Research Excellence Award 2025
The Global Sanitation Graduate School South and Southeast Asia Regional Hub (GSGS RH SSEA) is pleased to announce that Ms. Zu Zu Aung has been awarded the Research Excellence Award 2025 in recognition of her outstanding academic achievement.
Ms. Aung received this distinction for her thematic paper entitled “Predictive Modeling for Sludge Accumulation and Hydrodynamic Behaviors in a Commercial Package System,” submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Mahidol University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Engineering in Environmental and Water Resources Engineering. Her research demonstrates a high level of technical rigor and provides valuable insights into the optimization and performance of sanitation systems, particularly in understanding sludge accumulation dynamics and hydrodynamic processes.
Building on her MSc research, Ms. Aung subsequently published her findings in the journal Water Practice & Technology through the article entitled “Optimizing sludge management: system dynamics modelling for predicting sludge accumulation and solid concentration in a commercial septic tank,” further extending the impact of her research to the international scientific community. The publication is available at: Optimizing sludge management: system dynamics modelling for predicting sludge accumulation and solid concentration in a commercial septic tank.
Her research was also presented at the 19th IWA Conference on Sludge Management, held in Kyoto, Japan, from 21–24 October 2025, where she delivered an oral presentation entitled “Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Velocity Changes Affected by Sludge Accumulation in a Commercial Septic Tank.” More information about the conference is available at: The 19th IWA International Conference on Sludge Management.
The Research Excellence Award recognizes exceptional scholarly work that advances knowledge and innovation within the field. Ms. Aung’s accomplishments reflect her dedication to academic excellence and research, as well as the broader commitment of GSGS RH SSEA to fostering high-quality research in sanitation and water resource management.
As part of this recognition, Ms. Aung will receive an official certificate together with a travel scholarship to attend the IWA Congress 2026, to be held in Glasgow, United Kingdom. This opportunity will enable her to engage with leading international experts, exchange knowledge, and further contribute to the global discourse on water and sanitation.
The GSGS South and Southeast Asia Regional Hub extends its heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Aung on this well-deserved achievement and looks forward to her continued contributions to advancing research and innovation in the water, sanitation, and environmental sectors.