This page has been set up to enable family, friends, colleagues, current and former students to give in memory of Huw Taylor, Emeritus Professor of Microbial Ecology in the School of Environment and Technology at University of Brighton who sadly died on Saturday 14th October 2017.
Born in Swansea, Huw studied microbiology as an undergraduate student at Cardiff University from 1982-85 before undertaking his PhD at the University of Liverpool, carrying out fieldwork in Portugal into the risks to human health of recycling wastewater in agriculture. His research career continued at the University of Leeds, where he worked to develop novel low-cost wastewater treatment technologies in Northeast Brazil.
Following a period as Assistant Director of the Northern School of Public Health at the University of Manchester, Huw came to Brighton in 1993 building up a highly successful research group that encompasses aspects of water and sanitation in low-income countries, as well as water and wastewater treatment and river catchment management in Europe.
His current research focus was on ground-breaking work funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to track microbial pathogen transmission routes in urban and rural communities in India and Kenya.
In addition to his research and teaching, Huw also held a number of external roles, including as an expert adviser to the World Health Organisation and Wateraid as well as undertaking consultancy work for a range of NGOs and UNICEF on aspects of safe drinking water and sanitation in low-resource settings.
Professor Debra Humphris, Vice-Chancellor, said: “This is devastating news and all of our thoughts are with Huw’s family, friends and colleagues. Huw was a hugely talented academic whose research is transforming the lives of people across the globe. He was tremendously popular with both his postgraduate and undergraduate students and will be sorely missed by us all.”
Dr Kirsty Smallbone, Head of the School of Environment and Technology said: “The world needs more people like Huw. He was a much-loved colleague who taught across a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses using his international humanitarian research experiences to enhance student learning. He will always be remembered by all of his colleagues and current and past students with great fondness and affection.”
Huw’s family asked the university to help them establish the Professor Huw Taylor Memorial Fund, the proceeds of which will be used to further research in his areas of specialism and also to encourage future generations of researchers. Donations to this fund are requested in lieu of flowers.
To find out ways to give offline and/or if you have any questions about making a donation, please contact Mrs Sam Davies, Director of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement by emailing sam.davies@brighton.ac.uk.
