FERNANDO BARRIO PARRA

Fernando Barrio Parra is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Energy and Fuels, School of Mining and Energy Engineering, Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM). He holds a PhD in Natural Resource Conservation and has extensive experience in environmental geochemistry, pollution modeling, and geophysical techniques for contaminant detection. His academic roles include serving as Deputy Director of the Department of Energy and Fuels since 2025.

Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Sciences
• Master's Degree in Environmental Research, Modeling, and Risk Analysis
• PhD in Natural Resource Conservation

Research interests focus on environmental risk assessment, radon deficit technique for contaminant mapping, and innovative educational methodologies. He is a member of the Prospecting and Environment Research Group and has pioneered applications of machine learning and 3D printing in academic settings. Key technical contributions include modeling LNAPL contamination, soil bioaccessibility studies, and coastal dune dynamics using LiDAR/GPR.

Teaching innovations include flipped classroom approaches (e.g., QuimeTube for chemistry labs) and gamification strategies to enhance student engagement. He actively promotes scientific literacy through projects like 'Fake Hunters' addressing misinformation in classrooms.

His work bridges environmental science and engineering, with emphasis on sustainable mining practices and circular economy models derived from hydrogeochemical data. Recent studies address background/reference values for trace elements in sediments and probabilistic risk assessments in urban gardens.