Category: <span>News</span>

Global Experts Converge for ISM2S 2025: Microfluidics Advancing Health and Environmental Solutions

Prof Zhugen Yang of Cranfield University, who leads EBNet’s Environmental Sensors and Wastewater Surveillance Working Group (ESWS WG), reports here on a very successful international symposium: The 2nd International Symposium on Microfluidics for Sensing and Sequencing (ISM2S 2025), held in Oxford from 29–30 July, marked another milestone in advancing interdisciplinary …

New: PFAS animation – POC Project output

An EBNet-funded POC awarded to Dr Tao Lyu, the PFAS WG Lead, looked at the use of molecular docking and dynamics simulations to investigate interactions between enzymes and PFAS compounds, with the goal of helping to elucidate potential mechanisms for PFAS biodegradation and providing tools to bridge the gap between …

Cunliffe Review

The Independent Water Commission’s Review of the Water Sector in England and Wales was released on 21 July 2025, but the public response has been more muted than some anticipated (see Prepare for a drubbing). In part this may be because, while the report recognises that all parties involved bear …

Spring Innovation – calling people who work in PFAS!

Deadline for responses: 18 Aug 2025 08:00 am UK Spring Innovation is calling for case studies, trials and research to add to a water sector database on PFAS research. The goals of this survey include: Mapping what is being done: research, trials, innovation fund entries, and supplier activity Identifying where …

Cranfield PhD opportunities in Nature-based solutions – closing soon!

Deadline: 6 August 2025 Don’t miss these funded PhD studentships at Cranfield University which are closing soon: Unveiling and enhancing nature-based solutions for mitigating emerging micropollutants Establishing the potential for improved management of intermittent sewage discharges with nature-based solutions These topics build on the work carried out by Dr Tao …

ELEMENTAL Showcase now available

The UKRI webinar showcasing the ELEMENTAL Hub is now available to watch online. It includes an introduction to the overall Engineering Biology Mission Hubs programme by Dr Tom Pearson, followed by spotlight presentations on Enzyme-based metal/metalloid biosensors, and Efficient and effective methods for metal biorecovery and biorecycling, and descriptions of …

Integration of biorefineries and green hydrogen – TEA and case studies

A new report from IEA Bioenergy’s Task 42: Biorefining in a Circular Economy highlights the potential of combining biomass-based processes with locally-sourced hydrogen derived from surplus renewable energy.  The report includes four case studies – in Australia, Brazil, Italy and the USA – and suggests some guidelines for the establishment …

EWWM presentation – PFAS and nature-based solutions

We are posting a lot on PFAS and related issues at present, reflecting the level of activity in this area. Dr Tao Lyu, who leads EBNet’s PFAS WG, gave a presentation on Treatment wetlands as nature-based solutions in managing emerging micropollutants: PFAS and beyond at the European Wastewater Management Conference …

Potential new BBSRC ICURe Discover programme

The National Biofilms Innovation Centre (NBIC) and BBSRC are discussing the idea of running a biofilm-focused ICURe Discover programme to start in autumn this year. BBSRC ICURe Discover is a part-time online market discovery programme designed to support researchers and technicians in exploring the potential market to commercialise their biofilm …

IEA Task 37 Biogas Newsletter

For anyone who doesn’t already use it, a big shout-out from our AD WG for IEA Bioenergy’s Task 37 Newsletter. This astonishingly comprehensive round-up draws attention to anaerobic digestion, biogas and biomethane developments around the world: for example, the July 2025 edition covers IEA’s first Outlook for Biogases and Biomethane …

UKWIR Report – Hazardous chemicals treatment at sewer entry

A recent UKWIR report investigates which technologies and solutions are available to remove hazardous chemicals from various sources (trade, commercial, run-off and small-scale domestic), either at point of entry to sewer or in the sewer itself. The main groups of chemicals considered were industrial compounds (solvents, surfactants, dyes etc); metals; …

Prepare for a drubbing

Clear signs of another drubbing coming for the UK water companies, with an item on today’s BBC News website headlined Serious water pollution incidents up 60% in England.  The piece, by BBC correspondent Esme Stallard, shows the Environment Agency, Public Accounts Committee, Secretary of State for the Environment, NGOs and …