Read more about the featured scientists:

Aaron Mandell, Co-founder and Chairman, WaterFX - Aaron Mandell has co-founded six companies at the nexus of energy and water, including: Altarock, WaterFX, Quidnet, Oasys Water, Coskata and GreatPoint. Through his leadership, this portfolio is advancing new products in fields such as enhanced geothermal energy, solar water treatment, desalination, energy storage, coal gasification and alternative chemicals.

Laura Deming, Partner, The Longevity Fund - Laura Deming began lab work at UCSF at 12, went to MIT at 14, and at 17 received a Thiel Fellowship and started a business. Currently she is one of the youngest venture capitalists in the industry, running The Longevity Fund, with a portfolio of companies dedicated to tackling aging and age-related diseases.

Dr. Maria Croyle, PhD, Professor of Pharmaceutics, University of Texas at Austin - Dr. Croyle recently developed a needle-free vaccine for the Ebola virus that has been proven 100% effective in primates. Her expertise has been recognized at the national and international levels as she has served as a scientific advisor for over 14 biotech companies located in the United States and Europe.

Sandra Postel, Director, Global Water Policy Project - Sandra Postel directs the independent Global Water Policy Project, and lectures, writes and consults on global water issues. In 2010 she was appointed Freshwater Fellow of the National Geographic Society, where she serves as the Society’s lead freshwater expert. Sandra is co-creator of Change the Course, the national freshwater conservation and restoration campaign being pioneered by National Geographic and its partners and piloted in the Colorado River Basin.