As part of the IOM3 Investigates podcast series for International Women in Engineering Day, I was invited by the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) to speak about my academic and professional journey. I am a Chartered Engineer and is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (CEng FIMMM)
In this episode, I reflect on my path from early education to my current role as Associate Professor in Energy and Environmental Engineering at Teesside University. I focus on porous media as the backbone of my research and explore its applications across groundwater remediation, water treatment, and waste valorisation. I discuss how we can engineer the properties of biochar to target specific contaminants in water, enhancing its effectiveness as a sustainable treatment material.
I also share personal insights into adapting to different cultures as an international student and how I’ve built on my foundational knowledge to branch into interdisciplinary areas of environmental engineering. I talk about the cultural and personal challenges I’ve navigated.
Women in Engineering; Environmental Engineering; Porous Media; Waste Valorisation; Water Treatment; Biochar; Career Development in STEM