The Pollution Research Group (Biology) forms part of the larger Pollution Research Group of the University of KwaZulu-Natal, lead by Professor Chris Buckley of the School of Chemical Engineering at Howard College Campus.

PRG works in close collaboration with eThekwini Municipality (Water and Sanitation and Parks and Gardens).

• PRG (Biology) commits itself to achieving its vision through contributing to the development of appropriate, biologically sustainable technologies for waste treatment, sanitation and water-related health problems.
• Interpreting biological solutions in the broadest possible sense, both in teaching and research, encouraging the application of knowledge and skills from the cellular to the ecological level.
  Producing high-calibre graduates possessing the biological skills to address the pollution problems of southern Africa, and acknowledging the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration within and beyond the biological domain.
• Fostering social conscience and a passion for the application of biology through sustainable community outreach initiatives aimed at the improvement of environmental and social conditions.

PRG (Biology) draws on a diverse, cross-disciplinary complement of skills and resources. Permanent staff members of PRG (Biology) are Dr Nicola Rodda and Prof. Mike Smith. Other staff members of SBCS who have assisted in projects on an ad hoc basis include Prof. Norman Pammenter, Dr Douglas Trotter, Prof. Chris Appleton and Ms Colleen Archer.

PRG (Biology) was established in 2002 through research collaboration with the exisiting and widely-acclaimed PRG, based in School of Chemical Engineering and led by Professor Chris Buckley. Collaborative research projects were initially undertaken at undergraduate (3rd year), Honours and Masters level. This has been expanded to PhD level, and to include part-time postgraduate students.

Teaching collaboration between PRG modules based in engineering and biological sciences has been ongoing since 2003. The first joint research outputs were released in 2003 and joint research outputs have grown substantially since then. PRG (Biology) received its first independent funding in 2004 from eThekwini Municipality. Present projects are funded by eThekwini Municipality, the National Research Foundation and the Water Research Commission.

Pollution Research Group vision
The support of sustainable industry through the promotion of cleaner production using process engineering tools.

Pollution Research Group mission
To promote the effective use of water in industry through research, education and development.

Dr Nicola Rodda roddan@ukzn.ac.za
Tel. +27 (0)31 260-3015/3192
Fax. +27 (0)31 260-2029
Cell +27 (0)72 126-5691
PRG specialisation - Health-related water microbiology; Health risk assessment; domestic water quality; Microbiology of on-site waste treatment; Health aspects of ecological sanitation.

Members of the Pollution Research Group at the conference dinner of the 3rd International Conference on Eological Sanitation, 23-26 May 2005, Durban

Front row, L to R: Dorota Starzak, Dr Nicola Rodda, Nishanee Arjun, Sharon Naidoo, Swasti Maraj, Stephanie Pillay, Chika Nwaneri
Back row, L to R: Mikey Guness (Chem. Eng.), David Hawksworth, Prof Chris Buckley (Chem. Eng.), Prof Mike Smith, Jean-Pierre Joubert, Sudhir Pillay, Mr Chris Brouckaert (Chem. Eng.) & wife

Click on the links to papers and presentations EcoSan 2005 to view.

MSc 2005
Arjun, Nishanee
Jackson, Siobhan
Naidoo, Anban
Patchappa, Marlin
Pillay, Sudhir
Salukazana, Lumka

PhD 2005
Morillion, Elisabeth

Left and below

Delegates at the 3rd International Conference on Ecological Sanitation, 23-25 May 2005, visiting the PRG Test Site at the University of KwaZulu-Natal