Dr. Joan Sanchez-Matos, a professor at the Department of Engineering and researcher with the Red Peruana Ciclo de Vida y Ecología Industrial (Grupo Pelcan), was named on Apr. 23 as Peru’s national champion and a finalist for the Frontiers Planet Prize 2026 for his research on water scarcity that considers climate change and the El Niño phenomenon.
This recognition highlights research that could help measure Peru’s water security or vulnerability using concrete data, which is seen as essential for ensuring sustainable access to water. The Frontiers Planet Prize is regarded as one of the most prestigious scientific competitions globally, honoring transformative work that addresses environmental crises.
Sanchez-Matos said, “Me siento honrado con el premio porque permite que la investigación que realizamos en Pelcan, y, en general, en la ciencia peruana, sea visibilizada en el mundo. Nuestro estudio sobre la medición de la huella de agua es un punto de partida y una motivación para seguir trabajando con el objetivo de minimizar los efectos del cambio climático en el Perú y el mundo.” The selection process included evaluation by a jury of 100 sustainability experts from around the world. Only 25 scientists were chosen to compete in the final stage; three will each receive $1 million to further their research.
The Academia Nacional de Ciencias (ANC), which led Peru’s national selection process, said: “La condición de campeón nacional es un mérito excepcional. No se trata de una designación automática ni meramente formal, sino del resultado de una evaluación internacional particularmente rigurosa (…) este reconocimiento constituye un hito no solo para Joan Sanchez-Matos y su institución, sino también para el Perú en su conjunto.”
Sanchez-Matos’ study recalculated Aware characterization factors for Peru by including El Niño variability and climate change scenarios in its assessment of water scarcity. He explained that during El Niño events there is more river water due to heavy rainfall but it often cannot be used because it carries high sediment loads: “Durante el fenómeno de El Niño las intensas precipitaciones en la costa norte del país generan un incremento en el volumen de agua de los ríos, la cual no puede usarse para consumo humano o agricultura porque arrastra una alta carga de sedimentos.” His models also predict significant increases in water scarcity in southern Peruvian basins by 2035 and 2065 due to both climate change and growing human demand.
The Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú promotes cultural and social wellbeing through contributions in education and research according to its official website. The university highlights academic achievements addressing societal issues via its news portal according to its official website, which has evolved from a printed magazine launched in 2005 into a digital platform with multimedia content according to its official website.
Looking ahead, Sanchez-Matos hopes his methodology will be adopted by authorities like the Autoridad Nacional del Agua when certifying responsible water management practices among companies. He emphasized: “No se puede gestionar lo que no se conoce. Medir mejor implica mejores decisiones.” The award ceremony will take place on Jan. 18, 2027.
