Dalia Saad

I am an Environmental Chemist, educator, and researcher with over a decade of post-PhD experience across leading institutions in South Africa. My expertise lies in water quality, wastewater treatment, and assessment and mitigation of emerging contaminant risks in municipal and natural water systems.

My research integrates environmental chemistry with socio-environmental and governance dimensions, including public perception, technology acceptance, and gender-responsive approaches to water resource management. This interdisciplinary approach supports evidence-based decision-making for sustainable water governance, resource recovery, and climate-resilient water systems. I have led and contributed to nationally and internationally recognised research on microplastic contamination in African freshwater ecosystems and across the South African water cycle, with outputs informing both scientific advancement and policy-relevant water quality discourse.

I have a strong track record of peer-reviewed publications and successful grant acquisition, alongside a well-established reputation for translating scientific evidence into public-facing platforms. To date, I have secured competitive research funding exceeding ZAR 10 million from organisations including the Royal Society (UK), the Royal Society of Chemistry, the African Academy of Sciences, the Water Research Commission, and the Robert Bosch Stiftung, to mention a few. I am a TWAS Young Affiliate and an alumna of prestigious programmes such as the FLAIR–Royal Society scheme, the Africa Science Leadership Program, the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings, and the Organisation for Women in Science for the Developing world (OWSD) Fellowship.

My research profile is further strengthened by expertise in project leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and capacity building. I am actively engaged in advancing women in science, having served on the executive committee of OWSD-South Africa National Chapter and founded the OWSD Sudan National Chapter.