Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Symposium

The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering is holding their first Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) symposium. This event is designed to bring together a range of different people from Imperial and beyond to come together to network, find common areas of interest and learn more about the work surrounding water sanitation and hygiene.

To be invited to this event please email l.adamson@imperial.ac.uk (Leah Adamson IMSE Events and Communications Manager)

When and Where

Thursday 15 June 10.00-15.00

Imperial Business School Lecture Theatre 2

Attendee Eligibility

Researchers, Students, Academics, Charity organisations, those working in Policy and Industry professionals who work or have an interest in Water, sanitation and hygiene (WaSH).

Structure

A provisional event structure can be found below (please note that more information including presenters and panellists will be added):

  • 10.00 – Networking activity with tea, coffee and pastries
  • 10.30 – Welcome and introduction to IMSE
  • 10.40 – Flash Presentation WASH research at Imperial
    •  “Using miniaturised passive sampler devices for the monitoring of chemicals of emerging concern in river water and biota” – by Alexandra Richardson, Research Assistant at the School of Public Health, Imperial College London
    • Emma Beirns, Research Postgraduate at Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
    • Integrating Water Neutral Solutions Across Different Urban Scales” by Pepe Puchol-Salort, Research Assistant at the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation (CSEI) and at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Imperial College London.
    • Dr Laure Sioné, Sanitation Advisor to Oxfam & Water for People and Postdoctoral Research Associate in Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London.
  • 11.40 – Q&A
  • 12.00 – Lunch
  • 13.00 – Panel discussion – The future of Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): solutions to a global challenge
  • 14.00 – Q&A and Discussion
  • 14.30 – Networking with tea and coffee
  • 16.00 – IMSE Dr Theo George Wilson Annual Lecture – Re-thinking Innovation and Engagement to Address the Global Water and Sanitation Challenge by Professor Francis L. de los Reyes III. City and Guilds Building Lecture Theatre 200

Panellists

Dr Po-Heng (Henry) Lee (Chair) Senior Lecturer in Wastewater Engineering at Imperial College London. Dr Lee’s team focuses on resource recovery, greenhouse reduction mitigation and human health with anaerobic biotechnologies. Importantly, the focus of his research and teaching has been on surpassing classical bio-energetics limitations via discrete (quantum and quantum-like) pathways (e.g., electron/proton tunnelling, hopping, gene regulation, etc.) for sustainable unprecedented wastewater management.

Professor Mala Rao OBE Director of the Ethnicity and Health Unit and Senior Clinical Fellow, Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, Chair of WHO South East Asia Region’s Expert Group on the Environmental Determinants of Climate Change and Health and Vice Chair of WaterAid UK. She has previously served as Head of Public Health Workforce at the Department of Health and as inaugural Director of the first Indian Institute of Public Health, under the aegis of the UK Global Health strategy. Her career has spanned public health practice, policy, research and training and her most impactful achievements have been in workforce development, strengthening health systems and environmental health in the UK and overseas. Mala is a recognised champion of climate action, safe water and sanitation and gender equity. She is also globally respected for her work to achieve race equality in the health arena and her research on the intersection between race, health and climate.

Sir Hugh Bayley Commissioner on Independent Commission for Aid Impact . Sir Hugh represented York as an MP for 23 years, serving on Parliament’s International Development Committee for 14 years. He has extensive experience with development organisations, and was knighted in 2015 for services to NATO and international development.

Dr Ana Mijic Reader in Water Systems Integration, at Imperial College London. Ana is a Reader in Water Systems Integration and Director of the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation. She is leading the development of novel systems tools focused on quantifying the interaction between the water cycle and sustainable development. The work has aim to inform regulatory bodies and water industry if and how we can support economic growth whilst ensuring sustainable water use and flood and water quality management under future uncertainties.

Dr Claire Trant Co-founder of Untap Ltd is 2021. Untap has developed a novel, automated technology to detect bio-markers in wastewater. They are currently focussing on viruses and bacteria, with future plans to detect a wider spectrum of human bio-markers. Her previous work includes in innovation in wastewater engineering, she worked on the forefront of regulation change and international innovation, and delivered international licensing agreements for nitrate and phosphate removal technologies. Claire has a PhD with Rolls Royce Aerospace, in Materials Engineering at Imperial College London.

Presenters

Alexandra Richardson  Research Assistant at the School of Public Health, Imperial College London. Alexandra is undertaking a post-doctoral role at Imperial College London focusing on PFAS occurrence in drinking water with links to human health outcomes and is looking forward to the challenges of these compounds and expanding her skill set for future fellowship applications.

Emma BeirnsResearch Postgraduate at Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Emma’s project is focused on identifying the genes responsible for sulfonamide degradation in Anaerobic Fluidised-bed Membrane Bio-Reactors (AFMBR) and any association to Direct Interspecies Electron Transfer (DIET).

Pepe Puchol-SalortResearch Assistant at the Centre for Systems Engineering and Innovation (CSEI) and at the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Imperial College London. With a background in Architecture, Pepe brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to his research, combining his expertise in urban design and sustainability. He recently submitted his PhD thesis as part of CAMELLIA (Community Water for a Liveable London) research programme, where he developed the novel concept of Water Neutrality and collaborated with a large number of stakeholders. He is passionate about social causes and climate-related problems.

Dr Laure SionéSanitation Advisor to Oxfam & Water for People and Postdoctoral Research Associate in Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London. Dr Sioné is a post-doctoral researcher on the Pathways to Equitable Healthy Cities project, a large international consortium project funded by the UK Wellcome Trust that aims to advance the science that underpins sustainable urban development and healthier lives. Their research explores designing a water consumption monitoring strategy using citizen science-based data collection techniques to better understand water consumption patterns, water quality, and related public health outcomes among different socio-economic groups in Sub-Saharan Africa and thereby inform future water management policy-making.

Ticket types

Please note that there are two ticket types online and in-person. Those joining online will only be able to view the flash presentations and panel discussion. Unfortunately you will not be able to attend the networking activities if you are attending online.

IMSE Annual Lecture

This event will coincide with our Dr Theo George Wilson Annual Lecture which is held at 16.00 on the same day.

We have invited Prof Francis L. de los Reyes III from North Carolina University to give our lecture and he will be speaking on Re-thinking Innovation and Engagement to Address the Global Water and Sanitation Challenge”.

The event will be held on in City and Guilds Building Lecture Theatre 200 and online (via YouTube) and will also have a drinks reception afterwards.

About The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering

The Institute for Molecular Science and Engineering (IMSE) is one of Imperial College London’s Global Institutes, drawing on the strength of its four faculties to address some of the grand challenges facing the world today. The Institute’s activities are focused on tackling problems where molecular innovation plays an important role.

If you have any questions about accessibility requirements please email l.adamson@imperial.ac.uk (Leah Adamson IMSE Events and Communications Manager)

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