Virginia Tech's Younos earns Water Drop Award

Tamim Younos, of Blacksburg, Va., interim director of the Virginia Water Resources Research Center (VWRRC) in Virginia Tech’s College of Natural Resources recently received the Water Drop Award presented by the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project. (S-RCAP).

Younos earned the award based on his research and technical assistance projects that focus on the development of sustainable small drinking water systems across Virginia. Younos and the VWRRC have also been involved with various projects to improve drinking water supplies for remote and isolated communities of coalfield counties in southwestern Virginia.

“Drinking water availability or lack of it and drinking water contamination are major problems in rural and small communities of Virginia and across the United States,” emphasized Younos.

The Water Drop Award recognizes individuals, groups, or agencies who make professional contributions toward securing safe drinking water for rural communities. The VWRRC seeks to advance the Commonwealth and its universities' missions by facilitating the education of future water scientists, encouraging research on solutions to water resources problems, and enhancing the transfer of water sciences information to public and private decision makers. For more information visit the VWRRC website.

The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top five programs of its kind in the nation. Faculty members stress both the technical and human elements of natural resources and instill in students a sense of stewardship and land-use ethics. Areas of studies include environmental resource management, fisheries and wildlife sciences, forestry, geospatial and environmental analysis, natural resource recreation, urban forestry, wood science and forest products, geography, and international development.