The Centre for Environmental Remediation aims to safeguard people's social, economic and physical health and wellbeing by developing innovative, cost-effective and sustainable technologies and solutions that reduce the impact of pollutants on the environment.

The Centre for Environmental Remediation Mission

The Centre for Environmental Remediation is a research-intensive centre with a Mission to develop cost effective, sustainable solutions that address threats to the critical zone for life, which includes air, soil and water.

In partnership with companies and regulators, our Mission includes supporting the deployment of these solutions to help to safeguard the social, economic and physical health and well-being of people, as well as all life on this planet.

The Centre for Environmental Remediation's Focus

Our particular focus is on the development of innovative technologies that help sustain soil health, remediate environmental contamination and prevent contamination. Maintaining the 'critical zone' environment is central to human health, safety and future prosperity. These are at risk from climate change, soil degradation and widespread contamination of soil, ari and water caused by human activities,

The Centre for Environmental Remediation's current research focuses on:

  • New technologies for monitoring contaminants in the field;
  • Risks associated with contaminants;
  • Remediation of conventional contaminants, emerging and emerged contaminants including PFAS, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, wastes, mixtures, animal released methane;
  • Innovation nanomaterials and clay science; and
  • Methods to improve low fertility and degraded farm soils.

Along with research, The Centre for Environmental Remediation trains post graduate students who become leaders in the sector.

Industry Engagement

The Centre for Environmental Remediation's research is end-user led through Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), competitive grants and direct connection with industries and other stakeholders.

The Centre for Environmental Remediation's broad research and education expertise is available to industry and government organisations through short term advisory, training, analytical or research services or by longer term strategic research programs which develop innovative technologies, policy development and solutions tailored to real-world applications.

Our Expertise

The Centre for Environmental Remediation brings together transdisciplinary expertise that underpins research relating to its mission. To the end The Centre for Environmental Remediation's expertise includes;

  • Risk-based land management
  • Contaminant life cycle assessment
  • Waste characterisation
  • Speciation and toxicity assessment
  • Ecological and human health risk assessment
  • Bioaccessibility/bioavailability assessment
  • Innovative remediation methods for contaminated soil and groundwater
  • Soil chemistry
  • Soil fertility measurement and improvement
  • Soil structural decline and mitigation
  • Risk communication
  • Specialised analytical testing
  • Applied clay and functional materials
  • Remediation treatability studies
  • Machine learning
  • Ecotoxicological bioassays of contaminants
  • Contaminant Fate & Transport Modelling
  • Emerging Contaminants (PFAS, Microplastics, and Pharmaceuticals)
  • Hydrogeological Assessments
  • Environmental biotechnology
  • Environmental microbiology
  • Advanced material

We also focus on in situ remediation – cleaning up contamination where it lies, rather than the traditional 'dig and dump' approach that has led to an unsustainable growth in landfills in Australia and worldwide. Together with a risk-based approach, this potentially saves industry millions, if not billions, of dollars annually and makes clean-up far more feasible and attractive.

In addition to research, The Centre for Environmental Remediation offers a PhD (Environmental Remediation). Our candidates graduate ready to take up challenging positions in the field of environmental risk assessment and remediation of contaminated sites. We also conduct hands-on workshops and vocational training courses on risk assessment and remediation techniques for environment management professionals.

Read about The Centre for Environmental Remediation's work and achievements over its first 4 years (PDF)