Biography
Ruadhán is a postdoctoral researcher at University College Dublin. He graduated with a BSc in Geology from Trinity College Dublin before completing a PhD in volcanic geochemistry at the University of Queensland. Ruadhán's current research aims to understand and optimise carbon removal through enhanced weathering of alkaline materials.
Carbon dioxide is naturally removed from the atmosphere when rainfall (carbonic acid) reacts with rocks that are exposed on the Earth's surface. However, this process is too slow to mitigate human-induced climate change. Enhanced weathering is a carbon removal strategy that aims to speed up natural weathering by crushing alkaline materials and spreading them across farmland where they can also improve soil pH and crop yields. My research investigates the potential of returned concrete, an abundant waste material worldwide, to amend soil pH and capture atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Role
- Postdoctoral Researcher
Institution
- UCD
Research Area
- Earth System Change