University of Melbourne PhD candidate, Angel Chyi En We, has been awarded Water Research Australia’s 2023 Nancy Millis Memorial Award.

The award, presented annually, is for a student who has demonstrated initiative, has exceptional qualities and a passion for research. It honours Nancy Millis who was a microbiologist of international repute who made enormous contributions in agriculture, environmental protection, medicine, and engineering.

Water utilities are required to manage the release of chemical contaminants from their sewage treatment plants. Particularly, it is expected that some of these chemicals will be regulated to an extent that industry will be required to implement additional barriers, with consequent increase in the costs to customers. Angel is working together with Melbourne Water and Greater Western Water, on her project Novel electrochemical treatment for mineralisation of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) for wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) end products.

Her work has identified a possible route for low-cost removal and destruction of organic chemicals of emerging concern in sewage treatment plants and the project will prove the concept for this route, which is based on foam fractionation and electrochemical destruction.

Angel commenced her PhD in June 2022, supervised by Dr Stefano Freguia at the University of Melbourne. Angel received her MPhil and BTech from the University of Technology Malaysia and Infrastructure University Kuala Lumpur. She has been working with water and wastewater treatment research topics since 2015, including aerobic granulation for sewage treatment and biosorbents for the removal of pollutants from palm oil mill effluent. Angel hopes to use her knowledge she has gained to support water sustainability.

The Nancy Mills Award presents a wonderful opportunity for early career scientists like Angel to develop complementary skills and develop networks with other industry professionals.

The late Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE was appointed Chair of the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment (CRCWQT) from 1995 until 2008 and subsequently maintained her involvement through the Education Program and on the Scientific Advisory Committee following the inception of Water Research Australia.

To find out more about the late Professor Nancy Millis, her extraordinary life, and successful career as a leading female researcher click here.

The post Prestigious Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Award 2023 recipient announced appeared first on Water Research Australia.

A global expert on developing policies to address sustainable development, water and climate change, John brings together researchers, industry and government organisations to set goals, accelerate action and find solutions.

John is a Professorial Fellow at Monash University, and Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Group on the Circular Economy.

John features in our recently-released preliminary program along with globally renowned thought leader Fiona Kerr. He will share his insights on the role of water in the circular economy.

Next Water will bring together water industry professionals and academics from across Australia and the world to explore and discuss focussed questions on our overarching theme Water Wisdom to Future Flow, including:

• Diversification of water sources
• Planning for a resilient water sector
• Technology and innovation for treatment and source applications
• Emerging challenges for human and environmental health
• And more…

This event is supported by sponsors Global Water Institute at UNSW, Veolia and Melbourne Water. Registration is limited to just over 200 participants, to ensure the event is highly interactive, with a strong focus on producing results from each session.

Over the coming months, we will release more exciting keynote speakers and workshops. We hope you find something that interests you in the program and that you join us for Water Wisdom to Future Flow in February 2023. You can register here and enjoy early bird rates until December 31st.

The post Next Water 2023 second exciting keynote announced! appeared first on Water Research Australia.

This two-day event, to be held on February 22nd and 23rd, features a selection of keynote and invited speakers, scientific and technical papers, case studies, workshops, panel sessions and poster presentations.

The preliminary program features fascinating keynotes, thought provoking presentations, and will allow delegates to discuss focussed questions on our overarching theme Water Wisdom to Future Flow.

Next Water will bring together water industry professionals and academics from across Australia and the world to explore and discuss:

• Diversification of water sources
• Planning for a resilient water sector
• Technology and innovation for treatment and source applications
• Emerging challenges for human and environmental health
• And more…

This event is supported by sponsors Global Water Institute at UNSW, Veolia and Melbourne Water. Registration is limited to just over 200 participants, to ensure the event is highly interactive, with a strong focus on producing results from each session.

Over the coming months, we will release more exciting keynote speakers and workshops. We hope you find something that interests you in the program and that you join us for Water Wisdom to Future Flow in February 2023.

You can register here and enjoy early bird rates until December 31st.

The post Next Water 2023 preliminary program launched! appeared first on Water Research Australia.

Minh Duc Nguyen’s research is a collaborative project between Water Research Australia, Deakin University and Barwon Water to develop innovative technologies to reuse and manage water treatment sludge.  Minh Duc was awarded the 2020 Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Award, an Australia Award in 2013 and most recently awarded International Student of the Year (Regional) at the 2021-22 Victorian International Education Awards.

Another congratulations to Melbourne Water, University of Queensland, University of Melbourne and Ektimo for taking out the R&D Excellence Award at the AWA’s Victorian Water Awards with their project: Real Greenhouse Gas Emission Measurement and Reporting for Real Reductions As We Move Toward Net Zero.

Led by WaterRA Graduate Peter Wardrop, Melbourne Water’s greenhouse gas measurement program establishes validated methods to accurately measure and quantify emissions from sewage treatment, significantly improving industry knowledge and reporting methodologies. Accurate emission measurement is critical to assess mitigation strategy effectiveness as we move towards a net-zero carbon future, ensuring our efforts focus on real reductions.

As leaders in collaborative water research, WaterRA supports innovation in the sector through long-term sponsorship of both the national and state-based Research and Development Excellence Awards offered by the Australian Water Association.

The post Students celebrate success at VIC Water Awards appeared first on Water Research Australia.

The project, part of our Whole Water program of research, will be working closely with national water utility companies South East Water, Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water and Water Corporation, through WaterRA.

Researchers, Professor Xiwang Zhang (Chemical Engineering Professor and Director of the ARC Research Hub for Energy-efficient Separation), Professor Huanting Wang and Dr Yinlong Zhu (Department of Chemical Engineering, Monash University) will be delivering the project.

To find out more visit the project page.

Further news coverage regarding this project is available from the links below:

• • • Monash University
    • CNBCB
    • pv magazine
    • Australian Water Association
    • Energy Magazine

The post Funding secured for Project 1136 appeared first on Water Research Australia.

Image: Samira Rashetnia

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