Research partners
UNC
About UNC
The University of North Carolina (UNC) is well known as America’s first public university. UNC’s nationally recognised, innovative teaching, campus-wide spirit of inquiry and dedication to public service continue the legacy that began in 1795 when the University first opened its doors to students. For over 150 years the university has been on the front lines of clean water: Two of the earliest American academic studies concerning water, sanitation, and drinking water quality were authored in the 1870s by a UNC professor: William Cain, a member of North Carolina’s first Board of Health.
Each year since 2010, UNC’s Water Institute hosts a Water and Health Conference attended by many leaders in the health, development and water sector. This conference reflects the Water Institute’s commitment to improving public health by curating a space where policymakers, practitioners and researchers can gather to review the evidence, interrogate the science and improve old and develop new approaches to expanding WASH access and services.
Meet the team
Dr. Joe Brown
Dr. Joe Brown has broad interests in water and sanitation technologies, environmental health microbiology and the role of infrastructure in protecting public health and well-being. His current research includes the use of faecal waste streams in public health surveillance; the development and application of novel tools to track pathogens in environmental media; and observational and experimental studies to estimate the effects of water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in controlling the transmission of infectious diseases. Dr. Brown has held former faculty appointments at the Georgia Institute of Technology and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
