The WBGU is an independent scientific advisory body of the German federal government, advising policymakers in matters regarding global environmental changes. The German Federal Cabinet has now approved the new appointment of members for the eighth term of office. The members are experts with various research focus areas such as economics, physical and social sciences as well as environmental legal science. The appointments will last from November 1, 2020 until October 31, 2024.

Prof. Jörg Drewes, appointed to the advisory body for the first time together with five other scientists, is the head of the Professorship for Urban Water Systems Engineering at TUM. His research focuses on the development of sustainable water treatment procedures, including water recycling as well as the analysis of organic trace elements and pathogens and their removal from water.

Drewes studied environmental engineering at the TU Berlin from 1987 to 1992. After earning his PhD he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Arizona State University, where he assumed the position of Associate Director of the National Center for Sustainable Water Supply. In 2001 he was appointed as a tenure track professor at the Colorado School of Mines and promoted to a full professorship there in 2010. He was appointed professor at TUM in 2013.