The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Foundation is pleased to announce that Professor Elizabeth Edwards from the Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry (ChemE) at U of T, has been selected as the 2023-24 AEESP Distinguished Lecturer. Professor Edwards is a renowned scholar and expert in the field of environmental engineering and science and will be presenting her lecture series from September 2023 through April 2024 at various locations across North America and online.
Professor Edwards holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, Montreal, and a PhD degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University. She is known for her work on anaerobic bioremediation, the application of molecular biology and metagenomics to uncover novel microbial processes, and the transition of laboratory research into commercial practice to develop bioremediation and bioaugmentation strategies for groundwater pollutants.
Professor Edwards’ research team discovered and characterized novel microbial cultures such as the now commercial KB-1® consortium that metabolize pollutants previously thought to be recalcitrant. This discovery led to the founding of SiREM Laboratories in Guelph in 2002. Professor Edwards and her team were awarded the 2009 NSERC Synergy Award for their highly successful partnership with Geosyntec Consultants and SiREM deploying the KB-1® microbial consortium at industrial sites contaminated with chlorinated solvents around the world. Professor Edwards is also the founding director of BioZone, a Centre for Applied Bioscience and Bioengineering Research at the University of Toronto and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Anaerobic Biotechnology. In 2016, she was awarded the Canada Council of the Arts Killam Prize in recognition of her outstanding career achievements and was appointed an Officer in the Order of Canada (Canada’s highest civilian honour) by the Canadian Governor General in 2020.
“We are delighted that Professor Edwards has been selected as the 2023-24 AEESP Distinguished Lecturer,” says Professor Ramin Farnood, Chair of ChemE. “She is a leading figure in environmental engineering and science and has made significant contributions to the field through her innovative research and industry collaborations. Her lecture series is a must-attend event for anyone interested in learning about cutting-edge research in the field.”
The AEESP Foundation’s Distinguished Lecture Series is designed to provide students, researchers, and professionals with the opportunity to learn from some of the most influential experts in the field of environmental engineering and science. For more information about the 2023-24 Distinguished Lecture Series and Professor Edwards, please visit the AEESP Foundation website.
About the AEESP Foundation:
The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing environmental engineering and science education and research. The Foundation provides financial support to AEESP members and their students, promotes excellence in environmental engineering and science education, and fosters collaborations among academia, industry, and government.