresh-Thoughts (www.fresh-thoughts.eu, Austria).
This course is an important accomplishment of the Horizon Europe project BOOST-IN (https://boostin.eu/), which supports innovation and knowledge-sharing in the field of sustainable water management. For any inquiries regarding the MOOC, please contact Stevo Lavrnic (stevo.lavrnic@unibo.it).
The course is primarily designed for young water professionals seeking to expand their expertise in sustainable water management and circular economy principles. However, it is also suitable for different stakeholders, such as policy makers, researchers and practitioners, interested in the field of water reuse.
At the end of the course, participants will be able to:
No specific prerequisites are required to enrol in the course. A general background or interest in environmental sciences, engineering or water management may facilitate learning, but the course is designed to be accessible to a broad audience, including young professionals and students from related disciplines.
The course is organised into thematic modules, each including short video lectures introducing key theoretical concepts, reading materials and fact sheets for in-depth exploration, as well as and self-assessment activities to connect theory to practice. The course is divided into different modules:
Completion of a module quiz serves as the primary method of assessment and certification for that module. A quiz is considered successfully completed when the participant answers at least 60% of the questions correctly. Successful completion of all module quizzes constitutes successful completion of the MOOC.
After successfully completing the MOOC, you can download and print your Certificate of Accomplishment. If you require the BOOST-IN certificate for the MOOC or for a specific module, please contact Stevo Lavrnic (stevo.lavrnic@unibo.it).
Rafael Casielles is a Senior R&D Project Manager at BIOAZUL with over 16 years of experience in water research and innovation, specializing in sustainable water reuse, circular economy, and the WEFE nexus. He leads the PRIMAfunded BONEX initiative and chairs the Water Efficiency Expert Group under Water Europe. Rafael has worked also in the validation and transfer of water reuse technologies in the frame of several EU projects such as TREAT&USE, RichWater and SUWANU EUROPE.
Stevo Lavrnić is an environmental engineer and is currently a senior researcher at the Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, where he has been carrying out his research activities since 2017. He is focusing on the agricultural water management and sustainable use of water resources, with particular interests for nature-based solutions and wastewater reuse. Stevo is currently the secretary of the management committee of the IWA (International Water Association) Specialist Group on Water Reuse.
Cameron McLennan is environmental engineer with a masters degree in water management from AgroParisTech Univeristy in France. With 15 years of experience in Australia, South-East Asia and Europe, he brings technical and strategic expertise in alternative water management approaches. Based in Montpellier in the south of France, as part of the Ecofilae team, Cameron conducts expert mapping, technical and regulatory analysis for the development of new alternative water supply projects. He has also authored research on the evolution of water reuse regulations across Europe.
Dorina Bogdani is an enthusiastic agronomist working in Research and Innovation project management at AGENSO in Greece. With expertise in agricultural systems and sustainability, she focuses on supporting the adoption of innovative solutions that enhance agricultural productivity while strengthening environmental resilience. Through her work, Dorina contributes to the implementation of projects that integrate technological advancements with sustainable practices to address the challenges of modern agriculture and climate change.
Dr. Daniela Fuchs is a technology researcher at ZSI – Center for Social Innovation in Vienna. She holds a MSc in Human Ecology from University of Vienna and a PhD in Science and Technology Studies from Maastricht University. Her research focuses on questions of policy advise, risks and governance, including participation, related to new and emerging technologies (e.g., nanomaterials, synthetic biology, neuroenhancement), and innovations more broadly, for example in the water sector.
Noah Stommel holds a MSc in Conservation and is experienced in water resource management and aquatic ecology. He has conducted long-term studies intersecting wastewater management, ecotoxicology, human health and palaeolimnology alongside international research institutions. He joined Isle as a Technology Consultant in 2024. At Isle, Noah works on EU-funded projects relating to circular economy and nature-based solutions.
Teresa Geidel works in the field of water and environmental governance for Fresh Thoughts since 2020. She is involved in different fields of environmental science and policymaking, especially climate adaptation and freshwater. Projects range from analysing stakeholder needs in shared river basins, over Nexus governance to developing a tool to spot maladaptation. Currently she studies social acceptance of nutrient reduction measures for the protection of the Wadden Sea.
Angela Magno is Senior Project Manager and Director of Communication & Marketing at BIOAZUL, where she combines expertise in sustainable technologies, circular economy, and strategic communication. She coordinates the Horizon Europe project BOOST-IN, focused on accelerating water-smart and circular solutions, and contributes to initiatives like BONEX, promoting the WEFE Nexus in the Mediterranean. With over a decade of experience in EU R&I projects, Angela specializes in bridging innovation, policy, and society through impactful dissemination and public engagement strategies.