5th Annual Lawler Lecture: Protecting Public Health at the Speed of (UV) Light

Join us for the fifth annual Desmond Lawler Lecture, presented by Karl Linden of the University of Colorado Boulder.

Abstract

Protecting public health at the speed of (UV) light: How novel UV sources are transforming disinfection and oxidation in water treatment and reuse

UV-C irradiation (200-280 nm) is known to be effective for pathogen disinfection in air and water treatment, and the conventional low-pressure mercury vapor lamp emitting at 254 nm has been employed for over 100 years. Since the coronavirus pandemic, interest in the use of Far-UVC (200-235 nm) has grown, as this wavelength range is relatively harmless to human skin and eyes. Specifically, research on krypton chloride excimer (KrCl*) sources emitting at 222 nm has revealed intriguing mechanisms to accelerate UV-based treatment in water and wastewater. This talk will trace through Professor Linden’s academic journey, illuminating the important role of UV wavelength in treatment of water, the fundamental mechanisms linking wavelength to increased efficacy for pathogen inactivation, and the exciting role that low-wavelength UV can play in enhancing photolysis and oxidation of contaminants of concern in water/wastewater treatment and water reuse.

About the Speaker

Karl is Chair of the Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering Department, a University Distinguished Professor, and the Mortenson Professor in Sustainable Development at the University of Colorado Boulder, USA. He teaches classes on Sustainable Water Reuse, Water and Wastewater Treatment, and Water and Sanitation in Developing Communities. He served as President of the International Ultraviolet Association (IUVA) from 2013 -2015 and as President of the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors (AEESP) in 2020. He is a Fellow of AAAS and AEESP, received the 2013 Pioneer Award in Disinfection and Public Health from the Water Environment Federation and the 2019 AEESP Walter J Weber Jr. Frontier in Research Award. In 2020, he received the Borchardt-Glysson Water Treatment Innovation Prize and was named the 2020 NWRI Clarke Prize Laureate. In 2025, he received the A.P. Black Research Award from AWWA. Karl is a proud academic grandson of Des Lawler, through his PhD advisor, Jeannie Darby, at UC Davis.