Powering Clean Water with Sunlight: The Water-Energy Nexus | Professor Stephanie Loeb, McGill University

On this episode of the Hypercube Energy Podcast, Adam Sroka speaks with Dr Stephanie Loeb, Professor of Civil Engineering at McGill University and Associate Director of the Brace Water Centre. Stephanie’s research explores how solar energy, nanomaterials, and AI can power the next generation of sustainable water systems.

They discuss how solar-driven photocatalysis and decentralised treatment technologies are reshaping the future of clean water, and how AI-enabled monitoring can transform environmental data into faster, clearer insights for policy and public health. Stephanie also reflects on the water–energy nexus, the close relationship between how we power and purify our world, and how innovation, mentorship, and inclusion are driving change in STEM.

Adam and Stephanie cover:

• Stephanie’s journey from physics and photonics to environmental engineering
• The science behind solar-powered water treatment
• Using AI and optical data to improve water safety and monitoring
• Parallels between decentralised energy and water systems
• Mentorship, inclusion, and the next generation of scientists