Overview

Dr Andrew Ross presents pioneering approaches for energy and resource recovery that enable sustainable value chains through the conversion of diverse biomass types, including biowastes, agri residues, and invasive aquatic macrophytes, into bioenergy, biofuels, and bioproducts.

The webinar highlights integrated thermochemical and biological technologies such as hydrothermal conversion, anaerobic digestion, and pyrolysis. Drawing on global projects in Africa and India, Dr Ross will explore scalable solutions for energy and nutrient recycling, and decentralised energy systems. Attendees will gain insights into how these technologies support circular economies, reduce environmental burdens, and foster low-carbon development across industrial and rural contexts.

Speaker

Andrew Ross, Associate Professor, University of Leeds

Andrew is an Associate Professor in energy and resource recovery in the School of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Leeds. With over two decades of academic and research experience, he has built a distinguished career focused on sustainable technologies that convert waste into valuable resources.

His research spans a wide range of topics including bioenergy, algal biotechnology, thermochemical and biological conversion of biomass, nutrient recovery from waste streams and biomaterials. A particular emphasis of his work lies in hydrothermal conversion technologies, which enable the transformation of wet wastes into fuels and biomaterials, an area where he has become internationally recognised.

Andrew leads the Energy Transition and Net Zero research theme and serves as the Director of International for the School, reflecting his commitment to global collaboration and impact. He has secured funding from major bodies including the EPSRC, BBSRC, GCRF, Newton Bhabha, and the Royal Society, supporting projects that address global challenges in energy, waste valorisation, rural electrification, and sustainable agriculture across the UK, India, and Africa.

Among his notable projects are BEFWAM, which explores the use of invasive aquatic plants for clean energy and water, and SusLABB, which investigates the production of advanced biofuels. His work has resulted in over 100 peer-reviewed publications and a Google Scholar h-index of 55, underscoring his influence in the fields of chemical engineering and environmental science.

The material presented has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the presenter’s own and do not necessarily represent those of IChemE or the Trinidad and Tobago Member Group. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of IChemE.

Time

17:30–18:15 AST.

Software

The presentation will be delivered via Microsoft Teams. We recommend downloading the app from the Microsoft website, rather than using the web portal