In a world where billions still struggle to access safe drinking water, scientists are working on technologies that could produce water from an unlikely source — the air itself. Researchers are exploring systems capable of capturing atmospheric moisture and converting it into drinkable water, a concept that could transform water access in some of the world’s driest regions.

Among the scientists advancing this idea is Evelyn N Wang, a mechanical engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), whose research focuses on developing devices that can generate clean water directly from atmospheric humidity.

A global water crisis driving innovation

Water scarcity remains one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. According to estimates from the United Nations and the World Health Organization, more than 2.2 billion people worldwide still lack reliable access to safe drinking water at home.

In many regions — particularly remote or arid areas — communities depend on pipelines, treatment plants or groundwater systems. When such infrastructure is weak or unavailable, obtaining safe drinking water becomes extremely difficult.

Scientists believe emerging technologies such as atmospheric water harvesting could offer a new pathway to address this challenge.

Who is Evelyn N Wang

Evelyn N. Wang is an American mechanical engineer known for her research in energy systems and heat transfer. She currently serves as the Ford Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

In April 2025, she was appointed Vice President for Energy and Climate at MIT. Her work focuses on solving energy and sustainability challenges, including the development of technologies that can generate clean water.

Over time, her research has expanded into atmospheric water harvesting — a field dedicated to capturing moisture from the air and converting it into usable drinking water.

How atmospheric water harvesting works

Atmospheric water harvesting is a technology designed to collect water vapor from the air and transform it into liquid water that can be stored and used.

Scientists are developing specialized materials capable of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. Once the vapor is captured, heat is applied to release the water, which is then condensed into liquid form.

Although still under development, researchers believe such systems could provide an alternative water source for communities lacking reliable infrastructure.

Turning air into drinking water using sunlight

One of the most promising aspects of Wang’s work involves devices that extract water from the air using sunlight.

Experimental systems developed by her team use porous materials that absorb moisture from the atmosphere during cooler periods. When exposed to solar heat, the trapped vapour is released and condensed into liquid water that can be collected.

Because these systems rely on solar heat rather than electricity, they could be particularly useful in areas with limited or unreliable power supply.

While the technology remains in the research stage, scientists say future versions could allow households or small communities to generate their own drinking water — especially in regions where conventional water infrastructure is scarce.

Academic journey and research career

Evelyn N Wang studied mechanical engineering at two of the leading universities in the United States. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology between 1996 and 2000 before moving to Stanford University.

At Stanford, she earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 2001 and later completed her PhD in 2006, focusing on heat transfer and thermal systems — research areas that later became central to her scientific work.

After completing her doctorate, Wang worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Bell Laboratories from 2006 to 2007 before joining MIT as an Assistant Professor.

Over the years, she rose through the academic ranks — becoming Associate Professor in 2011 and Full Professor in 2017. She later served as Associate Department Head for Operations and went on to lead MIT’s Mechanical Engineering Department from 2018 to 2022.

In 2023, Wang was appointed Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), a US government agency that funds advanced energy research. She held the position until early 2025 before returning to leadership roles at MIT.

Her research today forms part of a broader global effort to develop innovative solutions to water scarcity — a crisis that continues to affect billions of people around the world.