Biography

Associate professor Jan-Olof Drangert works as a researcher and trainer in the environmental field and is based at Linköping University, Sweden. 

His research focus went from rural household water over to urban water and nutrient flows. He applies systems thinking, incorporating environment and hygiene issues, resources conservation, technical and building aspects, and human impacts and perceptions. In order to deepen the understanding of what the future may hold in store, he favors including historical experiences to better grasp the evolution of water and sanitation conditions.

He has published numerous articles about sanitation, phosphorus recycling, and water management. As Director for ten years of the 5-week international training program Ecological Alternatives in Sanitation with more than 300 professional participants worldwide, he developed web-based training for professionals called Sustainable Sanitation for the 21st Century containing 700 animated slides and a sourcebook and references (www.sustainablesanitation.info or akvo.org on the mobile).

In an effort to try out new ideas about sustainable living he has built an urban 24/7 eco-house in Bangalore, India, which is self-contained for energy, water and vegetables/  fruits and with all disposal taken care of on the plot. The house serves as a demonstration unit to assist residents and builders in becoming less invasive on nature.

Research Interest

Environment and hygiene issues, resources conservation, technical and building aspects, and human impacts and perceptions