Building What’s Next: PWS at UT Austin’s Sustainable Building Initiative
Rajendra Ghimire, PhD, MBA
Vice President, Produced Water Society
Every Monday, a group of driven undergraduate students at the University of Texas at Austin comes together with a shared goal: turn ambitious ideas into real-world, sustainable building solutions. Through the Sustainable Building Initiative, these students are not just learning about the future of infrastructure. They are actively shaping it.
On April 20th, Produced Water Society had the opportunity to support that mission by joining their weekly meeting, providing food, and connecting with students eager to understand where their skills can take them.
The session introduced students to the Produced Water Society, the role it plays in the evolving energy and water landscape, and how student membership creates a direct pathway into the industry. From scholarships to global networking opportunities, the conversation centered on one key idea: access.
Student membership with PWS is designed to meet students where they are and bring them into the conversations that matter. For just $50 per year, members gain access to technical content, discounted conferences, and a global network of professionals working across engineering, environmental science, water resources, and beyond. More importantly, they gain early exposure to real-world challenges and the people solving them.
As produced water continues to play a critical role in areas like water reuse, energy infrastructure, and sustainability innovation, the next generation of leaders must be equipped with both knowledge and connection. That is exactly where PWS steps in.
Supporting initiatives like UT Austin’s Sustainable Building Initiative is about more than a single meeting. It is about investing in students who are already doing the work to build smarter, more sustainable systems and giving them a seat at the table as the industry evolves.
“The future of energy will not be defined by any one form of power, but by how effectively we connect water, infrastructure, and innovation across a rapidly evolving energy ecosystem. Engaging students early in this water and energy nexus is not optional, it is essential. At the Produced Water Society, we are committed to giving the next generation access, context, and a global platform so they can move from ideas to impact faster than ever before.”
Learn early. Connect globally. Shape what’s next.
