Mathew Bentley, PhD

Matt Bentley graduated with a PhD in Global Environmental Engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he studied low-cost water treatment in resource-limited scenarios. Matt’s research focused on removing toxic organic contaminants from drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and landfill leachate. The project involved the use of biochar, a sustainably-produced, low-cost, carbonaceous material for the sorption of aqueous organic contaminants. His work has broad applications for water quality globally, and he has worked and collaborated with partners in the United States, China, Thailand, Myanmar, and India to improve drinking water quality and environmental health through biochar water filtration systems. Matt has developed low-cost techniques to dramatically improve biochar performance that can be adopted in remote communities to improve drinking water quality in areas impacted by toxic chemicals. In addition to his work in water quality, Matt has experience working on interventions in air quality, environmental health, livelihoods security, and urban refugee resettlement. Matt has also worked as a Research Partner at Yunnan Coffee Traders, where he engaged in research initiatives and interventions promoting water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in remote communities and environmental sustainability throughout the coffee supply chain.

Education

• PhD in Global Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
• MS in Environmental Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder
• BS in Engineering, Union University