James Lofty

James Lofty started his PhD at the School of Engineering in October 2020. His project, co-supervised by Dr Catherine Wilson and Dr Pablo Ouro, aims to better understand the fate and movement of microplastics in aquatic systems. This includes identifying the physical properties and mechanisms based on fluid dynamics, which govern microplastic particles behaviour and transport. Understanding these processes will help to develop numerical models that will estimate the motion of microplastics particles in rivers and will inform future environment policies aiming to reduce the flux of microplastics in the environment.

Using open channel flumes, James aims to investigate the behaviour of microplastics under different environment parameters such as varying flow rates, riverbed substrates and vegetation densities. His research will help develop the basic principles and mechanisms of microplastic movement in the river water column and sediment.