Professor Jamie Woodward named one of UK’s top environmental professionals

25 Jun 2024

Professor of Physical Geography recognised for his work on microplastic pollution in Manchester's rivers and on widespread discharges of untreated sewage into UK rivers and waterways.

Jamie Woodward, Professor of Physical Geography, has been named one of the most impactful environmental professionals in the UK in The ENDS Report Power List 2024.

The annual report names 100 UK environmental professionals who have made the greatest impact in the past two years, with Professor Woodward one of the 10 academics identified as shaping the science on environmental issues.

Through his work on microplastic pollution in Manchester's rivers, Jamie Woodward was one of the earliest academics to raise awareness about the issue of widespread discharges of untreated sewage into UK rivers and waterways. His research group demonstrated that the build-up of microplastics was directly linked to untreated sewage discharges outside periods of exceptional rainfall.

Professor Woodward has since worked tirelessly to expose this sewage scandal and has engaged with policymakers across Parliament and local government to ensure water companies are held to account for their illegal practices.

He has appeared in documentaries, including Paul Whitehouse’s ‘Our Troubled Rivers’ on the BBC, has been interviewed for both local and national TV and radio news.