Two years ago algal blooms in Lough Neagh, the UK’s largest freshwater lake, were so severe they caught international attention. Plans were drawn up and debated, but now it looks like the issue is firmly back in the news. Dr Les Gornall, an expert in Anaerobic Digestion and animal slurries …
Earlier this year EBNet’s PFAS WG presented a Position Statement identifying knowledge gaps and the need for development of cost-effective approaches able to degrade PFAS. Since then the WG has: run a successful international workshop co-sponsored by EBNet and the Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre (EBIC) – see video playlist presented …
Date: Mon 8 Sept 2025 12-13:00 UK Venue: Online The Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA) and the Global Center for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB) are hosting a webinar on Bioplastics from Biomass: Innovative Pathways for Sustainable Conversion. Topics include: Global Center for Sustainable Bioproduct overview Biocomposites overview: Environmental drivers and policy incentives Integrated …
Today is a public holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, so a quirky item that may interest bird lovers seems suitable… Brett Westwood is a radio presenter and author specialising in natural history, especially birds. Angela Bywater, EBNet’s former Network Co-Manager who now manages the UK side of the …
The Independent Water Commission’s Review of the Water Sector in England and Wales, released on 21 July, may have produced less public furore than anticipated – in part as many of its recommendations targeted the regulators rather than the water companies. But there are signs that another sectoral issue may …
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 …
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 …
A recent UKWIR Report on options for charging UK food service establishments based on the fats, oils and grease (FOG) content of their wastewater raises many fascinating questions. Alongside the practical and economic challenges of implementation, it notes our limited understanding of how these materials pose a risk to sewerage …
One of the Keynote speakers at AquaConSoil 2025 has kindly made his contribution available to EBNet members. The talk by Dr Hans Slenders of Arcadis focused on PFAS, including the emerging pollutant trifluoroacetic acid or TFA. A version of his presentation on ‘How sustainable is our current approach for PFAS?’ …
AquaConSoil addresses the dynamic interfaces between soil, sediment and water systems under anthropogenic stress. This year’s conference in Liege on 16-20 June 2025 spotlighted themes such as integrated Soil–Sediment–Water System Management, Sustainable Remediation Strategies, Digital Innovation, and Systems Thinking. These core areas for advancing and harnessing the power of environmental …
A recent BBC News item highlights growing awareness of the threat from emerging pollutants: ‘Forever chemical’ TFA found in all but one of tested UK rivers – BBC News Prof Frederic Coulon of EBNet’s PFAS WG said, “The appearance of these chemicals in drinking water sources, particularly trifluoroacetic acid or …
Deadline: 18 June 2025 at 23:59 The UK Parliament’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has issued a Call for Evidence on issues related to the Global Plastics Treaty. The final round of negotiations on a new Global Plastics Treaty (Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee or INC-5) was planned for completion …
The BBC’s Rare Earth programme has a new episode out on PFAS, the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are now a major emerging pollutant: listen or download on Rare Earth – Forever Chemicals – BBC Sounds. Dr Tao Lyu from Cranfield University, who leads EBNet’s PFAS Working Group, says: “New …
Don’t miss the new Soil Matters podcast from the British Society of Soil Science. Episode 1 features Prof Frederic Coulon and Prof Tony Gutierrez talking about new bioremediation techniques that are completely changing our approaches to reclaiming contaminated land. The podcast is available free on the BSSS Soil Matters webpage, …
The abstract submission for AquaConSoil 2025 is now open. As platform for scientists, policymakers, and industry experts on the sustainable management of soil, sediment, and water resources, this event offers an unique opportunity to share innovative research and solutions. Taking place from June 16-20, 2025, in Liège, Belgium, this 40-year anniversary …
