The climate crisis continues to deepen throughout the Southwestern United States. For proof, look no further than this summer in Las Vegas, which will go into the books as the hottest ever on record for the region.

As temperatures continue to rise, and available water reserves become more stretched, it’s imperative that innovators come together – and soon – to find ways to preserve the vitality and economic future of a growing region that we’re proud to call home. 

Engineers at UNLV are doing just that. Professor H. Jeremy Cho co-founded and leads the research team behind WAVR Technologies, Inc., a new UNLV startup making devices capable of capturing water vapor from the air around us – even here in the dry desert Southwest and other increasingly arid regions around the world. 

WAVR is the premiere university business spinoff from the Southwest Sustainability Innovation Engine, an NSF-funded collaboration of UNLV, regional universities, and a host of public and private partners aimed in part at bringing to market technologies that address sustainability and climate concerns. 

I’m inspired by the incredible spirit of innovation of our faculty at UNLV, including Prof. Cho, who is applying the intervention of invention to flip the script on a potentially dire environmental situation. WAVR is just the latest example of what’s possible when powerhouse research universities come together to use their collective skills and creativity to make a difference. I invite you to read more about it here. 

Keith E.Whitfield, Ph.D.
UNLV President