By Danmei Chen, co-chair, IUVA Young Professionals
Looking back at 2024 and peering into 2025, Ted Mao, the president of the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA), chatted with the IUVA Young Professionals (YP) about the organization’s achievements, hurdles and what to look forward to for the coming year and the future. It was clear during our talk that Mao has a soft spot for YPs and an even bigger one for the continued development and achievements of our community.
2024 is a Year to Remember
“2024 has been a pretty great year,” said Mao, giving a shout-out to IUVA’s tireless volunteers for pushing forward projects across water, air and surface disinfection. IUVA is dedicated to protecting public health and the environment, and making sure science has its say in policy making. In 2024, the California State Senate introduced bill SB 1308 regarding ozone regulations that could have sidelined Far UV-C technologies. IUVA effectively supported key stakeholders by providing science-based facts, preserving opportunities for Far UV-C innovation (https://uvsolutionsmag.com/articles/2024/california-senate-bill-regulating-uv-devices-not-moving-forward-2/).
Another win for the IUVA in 2024 came in the form of standards development. Partnering with groups like ASHRAE, NIST and ISO, IUVA played an important role in shaping guidelines that will help advance UV solutions to more applications. “It’s good to see IUVA has become more agile,” said Mao, reflecting on the organization’s growing influence and ability to tackle existing challenges in many fields and connect with its stakeholders from various sectors.
Obstacles to Overcome
When asked about the biggest obstacles in the UV industry, based on Mao’s perspective after serving the IUVA as the president for one year, he indicated that, despite the critical role of UV technology in water treatment, air and other areas, its profile remains under the radar to the general public. “Most people don’t realize their drinking water and wastewater already are treated with UV,” he observed, “and this gap often slows adoption in new sectors.”
Mao mentioned that IUVA’s Education Committee is creating accessible materials, like YouTube videos (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pwqn6AV1gg), a UV resource center (https://iuvaeducationresourcecenter.org/) and other community outreach programs. His goal is clear: to make UV tech as recognized and trusted as the household water filter seen at home.
Looking Ahead
As 2025 unfolds, IUVA is zeroing in on two priorities: staying relevant and expanding on education. With UV applications crossing more paths with healthcare, water reuse and sustainability, the IUVA is aligning its efforts with emerging market and industry demands. A very immediate example is the recent workshop in Uganda (see the event recap on page 46). This workshop highlighted UV’s contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals, such as providing safe drinking water in low-resource communities. In addition, 2025 will be a big event year for IUVA with event collaborations such as ICFUST (on Far UV-C), Asian Pacific UV Symposium, IUVA World Congress and more.
Empowering young professionals
IUVA’s commitment to nurturing the next generation is clear. From YP events at the IUVA conference, podcasts and the inclusion of YP reps as part of IUVA task forces to IUVA scholarships, YPs have various ways to engage. “My advice for a YP’s career development,” said Mao, “is to pick something you’re passionate about and dive in.”
The organization aims to provide not only UV-related opportunities, but also a platform for developing transferable skills, like leadership, communication and teamwork – the capabilities that Mao believes are universally valuable. “It’s not just about UV,” he said. “It’s about equipping YPs with tools they can carry anywhere.”
A Heartful Message for Young Professionals
Before wrapping up the conversation, Mao shared: “Don’t limit yourself to UV. The skills you develop here can take you anywhere.” His own career path, from the pulp and paper industry to cleantech startups, is a testament to the skillsets and expertise gained through the IUVA.
For Mao, the IUVA’s mission isn’t just about advancing the market and industry. It’s about empowering individuals, fostering innovation and building meaningful connections. “The best opportunities come when you get involved,” he added. With such a vision, the future of IUVA, and the people it serves, looks bright.
