Chemistry expert invited to work on NATO programme to protect drinking water in Ukraine

A chemistry expert from Kingston University has joined a select group of academics from across the world invited to contribute to a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) programme looking into how safe drinking water can be supplied in Ukraine in the face of the ongoing conflict in the country, and beyond the conflict.

Associate Professor in Analytic and Forensic Chemistry at Kingston University Dr Rosa Busquets is one of 25 academics from across 14 countries working on the NATO Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, led by the Donetsk National Technical University and the University of Stuttgart.

The SPS programme offers unique ways to engage networks of scientists, experts and government officials from NATO member and partner countries, with the aim of addressing emerging security challenges.

As part of the programme, the group of academics took part in a workshop in Lisbon entitled ‘Approaches to reducing the impact of military activities on drinking water resources’ to discuss how the war in Ukraine is affecting the country’s drinking water and the possible solutions to the issue.

During the four-day workshop Dr Busquets, along with the rest of the academics, shared their knowledge in the field. She presented on the pathways, fate and treatment of warfare contaminants that could be affecting drinking water sources in Ukraine to the group of scientists and policymakers, as well as the results of some of her research in the area.

Dr Busquets contributes to the working groups of sources of pollution in drinking water in Ukraine and water treatment solutions, as well as leading the group focusing on environmental analysis within this NATO partnership. The link with Ukraine stems from previous Kingston University research work she conducted in Ukraine, which was funded by the British Council’s Creative Spark programme.

Discussing her involvement in the NATO programme, Dr Busquets said that the workshop has been very useful to share views and learn from others and the partnership is committed to making progress towards safer drinking water in Ukraine. “The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is affecting the supply of energy and subsequently of safe drinking water and it’s vital that scientists and engineers that work around drinking water come together to find solutions to this public health crisis,” she said. “The efforts and leadership of scientists from Ukraine are immensely valuable.”

• Find out more about studying chemistry at Kingston University.