Environmental Engineering Professor & Sustainable Wastewater Expert; MacArthur Fellow; Authority on Resource Recovery
Kartik Chandran Biography
Kartik Chandran is a professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering at Columbia University and a recognized authority in sustainable wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Chandran's work integrates environmental molecular microbiology, biotechnology, and engineering to advance the field of wastewater management. He has demonstrated that sewage and sludge can serve as sources of nutrients, chemicals, and energy, rather than materials to be discarded. Chandran led the establishment of Columbia University's programs in biological wastewater treatment and biological nutrient removal, contributing to advancements in environmental engineering research.
Chandran's research focuses on re-engineering the microbial nitrogen cycle and its connections to carbon, water, and energy systems. He has shown that mixed microbial communities can both reduce the environmental impacts of wastewater and extract valuable products. Among his achievements, Chandran has utilized ammonia-oxidizing bacteria to convert bio-generated methane gas into methanol, an important industrial chemical. He has also developed cost-effective anaerobic ammonia oxidation (anammox) technologies for energy-efficient nitrogen removal and played a role in upgrading New York City's wastewater treatment infrastructure to protect local water bodies. Chandran has led more than 60 funded projects and published over 130 peer-reviewed journal articles, contributing significantly to environmental engineering and biotechnology.
Chandran's work extends globally, with a focus on equitable and locally appropriate solutions. In rural Ghana, he collaborated with Engineers Without Borders students to redesign source-separation toilets for sanitation and nutrient recovery in agriculture. In Kumasi, Ghana, Chandran tested large-scale conversion of sludge into biofuel and provided training for local engineers. He received support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to develop new models for water and sanitation in Africa and contributed to the development of global standards for non-sewered sanitation systems through the U.S. Technical Advisory Group for ISO 30500. Chandran's research has been published in journals including Nature Water, Environmental Science & Technology, and Cell Reports Sustainability, influencing international policy and practice.
Chandran has received several honors in science and engineering, including the MacArthur Fellowship for his work integrating microbiology and engineering in wastewater transformation. He has also received the Paul L. Busch Award from the Water Environment Research Foundation, an NSF CAREER Award, and is a Fellow of the Water Environment Federation. Chandran has served on the Committee on Grand Challenges and Opportunities in Environmental Engineering for the 21st Century, organized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, and has held visiting professorships at institutions such as Delft University of Technology and the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences. As a speaker and researcher, Chandran addresses critical issues in clean water, food security, climate change, and environmental justice.
Kartik Chandran Speaking Topics
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focused on clean water, energy, resource recovery and sustainability issues surrounding these sectors
Kartik Chandran Videos
Sanitation for all: a pathway towards environmental and human justice
A 90 second video on projects from Kartik Chandran, Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University
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What topics does Kartik Chandran speak about?
Kartik Chandran is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Animals & Wildlife, Climate Change, Conservation, Earth Day, Energy, Engineering, Environment, Environmental Activism, Environmental Policy, Environmental Science, Professors, Research & Exploration, Science, Sustainability -
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Kartik Chandran is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as . The estimated speaking fee range to book Kartik Chandran for your event is available upon request. Kartik Chandran generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Jasmine Crowe-Houston, Chad Pregracke, Jamie Margolin, Chris Turner and Ed Begley Jr.. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Kartik Chandran for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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