Education

Learning about sustainable urban water systems 

During 2024-25, students taking GEG6153 Urban Water In and Beyond the Pipes explored water in cities across piped systems, rivers, lakes, canals, wetlands and coastal environments. The module considers water as both a social and environmental issue, examining topics including sustainability, privatisation, spatial inequality, environmental justice and governance, with examples from the Global South and Global North. 

This helps students understand water not only as physical infrastructure, but as an environmental, political and social resource, preparing them to engage with complex challenges around equitable and sustainable water management. 

Learning with advanced water-treatment technology 

Queen Mary also connects teaching with developments in water-treatment technology. In December 2024, Waternet, Amsterdam’s water service provider, installed advanced drinking-water purification equipment at Queen Mary’s School of Engineering and Materials Science. 

The facilities include pilot-scale foam-fractionation and filtration columns, a fluidised-bed reactor system and advanced monitoring equipment designed to support research into emerging drinking-water contaminants, including PFAS. 

The equipment is used in teaching and research for undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students, giving learners practical exposure to contemporary water-purification and contaminant-removal technologies.