Microbial-material Interfaces for Environmental and Human Health

Dr. Matthew Chidozie Ogwu is an environmental scientist and Assistant Professor of Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Seoul National University, with research training spanning microbial ecology, environmental toxicology, biodiversity conservation, and food–environment interactions. His scholarship focuses on contaminant pathways in food systems, soil and water quality,exposure assessment, and human health risks, with particular emphasis on trace metals, agro-food contamination, and sustainability in the Global South. He has led and collaborated on funded research projects across North America, Africa, Europe, and Asia, integrating scientific evidence with regulatory and policy perspectives. His interdisciplinary work advances resilient, safe, and sustainable food systems through applied research, risk assessment, and evidence-based mitigation strategies. Dr. Shrikaant Kulkarni works as a Research Professor at Sanjivani University, Kopargaon, India, and as an Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Business, Victorian Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia, Adjunct Professor, Lincoln University College, Malaysia, and Adjunct Professor at Chitkara University, Punjab, India. He has guided numerous major and minor projects in areas such as engineering chemistry, green chemistry, nanotechnology, analytical chemistry, catalysis, chemical engineering materials, industrial organization, management and economics, advanced AI, and educational technology. He has been working as a research supervisor to PhD students in interdisciplinary subject areas at different Universities. Dr Kulkarni holds MSc, MPhil, and PhD in Chemistry, as well as master’s degrees in economics, business management, and political science. Two of his Patents have been published, and two more are pending grant. He was invited by UNESCO for a talk on “Green Chemistry Education for Sustainable Development“ at the International Conference on Green Chemistry, Bangkok.

• PART I FOUNDATIONS OF MICROBIAL–MATERIAL INTERFACES1. Microbial–Material Interfaces: Concepts and Scope2. Microbial Ecology at Material Surfaces3. Material Properties Governing Microbial InteractionsPART II DEGRADATION, TRANSFORMATION, AND RISK4. Microbial Corrosion and Biodeterioration of Materials5. Biofilm-Mediated Transformation of Contaminants at Material Interfaces6. Antimicrobial Resistance at Material InterfacesPART III FUNCTIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MATERIALS7. Bio-Interactive Materials for Water Treatment and Sanitation8. Reactive Environmental Materials in Soil and Sediment Systems9. Microbial–Material Interactions in Food-Contact and Packaging SystemsPART IV HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY, AND EMERGING PRESSURES10. Health Implications of Microbial–Material Interactions11. Waste-Derived Materials in the Circular Economy12. Climate Change and Environmental Stressors at Microbial–Material InterfacesPART V INTEGRATION, DESIGN, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS13. Designing Next-Generation Bio-Interactive Materials