Ruth Franklin

Ruth Franklin

Email: rf5403@hallam.shu.ac.uk
Research Centre: Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre (BMRC)
PhD Thesis Title: Blue Spaces in Urban Places: Lipidomics Underpinning Community Empowerment.
Director of Studies: Dr Rachel Schwartz-Narbonne
Supervisors: Dr Melissa Lacey, Dr Rebecca Sharpe

Collaborators:  Gleadless Valley Wildlife Trust, Don Catchment Rivers Trust, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Sheffield City Council.

SUMMARY

I began my research career at SHU, completing a BSc (Hons) in Biology with a year in industry at the John Innes Centre (Norwich, UK). After completing an MRes in Soil Microbiology at the University of York, I decided to return to SHU to embark on a multidisciplinary PhD which spans environmental and social sciences with a Graduate Teaching Assistant role.

RESEARCH

River pollution in the UK has escalated in recent decades, with 579,581 spillages of raw sewage into rivers across England and Wales in 2023. The transient nature of river environments complicates pollution monitoring, as water quality fluctuates with rainfall and flow. Consequently, poor water quality persists, limiting the physical, mental, and social benefits of urban blue spaces for communities.

This project addresses these challenges by combining cutting-edge lipidomics and community-driven citizen science to improve urban river health. Focusing on Sheffield’s Meers Brook, the study uses novel lipid biomarkers from microbial biofilms like Sphaerotilus natans—an indicator of nutrient-rich, low-oxygen conditions—to trace and monitor sewage pollution in water and sediment.

Through co-designed citizen science initiatives, the project engages residents of high-deprivation areas to monitor water quality, identify pollution sources, and advocate for change. These efforts aim to restore river health and empower environmental stewardship.