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HomeAcademic staffDr Wilson Mwandira
Dr Wilson Mwandira

Dr Wilson Mwandira

mwandiw2@lsbu.ac.uk

Civil and Building Services Engineering

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2498-2857

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I am Marie Curie Researcher in the School of Built Environment and Architecture. I joined LSBU in January 2022 and have been working on research on ground improvement using microorganisms. The study seeks to use microorganisms to repair old railway infrastructure. The technique has potential for various civil or environmental engineering applications. The ultimate goal is to realise biocementation as a viable, sustainable method of improving infrastructure earthworks, thus contributing to combatting climate change.

I was recently awarded the prestigious Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship in 2021, and our work appeared in Horizon Europe magazine.

Wilson has a long-standing collaboration with Prof. Kawasaki and his colleagues at Hokkaido University in Japan. This collaboration spans cross-disciplinary and international research on bioremediation, biocement and investigating low-carbon technologies. Externally he still serves as a Principal Environmental Consultant with AGS Consulting Ltd in Africa, advising various mining companies on sustainable environmental practices. He is currently working on a project to remediate tailings facility using bacteria.

Doctor of Engineering in Sustainable Resources Engineering

Hokkaido University, Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan.

2016
2019
MSc Integrated Water Resources Management

The University of Zambia

2012
2014
Bachelors of Engineering in Environmental Engineering

Copperbelt University

2003
2007
Future Faculty Development Program

Hokkaido University

2018
2018
Environmental and Safety Manager
Kagem Mining Ltd, Zambia

1. Managing Safety, Health & Environmental role in a gemstone mining industry

2. Identify and manage HSE risks correctly, in line with the sites’ risks and activities; developing action plans to drive improvement, ensuring these are in line with the group requirements and standards.

3. Implement and respect common standards and develop local standards where appropriate.

4. Monitor HSE performance and activities and report regularly to site management as well as to central HSE.

Promote a positive HSE culture.

5. Advise management and employees on the management of HSE risks and any need for improvement.

2009
2011
Commercial/industry
Environmental Consultant
African Mining Consultants, Zambia

Give advice on environmental matters on areas such as the effects of new developments on the environment, the control of pollution and noise, the effects of agriculture or recreation on plants and wildlife, the effect of climate change and waste management and recycling.

2011
2012
Commercial/industry
Environmental Management Systems Coordinator
Kalumbila Mine Limited, Zambia

The Environmental Management Systems Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the environmental performance of the Group and maintaining its ISO14001.

2015
2016
Commercial/industry
Engineering Institution of Zambia
2005
The University of Queensland
Other

‘Development Minerals’ are minerals and materials that are mined, processed, manufactured and used domestically in industries such as construction, manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture. Eight of the top ten produced mineral commodities in the world are Development Minerals, which total 84% of global mineral production. While they may be relatively low value to international commodity markets, the value of Development Minerals is in their domestic use. Development Minerals provide crucial inputs for domestic economic development and have the potential to be high value in terms of broad-based national development. In comparison to the metals sector, Development Minerals have closer links with the local economy, and have the potential to generate more local jobs, with a greater impact on poverty reduction. This is partly because the sector is dominated by small and medium scale domestic businesses. At present few undergraduate or post-graduate education and research programmes are focussed on Development Minerals related topics despite the fact working opportunities for geoscientists in this field being wide and the potential for sustainable development impact high. This project will engage tertiary and post-graduate students in work-integrated learning and action research. Through the participation of early career scientists, the project will contribute to knowledge generation and transfer, and enhance the cooperation of academic institutions, government agencies, and the private sector.

1. Development Minerals

2. Environmental Management

3. Gender

October 2021
March 2022
University of Lusaka
Supervisor

Guide, mentor, source of information and facilitator to the student as they progress through a research project.

1. Biocementation

2. Bioremediation

3. Water, hygiene, and sanitation

4. Water quality

Prizes, awards, and accolades

Young Scientist Competition Oral Award: Outstanding (Jul 2019)

Asian Congress on Biotechnology

14th Asian Congress on Biotechnology


Shining Star Award for 2017 (Dec 2017)

Laboratory of Biotechnology for Sustainable Resources Engineering

Laboratory of Biotechnology for Sustainable Resources Engineering - Shining Star Award for 2017


Best Presentation Award (Outstanding Oral Presentation), (Nov 2017)

International KAMPAI Symposium

1st International KAMPAI Symposium


Best Graduating Student in Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering (Aug 2008)

Copperbelt University

Best Graduating Student in Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Engineering


Bioremediation of lead-contaminated mine waste by Pararhodobacter sp. based on the microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation technique and its effects on strength of coarse and fine grained sand
Mwandira, W., Nakashima, K. and Kawasaki, S. (2022). Bioremediation of lead-contaminated mine waste by Pararhodobacter sp. based on the microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation technique and its effects on strength of coarse and fine grained sand. Ecological Engineering. 109 (Part A), pp. 57-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.09.011

Cellulose-metallothionein biosorbent for removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II) from polluted water
Mwandira, W., Nakashima, K., Yuki, T., Sato, T. and Kawasaki, S. (2019). Cellulose-metallothionein biosorbent for removal of Pb(II) and Zn(II) from polluted water. Chemosphere. 246 (125733), pp. 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125733

Efficacy of biocementation of lead mine waste from the Kabwe Mine site evaluated using Pararhodobacter sp.
Mwandira, W., Nakashima. K., Kawasaki, s., Ito, M., Sato, T., Igarashi, T., Banda, K., Chirwa, M., Nyambe, I., Nakayama, N. and Ishizuka, M. (2019). Efficacy of biocementation of lead mine waste from the Kabwe Mine site evaluated using Pararhodobacter sp. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 26, pp. 15653-15664. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04984-8

Biosorption of Pb (II) and Zn (II) from aqueous solution by Oceanobacillus profundus isolated from an abandoned mine
Mwandira, W., Nakashima. K., Kawasaki, S, Arabelo, A., Banda, K., Nyambe, I., Chirwa, M., Ito, M., Sato, T., Igarashi, T., Nakayama, N., Hakuto, N. and Ishizuka, M (2022). Biosorption of Pb (II) and Zn (II) from aqueous solution by Oceanobacillus profundus isolated from an abandoned mine. Scientific Reports. 10 (21189). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78187-4

Solidification of sand by Pb(II)-tolerant bacteria for capping mine waste to control metallic dust: Case of the abandoned Kabwe Mine, Zambia
Mwandira, W., Nakashima. K., Kawasaki, S., Ito, M., Sato, T., Igarashi, T., Banda, K., Chirwa, M., Nyambe, I., Nakayama, N., Hakuto, N. and Ishizuka, M. (2019). Solidification of sand by Pb(II)-tolerant bacteria for capping mine waste to control metallic dust: Case of the abandoned Kabwe Mine, Zambia. Chemosphere. 228, pp. 17-25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.04.107

Chapter 13 - Stabilization/solidification of mining waste via biocementation
Mwandira, W., Nakashima, N. and Kawasaki, S. (2022). Chapter 13 - Stabilization/solidification of mining waste via biocementation. in: Tsang, D.C.W and Wang, L. (ed.) Low Carbon Stabilization and Solidification of Hazardous Wastes Elsevier. pp. 201-209

Artificial Fusion Protein to Facilitate Calcium Carbonate Mineralization on Insoluble Polysaccharide for Efficient Biocementation
Nawarathna, T.H.K, Nakashima, K., Kawabe, T., Mwandira, W., Kurumisawa, k. and Kawasaki, S. (2022). Artificial Fusion Protein to Facilitate Calcium Carbonate Mineralization on Insoluble Polysaccharide for Efficient Biocementation. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering. 9 (34), p. 11493–11502. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.1c03730

Mechanism of salinity change and hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in the Machile-Zambezi Basin, South-western Zambia
Banda, K.E., Mwandira, W., Jakobsen, R., Ogola, J., Nyambe, I. and Larsen, F. (2019). Mechanism of salinity change and hydrogeochemical evolution of groundwater in the Machile-Zambezi Basin, South-western Zambia. Journal of African Earth Sciences. 153, pp. 72-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.02.022

Biocementation mediated by native Carbonic Anhydrase-producing microbes.
Mwandira, W., Mavroulidou, M., Gunn, M.J., Garelick, J. and Purchase, D. (2023). Biocementation mediated by native Carbonic Anhydrase-producing microbes. 10th Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE 2023) and SECOTOX Conference. Skiathos island, Greece. 05 - 09 Jun 2023 CEMEPE.

Synthesis, characterisation, and utilisation of copper nanoflower for biocementation for ground improvement applications
Mwandira, W., Purchase, D., Gunn, M.J. and Mavroulidou, M. (2023). Synthesis, characterisation, and utilisation of copper nanoflower for biocementation for ground improvement applications. 9th International Congress on Environmental Geotechnics. Chania, Crete island, Greece 25 Jun - 28 Jul 2023

Concurrent Carbon Capture and Biocementation through the Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) Activity of Microorganisms -a Review and Outlook, Environmental Processes
Mwandira, W., Mavroulidou, M., Gunn, M. and Purchase, D. (2023). Concurrent Carbon Capture and Biocementation through the Carbonic Anhydrase (CA) Activity of Microorganisms -a Review and Outlook, Environmental Processes. Environmental Processes. 10 (56). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-023-00667-2

An electrokinetic-biocementation study for clay stabilisation using carbonic anhydrase-producing bacteria
Mwandira, W., Mavroulidou, M., Satheesh, S., Gunn, M.J., Gray, C., Purchase, D. and Garelick, J. (2023). An electrokinetic-biocementation study for clay stabilisation using carbonic anhydrase-producing bacteria. Environmental Science and Pollution Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-29817-7

Synthesis and Utilisation of Hybrid Metal-Carbonic Anhydrase Enzyme Carrier System for Soil Biocementation
Mwandira, W., Purchase, D., Mavroulidou, M. and Gunn, J. M. (2023). Synthesis and Utilisation of Hybrid Metal-Carbonic Anhydrase Enzyme Carrier System for Soil Biocementation. Applied Sciences. 13 (17), p. 9494. https://doi.org/10.3390/app13179494

Use of fruit and vegetable waste as growth media in bacterial biocementation for ground improvement applications
Mwandira, W., Mavroulidou, M., Gunn, M. and Gray, C. (2023). Use of fruit and vegetable waste as growth media in bacterial biocementation for ground improvement applications. 18th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology CEST2023. Athens, GREECE 30 Aug - 02 Sep 2023 CEST.

Electrokinetic stabilisation of peat using biobased ground improvement technique
Mwandira, W., Mavroulidou, M., Gunn, M.J., Safdar, M.U., Garelick, J., Garelick, H. and Purchase, D. (2022). Electrokinetic stabilisation of peat using biobased ground improvement technique. The 18th International Symposium on Electrokinetic Remediation. Le Havre, France. 20 - 22 Sep 2022

The Potential Use of Food Waste in Biocementation Process for Eco-Efficient Construction Materials
Mwandira, W., Mavroulidou, M., Gunn, M., Garelick, H. and Purchase, D. (2022). The Potential Use of Food Waste in Biocementation Process for Eco-Efficient Construction Materials. in: Wong, M.H., Purchase, D. and Dickinson, N. (ed.) Food Waste Valorisation World Scientific Publishing.

Biocementation through the carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity of microorganisms -A review
Mwandira, W., Mavroulidou, M., Gunn, M., H. Garelick and D. Purchase (2022). Biocementation through the carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity of microorganisms -A review. 9th International Conference on Environmental Management, Engineering, Planning and Economics (CEMEPE 2022) and SECOTOX Conference. Mykonos, Greece 03 - 09 Jun 2022