About
Ian Williams is a Professor of Applied Environmental Science in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences at the University of Southampton, UK.
He has an established track-record in the fields of environmental science and waste (resource) management. His work at Southampton has focused on pollution, sustainability, waste- and carbon-related issues. He has published extensively in books and peer-reviewed journals as well as producing over 100 commercial project reports.
He has a long track record of holding positions as an External Examiner for taught and research degrees, service on external bodies, sitting on the scientific and organizing committees of several international conferences, working on national and international task groups, and as a trustee and director of charities and companies.
Research
Research interests
- Waste and Resource Management
- Carbon management
- Air Pollution
- Water Pollution
- Sustainability
Current research
Ian's current research focuses on air/water pollution, sustainability, waste- and carbon-related issues. He is currently leading research on microplastics in the environment (marine and fresh water, sewage sludge, wastewater treatment plants); ship emission control scenarios, marine environmental impact and mitigation; circular economies for port-cities and hair dressing sector; carbon management.
Research projects
Active projects
Publications
Supervision
Current PhD Students
Teaching
Ian is passionate about inspiring students and mentoring graduates to actively learn more about sustainability and our environment by developing their practical, research, communication and problem-solving capabilities, and to develop employability skills that will help them thrive at university and throughout their careers. This is where his pedagogical approach is wholly positioned. Ian’s student support does not stop at the point of graduation. In over 30 years of teaching activity, he has helped countless graduates find and build successful careers. His greatest achievement in teaching has been an experiential approach to education which has resulted in making a meaningful difference to the lives of our students and to wider society.
He has an established an international reputation for excellence in teaching and learning. Ian’s philosophy is based on the use of active and inter-generational learning and partnership working to ensure students are experientially involved in their own learning process. To encourage student participation, he has focused on:
A) creating high quality resources to stimulate students’ learning and critical thinking skills (problem-solving, decision-making, analysis, synthesis, evaluation);
B) developing methods to stimulate students’ curiosity, and;
C) encouraging students to partner with local authorities, business, industry and other young people to cultivate their professional and employability skills.
He is Module Lead for modules in Water Pollution, Air Quality and Environmental Pollution and Sustainable Resource Management.
External roles and responsibilities
Biography
Ian obtained his first degree in Chemistry from the University of Surrey in 1988 and a PhD in Public Attitudes to Air Pollution from Road Traffic from Middlesex University in 1995. He has been a lecturer at Middlesex University (1989-2000), the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan, 2000-2004) and the University of Southampton (UoS, 2005-present). He was the founder and Head of the Centre for Waste Management at the UCLan. He has appeared numerous times on broadcast media, including on BBC Radio 4’s Costing the Earth.
Ian has received a number of awards for his activities, including: the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s Campus Sustainability Research Award 2018, the International Solid Waste Association Publication Award in 2016 and 2017, the Institution of Civil Engineers Baker Medal in 2010 and awards from the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management (Waste Regulation Award 2010, 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2014/15; James Jackson Award 2006, 2015/16, 2016/17; J.C. Dawes Award 2016). He is a fanatical fan of "the Scarlets" rugby team.
Prizes
- CIWM James Jackson Award 2016/17 (2017)
- Member of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (2010)
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2003)
- Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (1993)
- Graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry (1991)
- CIWM Waste Regulation Award for 2010 (2011)
- Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Baker Medal for 2010 (2010)
- ISWA Publication Award for 2017 (2017)
- ISWA Publication Award for 2016 (2016)
- Most Downloaded Paper Award for RCR 2017 (2017)