MURDOCH’S latest Adjunct Professor, Trevor Bridle, is one of only six Australians to be awarded the prestigious Clunies Ross National Science and Technology Award this year.

The awards, presented by the Ian Clunies Ross Memorial Foundation, honour scientists commited to applying science and technology for the benefit of Australia.

Professor Bridle’s work involves turning city sewage into an asset by developing high-tech systems for the safe treatment of waste water, sewage sludge and hazardous chemicals such as PCBs.

The Technical Director of Environmental Solutions International (ESI) in Perth, Professor Bridle used research carried out in South Africa, Canada and Australia to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from waste treatment.

Using the patented “Oil from Sludge” process, Professor Bridle has also converted agricultural, industrial and sewage sludge into oil, building products and subsequent greenhouse credits.

After 20 years and many trials, Professor Bridle developed the first commercial “Enersludge” plant, which is now turning much of Perth’s sewage into biofuel.