Speaker: Ross Wilson, Principal Bioresources Process Specialist, AtkinsRéalis
Introduce yourself
Ross Wilson: Hi, my name is Ross Wilson. I graduated with a master's in chemical Engineering from the University of Strathclyde back in 2018. I've worked at AtkinsRéalis since graduating in a variety of roles in and around the water sector, started with some drinking water work, then did some desalination work in the Middle East, and now currently my job title is principal bioresources process specialist. Essentially I focus on how process technology can help tackle some of the water sector's most pressing challenges associated with wastewater treatment and sewage sludge management.
What attracted you to the sector?
Ross Wilson: I always had a kind of natural pull towards water treatment. Even back at high school I did my advanced higher chemistry project looking at using roasted banana peel, which you might even now call biochar uh, as a means of removing heavy metals from water. And I did my master's thesis in looking at selective recovery of copper from acid mine drainage. So I've always had a kind of interest in water treatment processes. I really thought a career in the water sector could be rewarding and fulfilling. And I also always liked the idea that you could recover some value from waste.
What attracted you to your role?
Ross Wilson: So I mentioned that I moved around the water sector initially in my career, but I've ultimately landed in bioresources. Bioresources is is the kind of dirty side of the water industry. My role really centres around looking at how process technologies can be utilised to best process sewage sludge, which can typically be the arrow out of the end of the wastewater treatment flow sheet. And it's actually really interesting space. Um, there's real global uncertainty in the future of sewage sludge management. This is driven by challenges from public perception issues, contamination, uh through things like microplastics and PFAS, process emissions and regulatory uncertainty. And at the same time, we're wising up to the real energy and nutrient value in sewage sludge. And looking at wastewater in general as a sort of feedstock for the circular economy. So I was attracted to this role in the AtkinsRealis bioresources team, so I could be part of deploying some of the fascinating chemical engineering taking place in the sector.
Which skills or knowledge from your degree do you use most often?
Ross Wilson: I'm happy to say that I'm still watching out mass and energy balances, still doing cost estimation, NPV, optioneering of different process technologies and flow sheets. I'm involved in process safety, hazards, HAZOPs you know, all core skills that were initially developed at university. Uh, doing a lot of presentations these days, a skill that I find to be really quite important in my career and potentially something I should have taken more opportunities to do when at university.
What does your typical day or week involve?
Ross Wilson: I've got a real variety in my workdays, which I guess is a benefit to working for a consultancy. Often you're involved in quite different types of projects and it makes for a really good way to build up a nice breadth of experience early in your career. Um, I guess day to day, I manage projects with civil, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, hydraulic engineers, uh, speak with regulatory experts and work with other process engineers and design, prepare and run a lot of workshops, uh, help to develop biosolids management strategies, which requires a bit of creativity, which is nice. I discuss technologies with vendors, which is always interesting, and get to be competitive when preparing proposals for winning work.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Ross Wilson: So I believe my job makes a positive contribution to the world, and that's an incredibly fulfilling feeling. I'm genuinely really excited by innovations in wastewater treatment, sewage sludge management. So that makes my job very interesting. I think the favourite thing about my job is, is the people. I've been really lucky to have been surrounded by some amazing engineers throughout my career so far. I think the most enjoyable aspect of my job currently is being in the AtkinsRealis bioresources team. I get to learn from some of the sort of best and brightest in the industry and also help to develop some of the rising stars in sludge.
What was the biggest challenge you faced entering the world of work? And how have you overcome that?
Ross Wilson: I I think definitely the hardest thing about entering the workforce is managing your workload. So at uni, you're given a set amount of stuff to do and even if it's a lot, you just have to do it. Whereas when you're at work, you have to choose how much to take on and you're sort of treading a line between keenness and wanting experience was also trying to protect some work-life balance. Uh, I think this is something that gets a bit easier over time. You sort of learn how long things take and as you grow in confidence, you learn to sort of turn work away when you don't have capacity. But to be honest, it's still something I struggle with.
What advice would you give to chemical engineering students who are interested in joining your sector?
Ross Wilson: Definitely try get along to some of the great water sector conferences um to see what the industry's talking about and start growing your network in that area. My particular favourite is the European Biosolids and Bioresources Conference. Also say getting some project work related to water or wastewater when at uni would also be a good idea. Um, I was lucky enough to get a summer placement in my 4th year at uni, which allowed me to see if I actually enjoyed working in the, in the water sector, which I did. Uh, but I would definitely advocate for trying to find some kind of summer placement through your studies if you can, related to the field you're interested in to see um if you actually like it.
What's the most exciting development or opportunity in your field that you wish more people knew about?
Ross Wilson: There are some really cool things happening in the industry just now, so it's hard to narrow down. One of my favourites, we're looking at filtering out toilet paper or cellulose pulp from sewage. We're interested in the sort of downstream benefits of that process, what happens downstream at the wastewater treatment works when you take the, the cellulose pulp toilet paper out. Uh, we're also looking at what we can do with that cellulose pulp, so one of the avenues is we're looking at fermentation of that into green chemicals. I'm also supporting on a project where we're looking at turning a significant portion of the UK's sewage sludge into jet fuel. That is actually a thing. There's a process called hydrothermal liquefaction which breaks organic matter into sewage sludge into a bio crude oil, which can then be refined into sustainable aviation fuel. So lots of cool things going on.
What IChemE resources do you recommend students use to help them take the first steps in their career?
Ross Wilson: I generally found IChemE's chartership programme really useful in shaping the initial years of my career. It kind of ensured I got a good broad range of technical and general experience. And it really helped me with my mentor sort of target areas of development. In addition, I'd also advocate for engaging with special interest groups, attending IChemE events. I think it's a really great way to, to learn more, but also, er, importantly, expand your network, which is something I've found to be really vital in my career so far.
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