Education ShowcaseBuilding future experti se across the water industry

Water for the wellbeing of all Australians Water Research Australia Limited (WaterRA)

Cover 2014 Honours graduate Michael Webber, SA Water Employee

Michael Webber is 25 and responsible for the health of 50,000 people over 15,000 km2. A slight overstatement perhaps...

Michael is part of a small team of Technical Support Offi cers at SA Water who manage all aspects of drinking water quality in South Australia outside of metro Adelaide.

The team deals with troubleshooti ng, performance and opti misati on of conventi onal, reverse osmosis, microfi ltrati on, MIEX and other treatment processes feeding into chlorinated and chloraminated distributi on systems. Michael’s role extends to monitoring programs and customer calls, as well as support for other personnel in these areas. This requires a lot of offi ce, plant and fi eld work touching most aspects of the business.

“I completed a Biotechnology (Honours) degree at Flinders University and my heart was set on plant biotechnology”, but then the opportunity arose to take a WaterRA summer scholarship at the SA Water AWQC, working with live Cryptosporidium, and everything changed”.

Following the industry-sponsored summer scholarship Michael went on to a WaterRA Honours Scholarship before joining SA Water’s graduate program. Since then he has worked with SA Water’s research and operati ons groups, Allwater and GWMWater before landing his current role. He was fi nalist for two undergraduate research awards and won the Michael Flynn Award for best paper at OzWater in 2014.

With the networks he has developed as a student with WaterRA Michael can see himself returning for further study, perhaps a master’s degree in Engineering or returning to microbiology research to complete a PhD “but for now I love this role, there is an enormous amount more to learn, always something interesti ng and eventf ul and a great balance of offi ce and fi eld based work and so many opportuniti es to make a diff erence”.

Philanthropic Sponsorship(WaterRA Scholarship Fund)Do you have a commitment to educati on and research for the water industry?WaterRA now off ers Philanthropic Scholarships to support students interested in a career in the water industry to become tomorrow’s young professionals - skilled and employable researchers and practi ti oners.WaterRA’s not-for-profi t status means that you, or your company, can sponsor post-graduate student scholarships in the water industry. The WaterRA Scholarship Fund is an opti on for organisati ons looking at ethical or philanthropic support for Australian industry, via a student project.

Development of future professionals is a criti cal factor in the sustainability of Australia’s water industry.

The Nati onal Skills Audit 2008 anti cipates that by 2018, a projected gap of 26,600 jobs - or 47 per cent of nati onal requirements - will challenge future delivery of key requirements across the industry.

A focus on building future capacity and succession planning benefi ts the water industry, and most importantly, the community. Australia’s water industry needs high calibre research to inform operati onal practi ce and water industry guidelines, respond to emerging issues and ensure the conti nued supply of safe water for our communiti es.

Postgraduate and honours student projects remain an eff ecti ve means of undertaking research projects and provide excellent research training for future water professionals.

sponsorship Packages

Phd $40,000

masters $25,000

Honours $17,000

The funding comprises a top-up sti pend and operati ng allowance.

The benefi ts of WaterRA sponsorship are not just fi nancial! WaterRA provides an orientati on day, networking opportuniti es, professional development, exposure to the water industry and a mentor. PhD candidates are supported to att end an internati onal conference, and give at least one presentati on at a domesti c water industry meeti ng.

- See more at: htt p://www.waterra.com.au/educati on-program/philanthropic-sponsorship/

For more informati on contact Program Manager - Educati onCarolyn Bellamy on 08 7424 2443.

2 WaterRA Showcase 2015 Education

RMIT University PhD candidate Ana Marti ns is the 2012 recipient of the WaterRA’s Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship. In late 2014 Ana presented her work at the Lab on a Chip, Microfl uidics & Microarray World Congress in San Diego. Her project focuses on the development of a versati le, portable fl ow injecti on analysis system for the chemiluminescent detecti on of pesti cides in source waters (recently published in Analyti cal Chemistry). The project uti lises surface acousti c waves to enhance the sensiti vity of the chemiluminescent microanalyses in a newly designed fl ow cell (Australian Patent # 2014903317 Filed).

Being the recipient of the Nancy Millis Scholarship is not only an immense honour; it is also a fantasti c opportunity to make the most of all opportuniti es. Thanks to my scholarship, I was also able to present my work at several universiti es in the United States, including Harvard University, University of Massachusett s, Notheastern University, Ohio State University, New York University, Rutgers University and Stevens Insti tute of Technology as well as visit their research laboratories and learn about university-industry partnerships in the USA. I also att ended MicroTAS (Micro Total Analysis Systems) or Miniaturised Systems for Chemistry and Life Sciences Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

Ana discovered many potenti al applicati ons for her instrument through networking at the conferences and their workshops. Her work was extremely well received by all professors in the USA. Most of them were interested in establishing collaborati ons with RMIT University. Even though the work is primarily focussed on environmental analyses, researchers in other areas saw applicati ons for this technology, in areas such as point of care diagnosti cs, medical and engineering systems. One example is the detecti on of circulati ng tumor cells and exosomes in blood samples.

“Applied research is highly valued in the USA, especially when it can be applied to multi disciplinary fi elds. The presentati ons at the universiti es and the lab visits were invaluable opportuniti es to open channels for collaborati on. I had ti me to share and acquire knowledge, as well as assess how our projects could contribute to one another. There are many opportuniti es for collaborati on between Australia and the USA – it is up to us to make the most of them and shorten the distance between the two countries.”

muHammad Umar was awarded IPRS and APA scholarships to undertake a PhD in Chemical Engineering at RMIT University under the supervision of Professor Felicity Roddick. He also received a WaterRA top-up scholarship for the project “Treatment of municipal wastewater reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) using oxidati on by UV-mediated processes.”

Muhammad’s project investi gated the removal of organic matt er in high salinity ROC from municipal wastewater, including reducing the toxicity of micropollutants, using UVC/H2O2 with coagulati on as pre-treatment and biological treatment as post-treatment, for recycling and/or safe disposal. The potenti al of a novel mercury-free source of monochromati c UV radiati on for the treatment of ROC was investi gated and compared with a conventi onal UVC lamp system. Coagulati on as pre-treatment and biological treatment as post-treatment markedly reduced energy consumpti on, enhanced water quality and reduced the formati on of disinfecti on by-products (DBP) and toxicity in the treated water.

WaterRA’s support enabled Muhammad to present at the Internati onal Conference on Biological, Civil and Environmental Engineering in Dubai (UAE), and att end OzWater’14. All WaterRA PhD students become members of AWA, and this provided Muhammad an opportunity to network with water industry professionals and academics at nati onal and internati onal level through att ending seminars and other events organised. The mentor support provided as part of the WaterRA Scholarship played an equally important role in Muhammad’s professional development during his PhD.

Muhammad received the School of Civil, Environmental and Chemical Engineering’s fi rst prize in the “Higher degree by research student publicati on” award for 2013. It was awarded for publishing the highest number of high impact journal arti cles. He was also recipient of the “Higher Degree by Publicati on Grant” in September 2014 from the School.

Muhammad has been fortunate to have a few opti ons to choose from following completi on of his PhD. He has opted for a postdoctoral positi on in the University of Briti sh Columbia, Vancouver.

Muhammad UmarAna Marti ns - Nancy Millis Scholar

Education WaterRA Showcase 2015 3

Emma Plant completed her PhD at the University of Adelaide in January 2014. Her thesis, which received a Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence, was “Comparison and development of advanced techniques for organic matter characterisation in water and wastewater processing.” This work involved analytical organic chemistry, developing a method for determining the amount of complementary information provided by different characterisation techniques used to study the structural features of dissolved organic matter. The study increased understanding of the limitations of some well-established characterisation techniques, and these key findings were shared in conference and journal publications. Emma’s supervisors were Dr Ron Smernik (University of Adelaide), Dr John van Leeuwin (University of South Australia), and Dr Paul Greenwood (University of Western Australia). She also received in-kind support from the Australian Water Quality Centre for this project.

Emma’s PhD was sponsored by top-up scholarships from the Playford Memorial Trust and Water Research Australia. The benefits of the WaterRA scholarship were significant — enabling Emma to use some of the best available software for statistical analyses, undertaking research in Perth with her supervisor, and presenting her research at a number of national and international conferences including OzWater ’13 and ’14 and the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) in Nashville, Tennessee, 2014.

An invaluable aspect of the WaterRA top-up scholarship was the professional and personal development opportunities available through this, including mentorship from Paul Atherton, GWMWater. In particular, Emma had many opportunities to network with Australian water industry professionals who shared her drive for learning and water science. Emma became a committee member for the SA AWA Young Water Professionals, and remained on the committee for over 2 years.

Networking was a major factor leading to her current employment, and Emma has worked for the Water Corporation as a Source Protection Consultant in the Drinking Water Quality Branch since June 2014. Based in Perth, Emma is a part of the team that manages, maintains and protects drinking water catchments and quality around Western Australia. The work is diverse and many new professional and personal development opportunities have become available to her.

Emma Plant

WatErra’s Education Program gives PhD students a unique prospect to conduct high quality research with practical applications for the water industry.

“Without the funding and support provided by WaterRA, it would have been a great challenge to conduct the large scale experiments for my project.”

Rachael Aganetti, a PhD student at Victoria University is working closely with project collaborator Melbourne Water investigating the subject of spontaneous ignition of stockpiles of biosolids at the Western Treatment Plant. The data collected from the experiments will assist in the refinement and validation of a numerical model she has been developing, with which she intends to investigate alternative stockpiling strategies to mitigate the hazard.

The research conducted through WaterRA’s Education Program has the benefit of continual exposure to industry leaders through student engagement at member meetings, symposiums and conferences. Additional to this is the encouragement to attend at least one international conference, giving PhD students the opportunity to disseminate the ongoing findings of their research, opening doors to collaborative ventures.

“I spent six months in Marseille, in France, working with numerical simulation experts who were able to assist me with refinement of my model and also gave me more ideas about where I could take the research. I am going back over there to meet with European wastewater treatment plant operators who are experiencing the same problem as the Western treatment Plant and are interested in the outcomes of my work, this will likely lead to new funding opportunities to continue the research.”

Rachael is excited about how much interest has been generated around her project and hopes that the outcomes of her research will be able to assist a wide range of wastewater treatment plants around the world.

Rachael Aganetti

4 WaterRA Showcase 2015 Education

Dan Kousbroek & Richard Connor

ricHard and dan completed their Bachelors of Environmental Science and Management from the University of Newcastle in 2013 and were looking to further their careers and job prospects by completi ng an Honours project. Hunter Water, in associati on with the University of Newcastle, had developed a project to examine the extent to which treated effl uent from groundwater infi ltrati on ponds at a wastewater treatment works was infl uencing the receiving estuarine environment. They were both awarded a WaterRA Honours scholarship to complete this project and, whilst working in parallel using Stable Isotope Analysis, they approached the problem using diff erent indicator organisms. Richard used oysters while Dan examined mangrove leaves and seagrass.

The results of their research have given Hunter Water informati on on the area of ecological infl uence of the waste- water treatment works and provided baseline data for comparison against future changes in effl uent management. The methods used in their research also provide a blueprint for future investi gati on into interacti ons between wastewater and estuarine systems.

The WaterRA Honours scholarship enabled them to concentrate on the project throughout the year, reducing their need to work to support themselves. It was the other aspects of the scholarship, however, that Richard and Dan felt could be the most benefi cial to them. Att ending the OzWater conference, which in 2014 included a Water in the Environment stream, membership of Australian Water Associati on and the Young Water Professionals have given them access to like-minded people from around Australia and from all aspects of the water industry.

Presenti ng the results of their research to a wide range of industry professionals and researchers at the WaterRA Members meeti ng at the end of their honours year raised their profi les and provided them excellent networking opportuniti es.

Yulia Shutova

YuLia sHutoVa has always had a passion for science and research. Based at the University of New South Wales Water Research Centre, Yulia was awarded her APA and WaterRA scholarships in 2011. Her PhD project focussed on the development of an organic matt er monitoring protocol using the advanced characterisati on technique fl uorescence spectroscopy. This project was part of an ARC Linkage Project with partners including Hunter Water, Melbourne Water, Seqwater and WaterRA. The aim of this research was to investi gate the use of fl uorescence spectroscopy for monitoring organic matt er character in drinking water treatment systems to improve early warning of elevated organic matt er events and process opti misati on and control. This aim was achieved via a combinati on of laboratory and fi eld experiments.

WaterRA support enabled Yulia to purchase specifi c equipment for her project and att end specialised conferences and workshops such as Ozwater, the IWA Natural Organic Matt er specialist conference and the Internati onal Workshop on Organic Matt er Spectroscopy. Yulia observed that “Att ending a conference is always a great opportunity to present and discuss your work with researchers and industry professionals at internati onal level. I found it to be very rewarding and inspiring to meet people, share ideas and learn from experienced colleagues.“

Yulia also explained that while WaterRA fi nancial support was very helpful, having a mentor, as well as being invited to att end and present at WaterRA events, was parti cularly important during her PhD. It was a perfect opportunity to communicate, to learn and to enjoy being a part of the Australian water community. She would defi nitely encourage potenti al students to apply for WaterRA scholarships, as the support extends beyond just funding.

Yulia was awarded several prizes during her PhD, including a Runner Up prize for the UNSW Facility of Engineering Dean’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Research in 2014; UNSW Civil and Environmental Engineering Overall and Environmental Engineering Prizes in 2013.

Yulia believes that the exposure to internati onal conferences and networking opportuniti es helped her to gain the confi dence required to grow as a young researcher and to excel in her postgraduate research.

Education WaterRA Showcase 2015 5

Casey Furlong

urban water infrastructure planning has been practiced in much the same way since the creation of the first water supply dams and sewer systems. This has generally involved reactive infrastructure upgrades to meet specified service standards. In the last decade the growing acceptance of the Integrated Urban Water Management (IUWM) ideology has resulted in the adoption of more complex and proactive planning processes, and the construction of many alternative water source projects. Planning of these IUWM projects is still an emerging practice, with no industry-wide instructions to assist water authorities.

Casey Furlong, PhD student at RMIT University with support and supervision from Melbourne Water, is running a research project to investigate and improve Australia’s IUWM infrastructure planning processes. The aims of the research are to (1) understand the IUWM paradigm and its practical implications for water infrastructure planning, (2) develop frameworks for the planning of IUWM infrastructure at a system level and a project level, and (3) learn from previous planning efforts to inform future planning.

“Over the last two years I have had the chance to conduct interviews with 34 Australian water industry experts from 20 different organisations. I have had one journal paper published in an international journal (another two under review), presented at an industry conference, and attended three additional conferences. On top of this, I have had the chance to meet and associate with countless more industry experts at WaterRA research symposiums and member meetings.”

“The WaterRA PhD program ensures that you are placed in a professional industry environment where help never seems too far away. Support and friendship from my mentor Ross Young, and WaterRA staff have made the PhD experience a great deal more achievable and enjoyable than it would have been as a solitary academic.”

memorial scholarships

The Education Program has two flagship scholarships for exceptional students. They were established to commemorate two people who played a pivotal role for WaterRA and for the Australian water industry. These scholarships are:

michael r moore memorial Honours scholarship

Professor Michael R Moore was Chair of WaterRA Board from inception in 2008 – 2014. This scholarship is for a stellar Honours student who has demonstrated leadership skills within the university or wider community. The successful student will receive an additional $5,000 scholarship.

nancy millis memorial Phd scholarship

Emeritus Professor Nancy Millis AC MBE was Chair of the CRCWQT Board from 1995 – 2007 and was held in high regard within the water community for her pioneering accomplishments throughout her career. This scholarship is for an exceptional student who has a strong academic record and demonstrated initiative. The successful student will receive an additional $15,000 scholarship and $10,000 for professional development.

6 WaterRA Showcase 2015 Education

current sponsors - 2015CHEMCENTREGWMWATERHEALTHY WATERWAYS MELBOURNE WATER SOUTH AUSTRALIAN WATER CORPORATIONTASWATERWATER CORPORATION OF WA

SponsorshipWaterRA seeks external funding to support student projects that address priority research topics for the water industry. Collaborati on and industry relevance in project design ensures that students gain direct exposure to water industry issues.

WaterRA off ers PhD, Masters and Honours projects in chemistry, biology, engineering, environmental studies and social sciences.

Benefi ts to parti cipant sponsors are practi cal and provide the opportunity to contribute to the industry and research sector’s research skills base.

Student packages provide a top-up sti pend and additi onal support for resources and professional development.

With the experience of 20 years in providing student support, we are proud of our track record in producing well-rounded young post-graduates to fi ll the many sti mulati ng career opportuniti es in the water industry.

WaterRA takes a holisti c approach to student development and support through additi onal benefi ts. Students are encouraged to advance their skills and knowledge and engage with industry professionals through the Young Water Professionals and Australian Water Associati on networks. The students receive support to att end relevant workshops and deliver presentati ons at conferences, providing opportuniti es for further skills development and networking.

WaterRA generates engaged, industry-conscious students who, through exposure and opportunity, are able to see and understand where their research fi ts in the big picture.

Mentor supportWaterRA arranges a mentor for each Masters and PhD student. In general, mentors are from a diff erent state than the student to provide a broader outlook. Our mentors/mentees communicate via teleconference, skype or face ti me on average every 6 – 8 weeks with support to meet face-to-face annually. The mentoring role is to be a sounding board, off ering alternati ve perspecti ves to the student. This is an opportunity for the experienced workforce to give back to the industry and steer the next generati on of young researchers.

Mentoring should be a rewarding experience for both student and mentor — there is a lot of wisdom that just doesn’t appear in textbooks!

If you would like to be part of our Mentor program please contact Carolyn Bellamy at WaterRA. (carolyn.bellamy@waterra.com.au P 08 7424 2443)

Associate StudentsWaterRA has introduced a new category called Associate Student Members. The intent is to engage additi onal students (in the water domain) from member universiti es, and provide benefi ts such as networking and exposure to the water industry by parti cipati ng in the student orientati on event. This oppor-tunity will be off ered annually and is open to Summer, Masters and PhD students.

2015 Associate Student MembersLydon Alexandrou RMITJennifer Ayres UniSANorman Goh UniSAErik Prochazka Griffi th UniversityBabak Rajaeian Curti n University

Water Research Degrees for industry member employeeswww.waterra.com.au/educati on-program/water-degrees/

Water Research Australia’s (WaterRA) Educati on Program invests in future water industry research capacity by funding and supporti ng water research degrees for employees at WaterRA member organisati ons.

This relati vely new initi ati ve encourages member organisati ons to support employees to undertake part-ti me study in an undergraduate or postgraduate (Masters) program which addresses an industry need.

This is an introducti on to research for experienced industry personnel who are looking for professional development outside the usual opti ons and have an interest in research.

The model is tailored to suit individual employer and employee needs. WaterRA will assist in sourcing a suitable university at which to undertake the degree.

For this arrangement to be successful the employee must have full support of the employer and the research project must be part of the day-to-day work for the employee. The employee is also expected to commit a porti on of their own ti me towards studying. WaterRA supports this initi ati ve by facilitati ng the process (ie: sourcing a suitable university). WaterRA also provides funding for the candidate to att end WaterRA meeti ngs and an OzWater conference, allowing the opportunity to network and engage with fellow researchers.

The benefi t to the employer is the professional development and upskilling of their staff member, staff retenti on, and solving a business problem, whilst the employee gains the benefi t of a professional qualifi cati on, job sati sfacti on and research skills.

Education WaterRA Showcase 2015 7

Honours and PhD Projects: 2013–2015

www.waterra.com.au | PO Box 1751 Adelaide SA 5001 | P +61 8 7424 2443 | E info@waterra.com.au

Honours Projects

Lily Liu [University of NSW]Sponsor: GWMWaterOlfactory GC analysis of taste and odour compounds

richard connor [University of Newcastle]Sponsor: WaterRANutrient sources of Tilligerry Creek estuary, NSW, using stable isotope analysis

daniel Kousbroek [University of Newcastle]Sponsor: WaterRANutrient sources of Tilligerry Creek estuary, NSW, using stable isotope analysis

Luke Kitchens [Murdoch University]Sponsor: ChemCentreCharacterising hydrophobic soils in water catchments and irrigated croplands

Phd Projectssriharini chellappan [Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipient - University of Melbourne]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterThe implementation of dry stacking operating methods in wastewater treatment evaporation pans

Zuo tong How [Curtin University]Sponsor: WaterRAChloramine speciation in drinking waters: impacts on disinfection by-product formation

Rachael Aganetti [Victoria University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterMechanisms of spontaneous combustion in biosolids – risk reduction and process optimisation

casey Furlong [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterInforming infrastructure planning processes for Integrated Urban Water Management projects

Yufei Wang [RMIT University]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterModelling and prediction of removal of micropollutants during wastewater treatment

Christine Close [RMIT University]Sponsor: WaterRASampling of chlorinated organophosphorus flame retardants in Australian surface waters

andrea Gonzalez [University UNSW]Sponsor: WaterRAOptimising algal floc structure for more efficient separation

charndeep chahal [Flinders University]Sponsor: Melbourne Water Particle protection of pathogens from disinfection

nijoy John [University of Melbourne]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterUse of MT-PCR in an operational environment to assess the toxicity of algal bloom

adam tomlinson [University of Adelaide]Sponsor: SA Water CorporationFormation of DBP from blue green algae following chlorination

Peter Wardrop [Nancy Millis Memorial PhD Scholarship recipient - University of Queensland]Sponsor: Melbourne WaterOptimising anaerobic lagoons for improved energy production from waste

sara imran Khan [University of UNSW]Sponsor: WaterRACharacterisation of cyanobacteria and their metabolites by fluorescence spectroscopy

sonya Kozak [Griffith University]Sponsors: Healthy Waterways and SeqwaterEvaluating application of microbial source tracking markers for QMRA of recreational and drinking water sources

awards

WaterRA is proud to acknowledge the accomplishments of students. To date five WaterRA Summer and Honours students have won state AWA Undergraduate Water Prizes. Many of our students have also been awarded ‘Excellent Publi-cation’ or ‘Best Poster’ prizes within their own universities.

aWa undergraduate awardsElissa O’Malley 2014 QLD Undergraduate Water Prize (competing at OzWater15 for national prize)

Anna Wilson 2014 National Undergraduate Water Prize

Anna Wilson 2013 SA Hodgson Water Prize

Richard Connor 2014 NSW Undergraduate Water Prize finalist

Daniel Kousbroek 2014 NSW Undergraduate Water Prize finalist

student awards

Zuo tong How [Curtin University]Best scientific poster presentation (2nd prize) ‘Organic Chloramines stability, kinetics and their risk in drinking water’ at DBP 2014: Disinfection by-products in drinking water, Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany 27-29 October 2014

Yulia shutova [UNSW]The Civil and Environmental Engineering Overall Prize for the best performance in Research presentation andThe Civil and Environmental Engineering Environmental Engineering Prize for the best performance in Research presentation December 2013

trang trinh [UNSW]Postdoctoral Writing Grant, Faculty of Engineering, UNSW, 2014

michael Webber [Flinders University]Michael Flynn Best Paper Award at OzWater14 in Brisbane “When does the taste of water become offensive?”

muhammad umar [RMIT University]Civil, Environmental & Chemical Engineering first prize for higher degree by research student 2013 publication award and RMIT Higher Degree by Publication Grant (September 2014)

Rachael Aganetti [Victoria University]Dean’s Scholar Award – College of Engineering and Science (November 2013)Outstanding Final Year Student Award for Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (November 2013)