Trichome

Aisling O'Sullivan
Academic background
Alma materNational University of Ireland
Thesis
  • Constructed wetlands for passive biological treatment of mine tailings water at Tara Mines, Ireland (2001)
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Canterbury, University of Oklahoma

Aisling Dominique O'Sullivan is an Irish–New Zealand academic, and is a full professor at the University of Canterbury, specialising in ecological engineering for removal of heavy metals and nutrients from wastewater, in urban and rural environments and as part of mining remediation.

Academic career

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O'Sullivan was born and grew up in Ireland. She completed a PhD titled Constructed wetlands for passive biological treatment of mine tailings water at Tara Mines, Ireland at the National University of Ireland.[1] From 2001 to 2003, O'Sullivan undertook postdoctoral research at the Center for Restoration of Ecosystems and Watersheds of at the Gallogly College of Engineering at the University of Oklahoma.[2] O'Sullivan then joined the faculty of the University of Canterbury, rising to Professor of Ecological Engineering. O'Sullivan is the leader of the Centre for EcoLogical Technical Solution at Canterbury.[3]

O'Sullivan's early research was on removal of heavy metals from contaminated water. Working at former mining sites in both Ireland and Oklahoma, she became aware of the ecological and environmental damage that heavy metals in mine tailings can do.[3] O'Sullivan investigates and develops technology for both heavy metal and nutrient reduction in wastewater in urban and rural environments, and has also researched constructed wetlands for water remediation.[4] As part of the Science for Technological Innovation National Science Challenge, O'Sullivan led a three-year (beginning in 2021) multidisciplinary research project to develop new technology for treating wastewater. The research team aimed to use 3D printing and additive manufacturing to produce biodegradable wastewater treatment filters for nutrient removal.[5][6][7] O'Sullivan has also investigated the use of mussel shells as a low-cost natural biodegradable material to clean up heavy metals in roof and mine run-off.[8]

Selected works

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References

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  1. ^ O'Sullivan, Aisling Dominique (2001). Constructed wetlands for passive biological treatment of mine tailings water at Tara Mines, Ireland (PhD thesis). University College Dublin. OCLC 605027231.
  2. ^ Nairn, R. W. "CREW Alumni". University of Oklahoma. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Chasing stormwater from Ireland to New Zealand". RNZ. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  4. ^ "Dr. Aisling O'Sullivan: Wetlands, Wastewater & Sustainability | The Physics Room". physicsroom.org.nz. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  5. ^ University of Canterbury (19 November 2020). "UC Engineer Spearheads $3m Next-gen Tech Project To Clean NZ Water | Scoop News". www.scoop.co.nz. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Clean Water Technology for restoring Te Mana o te Wai". Science for Technological Innovation. 11 February 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  7. ^ "Ko te wai ko te ora - tackling fresh water pollution". Science for Technological Innovation. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  8. ^ "Could empty discarded mussel shells clean up our waterways?". RNZ. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
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