I started working with Bath during the COVID pandemic in 2019. I was working on advanced materials for environmental applications with Dr Juliana Calabria-Holley. Our research continued with developing novel construction and building materials with lower-carbon footprint, focusing on the UN 2030 agenda.
Pressing global issues
In 2023, the opportunity to become the first Global South Chair at Bath came my way. It's a one-of-a-kind academic opportunity for interdisciplinary research on pressing global challenges. One of the Chair's primary research areas is developing new sustainable materials. This is essential for minimising the environmental impact of construction, manufacturing, and transportation. Air pollution is a major issue affecting health and ecosystems in many Global South countries. My research develops novel solutions to air pollution, and includes:
- developing cleaner energy alternatives
- carbon capture usage and storage (CCUS) strategies
- improving urban air quality
- policy-driven interventions
The Chair is a great platform for international collaboration. It brings together Brazil's University of Ribeirão Preto (UNAERP) with Bath for joint research projects, and student exchanges. This paves the way for diverse perspectives and approaches to environmental issues. It allows us to share expertise on critical topics like environmental degradation, sustainable agriculture, and pollution-related public health concerns.
The role is also critical for mentoring students and young researchers. And especially in underrepresented areas like sustainable technology and environmental policy. Bringing research into teaching helps students develop skills and knowledge to face future global challenges. In this way, we can influence the next generation of scholars and policymakers.
Between Bath and Brazil
Ribeirão Preto, in Brazil's agricultural heartland, provides a rich context for studying the intersection of environmental and human systems. Especially in relation to air quality and sustainable land use practices. It's an invaluable opportunity to create and apply tangible solutions locally and globally for real impact.
Through Bath and Ribeirão Preto's partnership, we can work on region-specific issues like deforestation, indoor air quality, and water management. It also promotes more sustainable agricultural research, including Ribeirão Preto's sugarcane and biofuel industries, which are crucial for local and global energy transitions.
A major focus of my research is carbon capture and storage (CCS). We need innovative carbon capture technologies, both natural and engineered, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Affordable and scalable carbon capture strategies are critical for developing countries. I've worked on finding cost-effective solutions in consortium projects with PETROBRAS, Brazil's largest petroleum company, and a pool of important Brazilian universities. All these were in partnership with Bath's Centre for Regenerative Design & Engineering for a Net-Positive World (RENEW).
So far as Chair, I've published five new papers in high-impact journals. And I've submitted five new projects to calls from scientific agencies in Brazil and the UK. The projects involve decarbonisation strategies for Brazil's cement and construction industries.
Contributing to global sustainability efforts
As Chair, I'm directing research on innovative materials like biodegradable plastics, low-carbon concrete, and sustainable agricultural products. These activities combine practical experimentation with high-level academic inquiry and address sustainability challenges in construction, waste management, and environmental monitoring. These include:
- transforming solid waste from local industries (sugarcane bagasse, rice husks, construction debris) into eco-friendly construction materials
- testing waste to assess its suitability for use in construction materials
- developing fiberboard roof tiles, plasterboards, and other composite materials from locally sourced waste
- developing new devices to measure permeation in porous cement-based materials
- deploying permeation devices in local construction projects to monitor cement-based structures in different environmental conditions common to Brazil
- comparing how traditional and modified cement materials perform to inform preventing degradation
- testing and developing Sol-Gel materials for construction applications to improve their performance while reducing maintenance costs
I'm also working with RENEW to improve the performance of plasterboards, widely used in interior construction. We're exploring how to enhance their thermal, acoustic, and structural properties by incorporating sustainable additives or advanced production techniques.
Mitigating pollution's impact
Being the Global South Chair and a member of RENEW is a great responsibility. The Centre focuses on developing methods and technologies that go beyond sustainability to regenerate ecosystems. They're developing designs that restore biodiversity, improve ecosystem services, and boost soil health. In the built environment regenerative design can include green infrastructure, biophilic design, and nature-based solutions to urban challenges. I have covered all these topics in my previous academic career in Brazil!
My background is in chemical engineering. I studied my undergraduate, MSc and PhD at Federal University of Sao Carlos (UFSCar) with my MSc and doctorate focusing on air pollution control. For 25 years now, I've worked on the characterisation and optimisation of materials, processes, and equipment to prevent or mitigate the impact of pollution on the environment. Within this, I've focused on:
- fluid dynamic evaluation of porous materials
- optimising industrial processes
- materials with lower carbon footprints
Looking forward, I want to strengthen the partnership with Bath. At UNAERP, I am Coordinator of the Postgraduate Program in Environmental Technology. My goal is to use my position to bring Bath students to Brazil to see the opportunities for research and net-positive actions.
This opportunity has raised the visibility of my work significantly. And I hope that it increases RENEW's visibility in Brazil too!