Overview
Following the pioneering research from NASA in the 1980s, Dr Ronald Wood and Prof Margaret Burchett founded the UTS Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group in 2000 to study the role that plants play in ameliorating many forms of air pollution. We have produced several benchmark publications in the field, and are one of the world’s leading air phytoremediation groups. Our focus is on empirical, industry-linked research to develop plant-based systems to mitigate one of the greatest emerging problems faced by populations across the world — poor urban air quality.
We specialise in testing and developing functional botanical systems for biological, physical and chemical hazard reduction, and have strong collaborations with many private industries and Australian Government organisations. We welcome prospective future collaborations, research opportunities, and all media enquiries. For any queries related to the previous or others specific to the research group then please contact peqresearch@uts.edu.au
Key Research Areas
- Horticultural biotechnology for mitigating air pollutants
- Functional active green wall technology development
- Botanical systems for improving urban amenity: noise attenuation, aesthetics, water use, temperature
- Geospatial analysis of the determinants of urban air quality
- Urban aerobiology, with an emphasis on pathogenic fungi
- Urban agriculture, urban forestry, urban greening
Members
- Dr Fraser Torpy – Director
- Dr Peter Irga – Post Doctoral Research Fellow
- Dr Nic Surawski
- Prof Sara Wilkinson
- Prof Arnaud Castel
Research Students
- Ashley Douglas – PhD student
- Robert Fleck – PhD student
- Raissa Gill – PhD student
- Stephen Matheson – PhD student
- Ky Chau – Honours Student
Affiliates
- Professor Margaret Burchett – Adjunct Professor
- Professor John Zhou – Civil and Environmental Engineering, UTS
- Professor Alfredo Huete – Life Sciences, UTS
- Dr Kwang Jin Kim – Urban Agriculture Research Division, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, Republic of Korea
Previous Members
- Dr Ronald Wood
- Dr Ralph Orwell
- Dr Jane Tarran
- Mr Jason Brennan
- Mr Dov Moldovan
- Mr Ralph Alquezar
- Ms Sian Munro
- Mrs Sarah Williams
- Ms Erin Rogers
- Dr Thomas Pettit
- Ms Angela Morgan
Our Industry Contacts and Partners
In alphabetical order:
- Ambius International / Rentokil
- Autonomous Energy
- Bravolinear Tech Ltd
- Building Research Establishment
- City of Sydney Council
- Container Connection
- Delos Living LLC
- Dutch Flower Foundation
- Enstruct Group
- Fulton Hogan
- Horticulture Innovation Australia
- Interior Plantscapers’ Association
- Junglefy P/L
- Laing O’Rourke
- Lendlease
- OCULUS
- ORNATECH
- Parramatta City Council
- Podium Asset Services
- Randwick City Council
- Transport for NSW
- Transurban
The Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group 