This research develops a membrane-based wastewater treatment system that selectively supports nitrogen-removing bacteria without energy-intensive aeration or added organic matter. By enabling efficient biological nitrogen removal, the approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lowers costs, and makes advanced wastewater treatment more accessible—protecting aquatic ecosystems and water quality.

My research develops navigable high-altitude stratospheric balloons that combine satellite-level coverage with drone-level detail at low cost. Using machine-learning trajectory models and altitude-based steering, fleets can monitor wildfires, deforestation, and environmental change in real time. This technology enables scalable, sustainable remote sensing for global environmental protection.

Urban farms in Baltimore need reliable irrigation water. This research tested harvested rainwater for E. coli, Listeria, and Salmonella, and evaluated two treatments: sand–iron filtration and peracetic acid sanitizing. Both reduced E. coli, and sanitizing eliminated Listeria. Produce remained contamination-free, suggesting treated rainwater is a viable supplemental irrigation source.

The speaker introduces EcoLiving Lab, an immersive environment that integrates wellbeing and sustainability. By experimenting with small daily changes—sleep habits, food practices, and cleaning routines—participants learn how sustainable behaviours can enhance comfort and restoration. The goal is to make sustainability effortless, personalised, and appealing rather than burdensome.

The speaker explains how hyperspectral satellites can detect invisible methane emissions, a major driver of climate change. Their research integrates data from multiple satellites to create a continuous global monitoring system capable of identifying leaks in real time, enabling rapid mitigation and transforming satellite technology into a tool for planetary sustainability.

PFAS “forever chemicals” contaminate water, food, and air and accumulate in the body, causing serious health risks. This research develops a light-activated porous material that traps and breaks down PFAS molecules. Tested in real-world water and now being scaled up, the method aims to provide a practical, permanent solution for removing PFAS and protecting safe drinking water.

The Mississippi River relies on dams for commercial navigation, but these structures block fish migration and damage ecosystems and local fishing economies. This research uses hydrodynamic modelling to test fish-passage designs, such as bypass channels, showing how they can reconnect habitats, support biodiversity, and allow economic and ecological goals to coexist.

This research tackles Canada’s massive meat-by-product waste by repurposing highly nutritious organs into sustainable, functional food products. Through consumer surveys, protein extraction, and product development, the project aims to shift discarded by-products into valuable ingredients, reducing waste, improving sustainability, and opening new market opportunities for the food industry.

This research explores chemical recycling, a process that breaks mixed plastic waste into molecular components and converts them back into high-quality plastic. The method reduces energy use and emissions, enabling a circular plastic economy. The goal is a sustainable, economically viable system that shifts responsibility across communities rather than individuals.

Fast fashion creates massive environmental damage through synthetic fibres, textile waste, and microplastic pollution. This research develops Ioncell, an eco-friendly, closed-loop technology that dissolves cellulose materials and regenerates durable, biodegradable fibres. It also enables recycling of cellulose textile waste, offering a promising sustainable alternative to synthetic fibres and reducing global textile pollution.