On October 18th LEQUIA Management Board unanimously elected Manel Poch Espallargas its group director replacing Jesús Colprim Galceran, who has held the post for the past five years.
Manel Poch Espallargas holds a degree (1979) and a PhD (1983) in Chemical Sciences from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB). His research career has been focused on the application of modelling and artificial intelligence techniques to water management, being pioneer in both fields in his country. Since 1996 he is Full Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Girona (UdG). He had also been researcher and professor at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (1979-1994), Head of the Department of Evaluation and Technologies at the Catalan Institute of Water Research (2009-2012) and, more recently, scientific coordinator of UdG Water Campus. He has published more than 150 scientific articles, produced more than 60 contributions to conferences and directed 24 doctoral theses. In 2003, jointly with other researchers from UdG and UPC, he founded spinoff company SISltech.
Dr Manel Poch, who had already directed LEQUIA from 1995 to 2013, will continue Dr Jesús Colprim’s task to lead the group, focusing on greater internationalisation and leadership, as well as on the alignment with strategy of UdG Water Campus. LEQUIA is a research group of University of Girona with a team of 30 members, including researchers and support staff. Well known for its wide experience in wastewater treatment, in the past decade has gained a relevant position in the study of bioelectrochemical systems, with environmental applications in the energy and chemical sectors. Currently, it is also targeting the optimisation of drinking water treatments. In Catalonia LEQUIA is recognised as consolidated research group by AGAUIR and has TECNIO quality seal for public technology developers. This year marks its 25th anniversary.
