ECTS credits:
5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System)
 

Course parameters:
Language: English
Level of course: PhD course
Time of year: 22 – 28 June 2025
No. of contact hours/hours in total incl. preparation, assignment(s) or the like: 120 hours, lectures, exercises and assignments
Capacity limits: 24 participants
 

Objectives of the course:
The aim of the course is to provide participants with:

• an overview of different types of constructed wetland systems, their applicability and their limitations
• a thorough understanding of the processes of importance for the transformation and removal of nutrients and various pollutants in wetlands
• the capability to prepare draft designs of constructed wetland systems for specific application, using commonly state of the art design tools
• an overview of current research needs, methodologies and options.

Learning outcomes and competences:
At the end of the course the participants will be able to:

• characterize biogeochemical processes of importance for nutrient removal in wetlands
• describe the functional role of different types of wetland plants in wetlands
• describe different types of constructed wetland systems, their applicability and limitations
• characterize the hydraulics of constructed wetland systems, characterize pollutant removal pathways and removal kinetics
• prepare initial draft designs of constructed wetland systems for wastewater treatment
• describe different Natural Based Solutions for the removal of pollutants and resource recovery.

Teaching curriculum:
Teaching will be mainly through lectures. However, theoretical exercises and plenary discussions will also be arranged where participants will be required to prepare designs of wetland systems for the treatment of various types of contaminated waters, based on case‐studies, and the latest design tools. Systems dealt with include surface flow and subsurface flow treatment wetlands, vertical flow systems, intensified constructed wetland systems, evaporative zero‐discharge systems, free‐ floating macrophyte treatment systems, sludge treatment reed beds, stormwater treatment systems, and in‐catchment agricultural runoff treatment systems. The course will also include an introduction to Natural Based Solutions for the mitigation of polluted waters and resource recovery. One day excursion to full‐scale constructed wetlands systems is arranged.

Course contents:
The course will provide an overview of the ecology of freshwater wetlands including hydrology, wetland soil biogeochemistry, and wetland plant ecophysiology. The processes responsible for the transformation of organic matter, nutrients and micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the wetland environment will be described. The state‐of‐the‐art in design techniques based on hydraulics and pollutant removal models in different types of constructed wetland systems will be demonstrated. Practical design guidelines and management aspects such as system layout, compartmentalization, substrate selection, inlet and outlet structures, plant selection and planting will be presented. The use of constructed wetlands for the treatment of different types of wastewaters, such as domestic, industrial wastewaters, and urban runoff will be demonstrated through case‐stories from around the world, including systems established in different climates (cold‐temperate, sub‐tropics, tropics, semiarid and arid areas)

Prerequisites:
The target group for the course is young researchers and PhD students with projects related to processes in aquatic and wetland environments addressing environmental issues, natural base solutions and ecological engineering treatment options. Priority is to PhD students from the Graduate School of Technical Sciences.

Name of lecturers:

• Dr. Carlos A. Arias, Senior Researcher, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark
• Professor Hans Brix, Head of the Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Denmark
• Dr. Tom Headley, CEO of Wetland and Ecological Treatment Systems, Australia
• Dr. Pascal Molle, Researcher Director of the French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), France
• Dr. Emil Jespersen Research Assistant, Aarhus University, Denmark.
• Dr. Pedro Carvalho, Associate Professor Aarhus University, Denmark
• Dr. Peder Gregersen, CEO Centre for Recycling, Denmark
• MSc. Rene Killian, CEO Killian Water, Denmark

Type of course/teaching methods:
Lectures, Exercises, Group work, Final assignment

Provider:
Department of Biology

Course fee
The registration fee is 15.000 DKK (approx. 2.000 EUR) which covers participation in the course; including excursions, accommodation, transport to and from meeting point in Aarhus and all meals from dinner on the 22 June till breakfast on the 28 June.
 

Location and time:
The course will be held at the Marine Biological Station Rønbjerg, located at the Rønbjerg Harbour.

Arrival will be on the on the 22 June till breakfast on the 28 June.

Registration:
Please note that this course has a course fee for participation – please see above.

Please register via the webshop link here: events.au.dk/phd-course2025 before the 9 June 2025.

You will be asked to provide a brief description of your academic background as well as the relevance of the course for you. Course information will be sent out no later than 12 June 2025.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Carlos A. Arias, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 1, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark

E-mail: carlos.arias@bio.au.dk