Webinar Series - Dr Patrick Bonney "Future for Public Engagement with Biosolids"

Author Editor
Updated November 2024

This is the first in our webinar series being undertaken as part of the IWN Webinar Series Circular Economy – Solids stream.

This webinar was held on 30 September 2024.

The recording of this webinar can be found via the IWN members site or on our Partners&Friends Sharepoint site located HERE

Below is the Flyer that was published for this event:

Future for Public Engagement with Biosolids

IWN Webinar Series – Mon 30 Sept 2024

The Australian wastewater industry is at a critical turning point. More extreme weather, increasing urbanisation, ageing infrastructure and evolving community expectations are driving the sector to adapt and innovate. At the same time, biosolids management is under greater scrutiny, as societal concerns about emerging contaminants and tightening regulations cast doubt on its long term viability.

The future success of the wastewater industry relies not only on new technologies and infrastructure but also on public acceptance of management practices and policy proposals. This highlights the need for robust public engagement strategies that address current challenges while improving the industry’s social licence to operate. However, the current rapid pace of change has left little room to examine current engagement strategies or anticipate its future needs.

In this seminar, Dr Patrick Bonney will explore the current landscape of public engagement in biosolids management and its potential to drive sustainable, socially acceptable solutions in the wastewater industry. The seminar will feature empirical findings from a social science research programme  – public responses to and engagement with biosolids management. It will showcase examples of effective engagement strategies that align with leading insights from academic research and industry best practise.

About the speaker

Dr Patrick Bonney is a social scientist who explores issues of public participation across diverse policy areas, including natural resource management, water policy and organics recycling. His postdoctoral research at the ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia’s Biosolids Resource seeks to examine the social complexities and dynamics shaping the Australian biosolids sector, with a focus on identifying opportunities for improved customer and community engagement strategies in the circular economy.