Don’t miss these important things!
A recent review paper seeks to consolidate and summarise current knowledge on the sources and distribution of PFAS, their environmental impacts, and the challenges associated with remediation. The authors, who include members of the PFAS WG, emphasize that detection and characterisation remains problematic. Regulatory control is complicated by the diversity …
EBNet members from a range of backgrounds whose work is impacted by synthetic or engineering biology may be interested in a new publication on Governing Synthetic Biology, in the Oxford Biology Primers series. This book is intended as an introductory text providing readers from different disciplines with an overview of …
While Governments struggle to respond to short-term price swings and more lasting uncertainties on global energy supplies, the renewable energy sector is pressing the case for diversification and reduced reliance on fossil fuel resources. The UK’s Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has issued a special Newsletter for members, with …
Members of EBNet’s Environmental Sensors and Wastewater Surveillance (ESWS) WG have recently published an article on a paper-microfluidic platform for infection monitoring and immunity evaluation of viral RNA and antibodies. The paper presents a system that integrates a streamlined processing protocol with a paper-based LAMP assay for viral RNA detection, …
Don’t miss two outstanding new training opportunities: Introduction to Quarto, 22 April 2026, Online workshop, ÂŁ75/ÂŁ50  – FLYER here Metatranscriptomics, 11-22 May 2026, Online workshop, Free  – FLYER here These workshops are organised by the UKRI Digital Research Skills Catalyst (DRSC), an initiative to promote materials and activities by Cloud-SPAN …
A recent review paper on methods of membrane fouling control and cleaning provides an excellent example of the need to consider physical and chemical technologies in conjunction with microbial treatment systems. Environmental biotechnologies not only require engineered systems to enable and maintain the microbially-mediated processes that drive them; these elements …
This working group was originally set up with a focus on the underlying microbiology and the quantification of N2O emissions; its remit then broadened to include methane as another major GHG from sanitation systems. The two areas provide an interesting contrast in terms of where emissions arise (primarily in aerobic …
More good science, good engineering, and good news coming out of the ongoing programme of work on slow sand filtration (SSF) by Dr Francis Hassard and colleagues at Cranfield and Thames Water. The latest paper on their new underwater cleaning technique reports improved removal of Cryptosporidium oocysts in comparison with …
Congratulations to Dr Sharon Velasquez-Orta who has been awarded a Royal Academy of Engineering Green Futures Fellowship to work on a project entitled CHANGE: Carbon dioxide conversion by intensified electrobiocatalysis. The Fellowship is one of 13 In in a new programme funded by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology …
Congratulations to Prof Jhuma Sadhukhan and colleagues on a new paper that combines several areas of interest for EBNet members, including microbial H2 production, utilisation of waste feedstocks to generate high-value products, and tools for sustainability assessment. The paper, published in Nature Chemistry, demonstrates a novel strategy for coupling cogenerated …
Reactions to Dirty Business, the new Channel 4 Docudrama on sewage pollution, suggest the UK water industry is in for another heavy battering. After the 3-episode series aired on 23 Feb 2026 it has received extensive coverage on all major press and media outlets, from BBC News to Woman and …
Planned outputs for the next few months include feedback from the fascinating Microenvironments workshop led by Dr Joe Weaver, then of Newcastle, now at Durham University. Journal papers in preparation or review include those based on a study of the implications of emerging biotech for bioreactor materials, and from the …
The final set of stories chosen from our Green Stories: Microbes to the Rescue anthology, equivalent to about 30 mins in the Audiobook version. The anthology is also available as a free eBook on the Resources page. This month’s selections are: Chapter 10: Microworlds by Griffen Alexander, South Africa – an …
Last week, EBNet director Prof Sonia Heaven took part in an IEA Task 37 meeting that was timed to coincide with the triennial Central European Biomass conference in Graz, Austria. The plan was to network with participants on behalf of a number of EBNet’s groups, but this fell through when …
The Environmental Biotechnology Network is running a survey in which all members are warmly invited to participate. The aim is to gather insights on your experiences with the Network, and your opinions on what are the key issues in Environmental Biotechnology now. All EBNet members will receive an invitation to …
