University of Birmingham Hosts Department of Business and Trade for Water-Based Research Showcase

The University of Birmingham welcomed representatives from the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) to campus.

Group of 8 people stood in an office

Left-Right: Alastair Moseley (Water technical expert at Systra ltd and external advisor to DBT ) Stefan Krause (University of Birmingham); Dr Xilin Xia (University of Birmingham); Dr James White (University of Birmingham); Simon Assirati (Water and Built Environment Sector, DBT) ; Stephanie Martin (Water and Built Environment Sector, DBT); Anya Novak (International Trade Adviser, Infrastructure, DBT); Luisa Orsini (University of Birmingham)

The University of Birmingham welcomed representatives from the Department of Business and Trade (DBT) to campus for a meeting organised by the Birmingham Institute for Sustainability and Climate Action (BISCA). The event, spearheaded by Dr. James White, focused on advancing applied water-based research and fostering knowledge transfer between academia, businesses, and government.

Dr. White commenced the meeting by showcasing the university’s world-leading academic expertise and state-of-the-art facilities in water-based research. He highlighted his own work on ecologically sustainable water management and nature-based solutions. Following this, university academics presented their innovative research on various water-related topics:

  • Professor Luisa Orsini: Biotechnologies for pollution attenuation
  • Dr Xilin Xia: Water engineering solutions promoting climate resilience
  • Professor Stefan Krause: Monitoring plastics and pollution ‘cocktails’ in rivers worldwide

The discussions then turned to how DBT representatives could leverage their global reach to enhance the university’s international and commercial research efforts. Aspirations were outlined for improving the industry’s capacity in water-based research, including supply chain enhancements and driving innovation. A shared vision emerged for collaboration between university academics and DBT to deliver sustainable, evidence-based solutions that promote the health and climate resilience of water environments, benefiting both people and nature.

This collaboration represents a significant step forward in our efforts to address critical water-related challenges. By working together with Department of Business and Trade, we can use our combined expertise to develop innovative solutions that will have a lasting positive impact on both the environment and society.

Dr James White

Discover more

For more updates, follow BISCA on LinkedIn