IUVA Announces Dates for 2026 Americas Conference
Save the date for the 2026 IUVA Americas Conference, taking place October 5-7, 2026, at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The conference will bring together researchers, industry leaders and practitioners from across the UV community for three days of technical exchange, networking and collaboration. IUVA is particularly excited to deepen and expand relationships at this event, creating more intentional opportunities for applied research, technology transfer and real-world collaboration.
Building on the momentum of recent IUVA events – including record participation and more than 100 presentations at the 2025 IUVA World Congress in Lisbon – the 2026 Americas Conference will continue to spotlight the latest developments in ultraviolet technologies. Attendees can expect a program that reflects IUVA’s mission of advancing the sciences, engineering and applications of UV to enhance quality of life and protect the environment.
Halifax offers a vibrant coastal setting for the conference, with a walkable downtown, an active waterfront district and nearby cultural attractions, such as the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic and the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. Dalhousie University, located near the city’s core, provides an academic backdrop that supports collaboration among researchers, students and industry professionals.
More details on the call for abstracts, registration, special events, exhibiting opportunities and hotel information can be found soon at https://iuva.org/2026-IUVA-AC-home.
Karl Linden Recognized as Distinguished Professor at Campus Ceremony
Karl Linden, chair of CU Boulder’s Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development, has been named a Distinguished Professor, the highest faculty honor awarded on the CU system’s four campuses. The recognition was presented to Linden and five others by Chancellor Justin Schwartz at the University of Colorado Board of Regents meeting in February 2026.
“When I came to CU Boulder 20 years ago, I was attracted by the collaborative spirit, focus on environmental sustainability and the amazing students this university was able to attract,” Linden said. “The colleagues I have been able to work with, the support from administrators and the creative and aspirational students that I have been able to mentor have all enabled my successes. Being named a Distinguished Professor is a direct result of the incredible people I have been able to work with in Colorado.”
CU Distinguished Professors are tenured faculty members who demonstrate exemplary performance in research or creative work; a record of excellence in promoting learning and student attainment of knowledge and skills; and outstanding service to the profession, the university and its affiliates. Including this year’s seven honorees, only 160 Distinguished Professors have been named since the title’s establishment in 1977.
Advancing the Field
Linden’s career has focused on innovative ways to improve water quality and water treatment. He’s known as an expert in ultraviolet light disinfection systems, now used by many municipal water systems. He currently serves on the World Health Organization (WHO) Water Quality Technical Advisory Group.
As a faculty member, he has taught hundreds of students in water and wastewater treatment, water and sanitation in developing communities, and graduate courses in water reuse and advanced treatment. He has authored more than 260 technical papers and has been honored with many high-profile awards, too numerous to mention them all.
In 2023, Linden was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the International UV Association (IUVA) World Congress, hosted in Dubai. During the event, the IUVA president called upon those who have worked with Linden, been his student or read his papers to stand.
“It was one of the sweetest moments of my career,” Linden said at the time. “Almost the whole room was standing. It was overwhelming and humbling.”