Prof. Michael Templeton, Public Health Engineer from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Imperial College London, has highlighted very promising solutions to the global sanitation crisis at this year’s Vice-Chancellor’s Occasional Lecture.
Speaking on the topic "Research to Move towards Sustainable Sanitation for All," Prof. Templeton detailed the devastating impacts of inadequate sanitation worldwide and shared insights on how innovative research-driven solutions can help address these challenges.
Prof. Templeton began by highlighting the grim reality of the sanitation crisis. "Every hour, approximately two school buses full of children under five will die needlessly from diarrhea because they lack access to basic water, sanitation and hygiene," he said.
Prof. Michael Templeton
He noted that 3.6 billion people globally do not have access to safely managed sanitation facilities. "This means their waste is not contained on-site or safely transported and treated off-site. As engineers, we need to address each part of this system to make it work better," he stated.
Through case studies from 12 countries in Africa, Asia and South America, Prof. Templeton detailed several innovative solutions emerging from interdisciplinary research partnerships. One success story is the ‘Tiger Toilet’, which he described as an affordable composting toilet now used by over 200,000 people across multiple nations.
"Our testing showed the Tiger Toilet, which uses composting worms to naturally treat waste, fills up only a third as quickly as a traditional pit latrine. Community engagement was also crucial to ensure the design met local needs and preferences," Prof. Templeton explained.
The Public Health Engineer stated that for flood-prone areas in parts of Ghana, a container-based sanitation service model is proving effective. As Prof. Templeton noted, "Local companies regularly empty and transport portable toilets, treating the waste to generate useful byproducts like fertilizer or biogas energy through a circular business model."
He emphasised the importance of addressing technological and service-based solutions and collaborating across disciplines and countries. Professor Templeton believed that progress toward UN global development goals is feasible while highlighting the urgent need for sustainable sanitation solutions to prevent diseases and enhance lives.
Earlier in her introductory remarks, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, who was Chairperson for the occasion, reiterated the University’s commitment to addressing critical public health issues through cutting-edge research.
Highlighting Ghana's own sanitation challenges, particularly in urban slums and flood-prone areas, Prof. Amfo stressed the need for local solutions. "Through engaging communities and working with local leaders, we aim to ensure all Ghanaians can live with dignity," she stated.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo
The Vice-Chancellor encouraged other institutions to follow this example of global knowledge-sharing. "By combining academic rigor with on-the-ground impact, we can make progress on the UN's vision of sanitation access for all," she concluded.
Prof. Amfo welcomed distinguished speaker Professor Michael Templeton, praising his decades of collaborative work across Africa, Asia and beyond. "Prof. Templeton’s interdisciplinary approach embodies our vision for international research partnerships to solve real-world problems," she said.
She expressed renewed hope that through collaborative efforts like those of Prof. Templeton and his partners, innovative technology-driven solutions developed with community input can make progress on global challenges in sanitation and beyond.
Before the Chairperson’s remarks, the Registrar of the University, Mrs. Emelia N.K. Agyei-Mensah delivered the welcome address in which she detailed the University’s long-standing practice of hosting the Vice-Chancellor's Occasional Lectures to spotlight topical issues.
Registrar of the University, Mrs. Emelia N.K. Agyei-Mensah
The lecture concluded with a question-and-answer session, which allowed participants to seek a better understanding of some of the issues raised by Prof. Templeton in his lecture. This was followed by a dance performance by the Ghana Dance Ensemble.
Present at the lecture were Deans, Directors and Heads of Units and Departments, together with faculty members and students from the School of Engineering Sciences.
