Environmental Biotechnology and Global Sanitation

We believe in generating new knowledge through research and practice to address pressing and challenging problems in global water/wastewater and sanitation.

  • Combining biological process engineering with micro/biotechnological tools to improve analysis, design, and operation of natural and engineered waste transformation (to value products and energy) systems. To accomplish this, we use molecular techniques, mathematical modeling, and lab and field scale experimental approaches.
  • Addressing sanitation issues in underserved communities. We strive for convergent research, aiming to contribute with our engineering and science skills, as well as our experience in several countries, to attempt to increase access to sustainable sanitation, and protect public health and the environment.
  • Integrating results from experiments with microbial ecological theory and mathematical modeling. Our focus is fundamentally understanding microbial community structure and function and linking this knowledge to engineering solutions.

ABOUT

Francis_TED

Dr. de los Reyes is the Glenn E. and Phyllis J. Futrell Distinguished Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at North Carolina State University. He is a University Faculty Scholar, Associate Faculty of Microbiology, and Training Faculty of Biotechnology. He has been teaching and doing research on wastewater engineering for 25 years. He has taught or is currently teaching undergraduate and graduate classes on drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment plant design, environmental microbiology, environmental biotechnology, and water and sanitation in developing countries. His research focuses on biological processes and combines modeling, bioreactor experiments, and molecular microbial ecology tools in addressing fundamental and practical issues in environmental biotechnology and environmental engineering. His research on global sanitation encompasses technologies along the sanitation chain. Current or past collaborations include partners in the Philippines, India, China, South Africa, Malawi, Belgium, Pakistan, Rwanda, Madagascar, Kenya, and Ghana. Read more.

 

https://ed.ted.com/lessons/a-brief-history-of-toilets-francis-de-los-reyes