Biological Sciences
Microbiology and Bioremediation
Project supervisors: Drs Eric May, Claire Hellio, Julian Mitchell
Shedding light on stone algae
Microbiologists and molecular biologists within the School has been conducting collaborative research with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to investigate new methods of preventing algae from growing on headstones in military cemeteries around the world. The types and distribution of algae on stone have been assessed on First and Second World War graves. Environmentally-friendly methods of reducing algal growth are being researched by Dr Eric May and his team.
Over the last few months, a final year undergraduate student on the BSc (Hons) Microbiology, Stephanie Cook, has also been working on this project and she is due to submit her thesis in April.
Water treatment without chemicals
In January 2007, the School hosted a workshop of a new research programme, funded by the EU, that is looking at non-chemical ways of treating water to remove microorganisms. The project, CHEMFREE, started last year with partners in the Netherlands, Italy and Slovenia and Austria. The Portsmouth contribution of algal ecology will be coordinated by Dr Claire Hellio, who joined us early last academic year, and supported by Dr Eric May, the Reader in Microbiology. Two research assistants were appointed recently, and both join us from France. Some of their work will be done at the Environmental Technology field station at Petersfield, Hampshire, a laboratory/greenhouse facility established in collaboration with Southern Water in 1998 and shared with the Department of Civil Engineering.
Microbes help to treat sludge
In June last year the School entered a new phase of its Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) programme (funded by the DTI and industry until June 2008) in collaboration with Civil Engineering. We have appointed a recent graduate of the BSc (Hons) Biochemistry and Microbiology degree course, Siobhan Watkins, to work on the microbiology and breakdown of sewage sludge. Siobhan will work closely with the industrial sponsor, Wpl Ltd of Waterlooville, which manufactures small-scale treatment units for restaurants and motorway service stations. Siobhan will work at the Petersfield laboratories and she hopes to improve the effectiveness of the treatment and thus increase sales for the company!