Prof Andrea Schäfer
Andrea Schäfer is Chair of Environmental Engineering at the University of Edinburgh.
Her research group develops technologies for water supply systems in remote and rural locations.
Such technologies are predominantly membrane systems coupled with renewable energies. This is done in collaboration with the Scottish Institute for Solar Energy Research (SISER).
This water treatment work has a strong emphasis on water quality and health, with a focus on micropollutants such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (such as estrogens, pesticides, plasticisers and pharmaceuticals) and inorganics (such as fluoride, arsenic, uranium and nitrate).
As an expert in this area, Prof Schäfer works closely with the Drinking Water Quality Regulator for Scotland.
Research
For ten years she worked predominantly on surface water treatment and water reuse in Australia.
Currently she is engaged in strong international collaborations and has extensive experience of working in remote locations in Australia, Scotland, Africa, and increasingly other countries such as India and China.
Andrea enjoys interdisciplinary work has experience with public perception of water reuse, socio-economic integration of water technologies and many strong interactions with the physical sciences.
She acts in an advisory role to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), with a policy Fellowship in 2010/1, and serves on the UNESCO Scotland Committee.
Prof Schäfer is also committed to contributing to global development with the ‘I have a Dream: Safe Drinking Water for All Children project.
More information on Prof Schäfer is available from the Membrane Technology Research Group.
Videos
Water quality sampling in Ghana
This video shows a chemical water quality sampling trip by Prof Schäfer's research group in July and August 2007.
Testing filtration system in Australia
This video shows a field trip to central Australia for the testing of a solar-powered membrane filtration system in September and October 2005 by research groups of Prof Schäfer and Prof Richards at Heriot-Watt University.
Video file support
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This article was published on Apr 8, 2013