Dr Meredith Barr – Lecturer, School of Engineering & Design
My goal is to harness the power of bioproduction and bioprocessing by integrating biological and thermochemical conversion processes to make the best possible use of every part of underutilised biomass streams.
An introduction to BBNet member – Meredith Barr
I’m Meredith Barr, a lecturer in Chemical and Energy Engineering. I joined LSBU in 2023, having previously worked at Imperial College London. I received my PhD in Chemical Engineering from Queen Mary University of London, and my first degree in Chemical-Biological Engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
What work are you doing in the bioeconomy space?
I work on converting waste biomass into biochar and functional biopolymer materials using a combination of thermal, chemical, and biological techniques. Currently, my research focuses on tailoring biochar for microbiome engineering and pollution prevention and developing lignin-based photoprotective products. I integrate bioconversion by using biological digestion processes like livestock, anaerobic, and insect digestion to modify the properties of feedstocks, for example giving them higher nutrient content to produce biochar-based slow-release fertilisers.
What do you see as the long-term potential and impact of your research or technology?
A lot of my research is focused on aligning environmental outcomes with user priorities. In the case of biochar, I’m working on ways to optimise its roles in pollution prevention, soil fertility, and carbon sequestration simultaneously. I’m also working on a multi-product biorefinery process that uses every fraction of lignocellulosic biomass to produce sunglass lenses and sunscreen in parallel, eliminating both the process and post-consumer waste associated with these photoprotective products.
What got you interested in this area of research?
I got my start in biofuels, but soon pivoted to bio-based materials when I realised the immense value in the incredible complexity of biomass morphology and chemistry. My first degree was in chemical-biological engineering, which instilled a strong appreciation for the relative power of bioproduction and bioprocessing compared to purely chemical and/or physical technologies. My goal is to harness this power by integrating biological and thermochemical conversion processes to make the best possible use of every part of underutilised biomass streams.
What concerns do you have about current UK policy?
In the UK, regulations currently limit land spreading of biochar to those produced from plant tissue at very low application rates. This means that the benefits of biochar application can take a long time to see, and that lower-value feedstocks like animal excrement and anaerobic digestate (which also contain more nutrients) cannot be used. I’d like to see regulation shift towards biochar properties, because feedstock alone does not determine biochar properties, and these are what ensures biochar improves soil quality and reduces pollution.
What is your favourite thing about BBNet events?
BBNet events are some of my favourite to attend because the speakers are always carefully curated to build an exciting narrative. This alongside the synergistic research areas of the enthusiastic membership never fails to stimulate exciting conversations and initiate new collaborations.
What are you looking for from other network members?
I would love to collaborate with BBNet members who are interested in complementary topics and apply to for funding together. As an ECR, the NIBBs have been hugely valuable for my career development and network building, and I am eager to build on these connections moving forward.
