Associate Professor Richard Bentham

Academic Status

College of Science and Engineering

richard.bentham@flinders.edu.au

Biological Sciences

GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia

My research strength is in microbial ecology in a variety of systems, with applications in environmental biotechnology. I have active research programs in the ecology and control of Legionella bacteria in water and soil systems, human health risk assesssment, the bioremediation and phytoremediation of contaminated soil and anaerobic digestion of putrescible wastes. I have been guest speaker at a number of International and National conferences relating to these research areas.

I have many years experience in provision of expert advisory services in relation to legionella and Legionnaires' disease control and consultancies relating to contaminated site remediation and health risk assessment in industrial settings.

Qualifications

Ph.D Bioremediation of complex organic pollutants (1999)
M.Sc Ecology and Control of Legionella in Cooling Water Systems (1993)
M.I.Biol (Thesis) Biodeterioration of polyester polyurethanes by soil micro-fungi (1987)

Honours, awards and grants

As Technical Advisor to Flinders Bioremediation I was responsible for the technical aspects and development of two awards:

National Case Earth Award 2005 and AWA First Prize 2004

Both were awarded for the Composting of Silt Trap Materials in Brownhill Creek, SA.

Outstanding achievement award for a media release. Public Relations Office and Media Liaison, Flinders University (2008).

Teaching interests

Public Health Microbiology
Environmental Microbiology
Microbial Ecology
Solid Waste Management
Human Health Risk Assessment

Supervisory interests

Contaminated sites, human health risks

Environmental microbiology

Phytoremediation

Solid waste management

Higher degree by research supervision

Current

Principal supervisor: Legionella and MAC eology and Control (1)

Associate supervisor: Anaerobic digestion of algal treated waste water (1), Environmental control of Strongyloides stercoralis (2)

Completion

Principal supervisor: Legionella Ecology and Control (1), anaerobic digestion (1), bioremediation (3), phytoremediation (2)

Associate supervisor: Legionella epidemiology and control (1), bioremediation (1), waste water treatment (1)

Higher degree by research student achievements

Harriet Whiley

Flinders University, School of the Environment Postgraduate Award for Public Research Output. - MAR 2013

Michael Taylor

3 Minute Thesis, Winner School of the Environment, Finalist Flinders University - APR 2012

Jess Hall

Best Presentation, FrC3E Postgraduate Conference - MAY 2008

Anita Benovic

SA Branch Prize, Australian Society for Microbiology - JUL 2001

Peter Wilmot

SA Branch Prize, Australian Society for Microbiology - JUL 2000

Chris Lease

Student Prize, Batelle International Conference on the Remediation of Complex organic pollutants - MAR 2004

Peter Wilmot

Best Poster, OZRI 2000 - MAY 2000

Ben Dearman

Scientific Excellence Award, Environment and Engineering Research Event - APR 2002

Sharyn Gaskin

Student Travel Award, Rhizosphere '02 International Conference - SEP 2007

Sharyn Gaskin

International Society for Microbiology, Student travel Award - JUL 2006

Harriet Whiley

Honours Scholarship, SA Water - FEB 2010

Harriet Whiley

Scholarship Suplement, Goyder Institute for Water Research - MAR 2010

Caitlin Solly

AJ and IM Naylon Honours Scholarship - JAN 2010

Michael Taylor

Student Prize, SA Branch, Australian Society for Microbiology - APR 2010

Tara Garrard

AJ and IM Naylon Honours Scholarship - FEB 2011

Sharyn Gaskin

Best presentation, Fr3CE Postgraduate Conference - JUL 2009

Harriet Whiley

3 Minute Thesis, Winner School of the Environmnent - MAY 2013

Professional engagement

In 2003 I consulted to the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of Australia's leading Legionella experts. I was a member of the Non-Government Advisory Committee (NGO) for the development of the National Environmental Protection Measure (NEPM) for the assessment of contaminated sites.

For the last 15 years I have acted as consultant to industry on the control of biofouling, bioremediation of contaminated soils and human health risk assessment relating to these areas. This work has included work for several large companies including ALCOA Australia, BHP, SANTOS, Hills Tubular Steel, Sinclair Knight Merz, Bridgestone-TG and The Australian Submarine Corporation. The work has encompassed microbiological control, corrosion and scale control, water treatment, pilot and full scale bioremediation projects, health risk assessments, development of company policy and procedure, and the preparation and presentation of in-house training courses in conjunction with regional technical colleges and State Health authorities.

I have acted as an expert witness for legal cases relating to Legionnaires' disease outbreaks, Salmonella outbreaks, and community exposures to environmental microorganisms. This has included high profile Australian legal cases such as the Melbourne Aquarium Legionnaires' disease outbreak and the Nippys orange juice Salmonella outbreak.

Grant Assessor

Australian Research Council
Qatar National Research Fund
Faculty of Science and Engineering Research Grants Sub-committee

Conference Organising Committee / Workshop Facilitator

Organising Committee member, 6th International Legionella Conference, Chicago, 2004.
Convener, Legionella: Perspectives and Practice, Adelaide 2008.
Convener, Legionella: perspectives and Practice, Adelaide 2012.
Organising Committee member, 8th International Legionella Conference, Melbourne 2013.

Journal Reviewer

Applied Soil Ecology, Applied and Environmental Biotechnology, Bioresource Technology, Environmental Health, Environmental Pollution, Environmental Science and Technology, Epidemiology and Infection, Journal of Applied Microbiology, Journal of Environmental Management, Microbial Ecology, Science of the Total Environment, Water Science and Technology.

Expert for media contact

Bioremediation

Infection/Infectious diseases

Microbiology

Pollution

Waste treatment

Contaminated sites

Legionella and Legionnaires' disease

Solid waste management and disposal

Available for contact via

richard.bentham@flinders.edu.au

Or contact the media team