The hydrosphere and the biosphere actually define our blue planet. Human , animals & plans have a microbiome and we are now starting to undestand that this microbiome is equivalent to health.  In the last 50 year, humans have transformed the earth substantially and within it, humans have transformed water

The microbiome of water allows to diagnose water quality in an unprecedented manner. The importance of technological developments is paramount to science and water diagnostics can be used for better decision making. For Professor Rose, water quality is at the core of sustainability.

Joan Rose recently won the Stockholm Water Prize for her contributions to global public health: in assessing risks to human health in water and creating guidelines and tools for decision-makers and communities to improve global health. She is a Professor at Michigan State University, and holds the Homer Nowlin Chair in Water Research. She serves as the Co-Director of the Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment, which addresses evidence based risk assessments for management of waterborne pathogens. Joan is an international expert in water microbiology, water quality and public health safety, and has been involved in drinking water investigations of water-borne outbreaks for over 20 years.