The founder of AguaceR, Dan Piestun (PhD), was born and raised in Montevideo, Uruguay. He enjoys beekeeping, classical music, fishing, field hiking. Other of his interests are entrepreneurship, machine learning, Leonardo Da Vinci’s legacy, Blockchain and health promoting nutrition. Dan has a strong drive to resolve problems, always looking for ways to apply whatever he has studied. He dealt with a diverse array of scientific problems in Biology and solve them through empirical methods successfully. Among other he helped to untangled the genes that control fragrances of roses through Bioinformatics. Fought viruses that attack citrus orchards by improving tissue culture techniques to produce plants devoid of such pathogens. He developed tools to induce resilience against viruses that attack Citrus trees with a more molecular approach .

Dan proved that a gene, master regulator of Stem Cell biology, named Nanog is key in setting the early steps in stem-cells that stage the development of tumors.

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Several cities around the world are running out of fresh, drinking water. Climate change is changing the rain events frequency and intensity, leading in many cases to an incomplete charge of aquifers and public water reservoirs. Besides, if water is temporarily sought from further or deeper (unsustainable sources), still there are massive water losses during transmission (leaky pipes, evaporation).

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To tackle this challenge Dan is rising 'AguaceR' a technology. For this purpose, he is designing a water capture and distribution device. It is modular and for mass use. It will be connected through the IoT network and help in delivering potable water to houses and neighborhoods in negative water balance.

 

Two billion people (close to 30% world’s population) suffer from water scarcity today. The population will not stop growing, cities expansion and the stress exerted on natural resources, including water will only increase. 

He is sure that we can make a difference in preserving, collecting and recycling the fresh water we have available and that which is moving around to the clouds, down to earth, along streams and aquifers in faster or slower cycles.  

Several initiatives are needed to address the steep reduction in water resources, particularly in urban centers. The sum of all of those efforts would aid all of us in reducing the risk of urban centers’ economies, and their people uncertainties.

He believes we can achieve great things for the benefit of all those in need, when we align those individuals strong spirited, willing to make the difference. He affirms being convinced that every contribution aiming for a greater good is equally valuable.