Martin Pritchard

Dr Martin Pritchard is a Reader in Civil Engineering at Leeds Beckett University, affiliated with the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing. He leads research in sustainable civil engineering, focusing on environmental geotechnics, water purification in developing countries, and biodegradable geotextiles. He is the Director of Studies for five PhD students and has successfully supervised four others to completion.

His research interests center on improving water quality in rural communities, particularly in Malawi, where his team has demonstrated that a locally available plant extract can improve water quality by 80%. He also leads work on sustainable construction materials, including the use of thermally treated contaminated soils in concrete to reduce landfill and CO₂ emissions from cement production. His patented biodegradable soil reinforcing geotextile (GB2339803) is being commercialized.

Although specific article titles are not listed, Dr Pritchard has produced 30 publications including journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, and technical reports. His work has been recognized through research funding totaling £400k from UK and international sources, strong peer review ratings from EPSRC, and positive feedback from DelPHE on the sustainability and impact of his proposals.

• Peer review: 'tending to internationally leading' – research planning and practice (EPSRC)
• 'Tending to outstanding' – quality of training and experience (EPSRC)
• 'Tending to outstanding' – potential benefits to society (EPSRC)
• DelPHE: proposal 'excellent and well thought out', with sustainable legacy
• Various unnamed awards for R&D projects

Dr Pritchard has chaired international conference sessions, presented findings to MPs at the House of Commons, and served as a scientific peer reviewer for funding bodies and journals. He is the module leader for several undergraduate and postgraduate courses in geotechnical engineering and environmental geotechnics.

He founded the Civil Engineering Research Facility (CERF), which supports his interdisciplinary research involving civil engineering and microbiology. His current projects include partnerships with UK businesses such as Borehole Solutions to advance drilling technology and water monitoring systems, reflecting strong industry engagement and translational research impact.