Several environmental engineering faculty members have recently had their work highlighted in The Conversation, a news website that specializes in commentary and analysis written by academics and edited by journalists.
The Conversation publishes short articles by academics on timely topics related to their research and is free for the general public to read.
Professor Karl Linden discussed the worldwide sanitation situation and the health hazards posed by unsanitary conditions and noxious odors of many latrines. Linden and his research group developed the solchar toilet to use concentrated solar energy to destroy pathogens in fecal waste and to transform the waste into biochar.
Professor Fernando Rosario-Ortiz and his colleague Vanessa Speight of the University of Sheffield discussed the pros and cons of carrying chemical disinfectants in distribution systems such as chlorine or chloramine. From their research, they discuss the need to move beyond carrying a disinfectant in drinking water delivery systems.
Associate Professor Evan Thomas explained how the management of groundwater can help improve drought resilience in the Horn of Africa. Thomas and his research group are working to guarantee year-round water services at strategically selected groundwater pumps.
Read About Their Horn of Africa Research
Thomas also worked with Jean De Dieu Ngirabega of Ruli Higher Institute of Health and Thomas Clasen of Emory University on an article about unsafe drinking water and household air pollution in Rwanda. Through their work, they have reached over 101,000 households with water filters and cookstoves to combat these leading causes of illness and death.