Engineering professor honored for innovation in water challenges
Earning the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) in 2025 has fueled Texas A&M’s Dr. Hamidreza Samouei to continue advancing solutions to solve one of the world’s most pressing challenges.
Dr. Hamidreza Samouei was honored during the 2025 Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) ceremony in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in December.
Dr. Hamidreza Samouei, research assistant professor in the Harold Vance Department of Petroleum Engineering at Texas A&M University, was selected as a 2025 recipient of the Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW).
GPIW is the world’s largest innovation in water competition. Launched in 2023 by the Saudi Water Authority, it aims to solve global water scarcity by recognizing, supporting and funding innovative and sustainable technologies in water recovery, desalination and management.
Each year, the initiative awards 12 recipients after reviewing thousands of unique research projects based in making significant contributions in the water sector. The recipients receive grants and other awards to further their impactful research and transform innovative ideas into tangible reality.
From 119 countries and over 2,550 applicants, Samouei was chosen as a 2025 recipient of the GPIW in recognition of his research on extracting valuable minerals from high-salinity waters — brine mining — with a focus on circular-economy principles and zero liquid discharge approaches.
“I am grateful for this meaningful milestone in my journey,” Samouei said. “I see it not as a personal achievement, but as a reflection of the collective efforts of my collaborators, partners and mentors who continuously inspire and support this journey.”
The award places Samouei’s work among top global innovators who are advancing solutions to one of the world’s most pressing challenges. As a part of the award, Samouei will receive a $250,000 grant dedicated to supporting a pilot-scale study.
The funds will support pilot-scale validation of innovative brine-refining technologies designed to recover valuable minerals and fresh water from high-salinity streams, including oil and gas produced water, geothermal brines and desalination reject.
Looking ahead, Samouei’s work will also explore the integration of brine mining with carbon dioxide mineralization. Through this process, CO2 can be permanently stored in stable mineral forms that will provide solutions for water scarcity, critical mineral shortages and carbon management in a unified, sustainable framework.
“Through continued pilot testing and expanded collaboration with industry and research partners, this work will drive meaningful progress toward scalable, circular-economy-based water technologies,” Samouei said.
