Virridy CEO recognized for two decades of contributions combining research and practice to improve water access in low- and middle-income countries.
Bangkok, Thailand — Dr. Evan Thomas, Professor and Director of the Mortenson Center in Global Engineering & Resilience at the University of Colorado Boulder and CEO of Virridy, has been honored with the IWA Water and Development Research Award at the International Water Association congress on December 8, 2025.
The award recognizes "long-term contributions that combine research and practice to produce measurable improvements in water access in low- and middle-income countries."
Two Decades of Impact
Dr. Thomas's career has centered on redefining how the world approaches water infrastructure — emphasizing water systems as ongoing public services requiring sustainable financing, monitoring, and accountability, rather than treating construction as the final goal.
His major contributions include:
- Pioneering the linkage of rural water delivery to carbon finance mechanisms
- Deploying real-time water quality monitoring technologies, including the Virridy Lume sensor
- Strengthening the connections between water security, public health, and climate resilience
Global Reach
The Mortenson Center currently supports drinking water services for over one million people across Kenya, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Madagascar through partnerships with organizations including the Millennium Water Alliance, Helvetas, and LifeStraw.
Co-Honorees
The 2025 awards also recognized Meera Mehta of CEPT University in India and Jay Bhagwan of South Africa's Water Research Commission for their contributions to water governance and service delivery.
Read the full announcement at the University of Colorado Boulder Mortenson Center.