Sustainability is accessed in Ecology group in freshwater and marine research and applied projects. In freshwater lakes, phosphorus (P) is often in excess due to decades of uncontrolled nutrient loading. In contrast, P is a limited natural resource originated from mined P rich rocks in few countries. In the Ecology group, we investigate sustainable reuse of P from e.g. sewage sludge and waste products and we focus on by co-designing lake restoration with circular P economy. Similar treatments and use of sustainable material are applied in the storm water flows and storage in artificial lakes. In marine projects, our group works on controlling jellyfish blooms by harvesting and using them to manufacture products including cosmetics and food. Blue mussels are farmed to mitigate excess nitrogen (N) in coastal waters and harvested for different purposes, e.g. life stock food. We also investigate the potential of beach wrack, the organic material washed up in the beaches, as natural product to biogas, biocover to landfills, compost, and fertilizer.
Research projects:
• Sustainable lake management. Poul Due Jensen/Grundfos Foundation
• Interreg NEPTUN – A climate adaptation innovation project .
• Interreg CONTRA – Beach wrack: conversion from a nuisance to resource and asset.
• RecaP – Capture, recycling and societal management of phosphorus in the environment.
• Nature based methods in filter techniques for storm water treatment.