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Dr. Andrew Swan is a Reader (equivalent to Associate Professor) in the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing at Leeds Beckett University. He is an active academic and water engineer with extensive experience in both industry and international development projects, particularly in Africa, Asia, and South America. His work bridges engineering, sustainability, and social impact, focusing on improving water access and infrastructure reliability in the Global South.
His research interests center on the challenges of water infrastructure in developing regions, especially the unreliability of rural water systems and the health risks posed by poor water quality. He explores innovative, low-cost technological solutions such as telemetry-based monitoring and off-grid energy-water integration. A key theme in his work is leveraging mobile network connectivity in off-grid communities to support sustainable water services.
Through his leadership in projects like MANTIS and SWAP, Dr. Swan has pioneered approaches that combine engineering with enterprise models to ensure long-term maintenance of water infrastructure. He has secured over £400,000 in research funding from sources including EU FP7 and Innovate UK, and has built international research networks with institutions in Italy, Spain, and Brazil. These collaborations have led to follow-on Erasmus+ funding, underscoring the global impact of his work.
Dr. Swan leads the WETS (Water, Enterprise, Technology and Society) research cluster, an interdisciplinary group at Leeds Beckett University focused on water issues in developing regions. His teaching includes key modules in civil engineering such as Hydraulics, Fluid Mechanics, and Major Projects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He is also actively involved in enterprise projects with UK-based companies like Environmental Monitoring Solutions and Mobile Power Ltd.
Key affiliations and roles:
- Principal Investigator, AguaSocial (EU FP7)
- Principal Investigator, Innovate UK project with Environmental Monitoring Solutions
- Founder, WETS Research Cluster
- Collaborator with Mobile Power Ltd on SWAP Hub project
- Field trials conducted in Gambia and Sierra Leone
His work has been recognized in sustainability publications, including a feature in the "UN at 75" book on pioneering access-to-water technology. With active projects, international partnerships, and ongoing teaching, Dr. Swan remains a central figure in engineering for global development.