Speakers
Plenary Session
Professor Liu Ye’s keynote explores how microbiology can support climate goals through smarter nitrogen management in urban wastewater systems. She’ll share insights from her work on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving biological treatment processes, and evaluating how these strategies impact the overall carbon footprint. With a focus on practical solutions and system-wide sustainability, this talk will highlight the role of microbes in building cleaner, more resilient urban infrastructure.
Professor Liu Ye is a leading researcher in sustainable environmental engineering at The University of Queensland. Based in the School of Chemical Engineering, she focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving resource recovery, and advancing climate-resilient solutions in urban water systems.
Her research explores how biological wastewater treatment processes can be transformed to minimise emissions and support net zero goals. She also works on sludge reduction, enhanced biogas production, and next-generation nutrient removal technologies, often using real-time monitoring and control to improve performance.
Professor Ye leads the Greenhouse Gas Research Program at UQ and collaborates widely with utilities, government and industry across Australia and internationally. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, an elected member of the Strategic Council of the International Water Association, and is actively engaged with professional communities including Engineers Australia and the Australian Association for Engineering Education. She currently serves as the Associate Editor of Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology and sits on the editorial board of Engineering Journal.