Clean Water
UNICEF estimates that over 2.2 billion people worldwide do not have access to clean drinking water. Microorganisms are responsible for a host of waterborne diseases which cause unnecessary disease and death. Simultaneously, using microbes to our advantage can offer solutions in purifying water and improving sanitation. Ultimately, this will increase access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, whilst making hygiene practices more accessible for many people across the globe.
Biofertilizers offer promising solutions for reduced nutrient runoff and wastewater recycling. As well as applying microbes to combat the problem, applied microbiologists can use their knowledge of health and disease to reduce cases of waterborne disease, improving the quality of life for people worldwide.
Clean Water Scientific Advisory Group Members
Gary Hogben
Rachel Poretsky
I am interested in microbial ecology and biogeochemistry, bacterial diversity, and community structure and interactions in natural environments. My research involves exploring the functional diversity of bacteria in marine, freshwater, and other environments through the direct retrieval and analysis of microbial genes (metagenomics) and gene transcripts (metatranscriptomics). By identifying factors involved in the activity and diversity of bacteria, it may be possible to better understand how bacterial communities, and consequently, biogeochemical cycles will respond to environmental changes.
Theodore M Flynn
My group monitors water quality, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and benthic invertebrates in the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary.
Olufunke Bolatito Shittu
Olufunke Shittu currently works at the Department of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
Willy Verstraete
W. VERSTRAETE was born on April 25, 1946 in Beernem (Belgium). He graduated in 1968 from the Gent University as bio-engineer. He followed a summer course on Soil Microbiology at the Pasteur Institute of Paris. In 1971, he obtained a Ph D degree in the field of microbiology at the Cornell University, Ithaca (USA).
Since 1971, he worked at the Gent University, since 1979 as professor and head of the Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET - Faculty of Bioscience Engineering). In 2011, he has become emeritus professor.
His R&D has as central theme: Microbial Resource Management ; ie the design, operation and control of processes mediated by mixed microbial cultures. W. Verstraete has field experience with respect to drinking water production plants (slow sand filtration), aerobic wastewater treatment (in particular with respect to nitrification-denitrification), anaerobic digestion of wastewaters and sludges, solid state fermentation of organic residues and bioremediation processes of soils and sediments. He has also gained experience in various aspects of pre- and probiotics used in human and animal nutrition and in systems which simulate the latter. Recently, his work focusses on resource recovery in general and the production of single cell protein in particular.
Robin Thorn
I have extensive research experience of working on multidisciplinary research projects, focused on three main sectors; healthcare provision, food security and the environment. At present, the vast majority of my research income is generated through strategic partnerships with industry (UK SMEs) through knowledge exchange and research & development.
Yongjun Wei
I currently work as an associate professor at School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, China. My research interests are understanding of environmental microbiome and synthetic Microbiology, and the main aim is application of microbiota and synthetic biology in solving environmental problems
Erick Bandala Gonzalez
Dr. Bandala performs research in water quality, water treatment and site restoration. His major experience is in developing countries on the generation and adaptation of technology for the generation of safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Development and implementation of cutting-edge analytical approach to chemical and microbiological water quality is also within his areas of expertise. Specific research interest includes solar driven Advanced Oxidation Processes, assessing the effect of Climate Change on water quality, developing adaptive technologies for sustainable water quality management, water chemistry, stormwater quality and treatment.
Rita Colwell
Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, senior advisor and chairman emeritus at Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., and president and chairman of CosmosID, Inc.
Dr. Rita Colwell's interests are focused on global infectious diseases, water, and health. Dr. Colwell developed an international network to address emerging infectious diseases and water issues, including safe drinking water for both the developed and developing world, in collaboration with Safe Water Network, headquartered in New York City.
Sarah Allard
I am an Assistant Project Scientist in the Gilbert Lab, housed between the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Scripps Intitution of Oceanography. I am interested in exploring how we can harness microbiome research to support environmental recovery after disturbance, safe and productive food systems, and human health. To address growing challenges, such as the presence of emerging contaminants and increasing climate variability, I believe that interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement will be essential.
Elitsa Penkova
Elitsa’s PhD project is focused on understanding to what extent the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in rivers poses a risk to human health. This builds upon previous work in coastal waters which found that recreational activities, such as bathing, are associated with an increased risk of exposure to and colonisation by ARB. Her project is funded by NERC GW4+ DTP and while based at the University of Exeter, additional project partners include the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and the UK Health Security Agency, with further support from the Environmental Agency.
