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Dr. Sarah Dickson-Anderson

Professor
Department of Civil Engineering

Expertise:  
Hydrogeology; Fractured Rock; Contaminant Transport; Particulate Contaminants; Pathogen Transport; Point-of-Use Water Treatment; Local Water Security
Areas of Specialization:  
Research Clusters:  
Email:
Office:
JHE-
Phone:
+1 905.525.9140 x

Overview

Dr. Dickson’s expertise is in the field of hydrogeology, with a focus on fractured rock systems. She and her graduate students conduct research on the characterization of these systems, and investigate the transport and fate of particulate and chemical contaminants within them. A comprehensive understanding of these systems is required to inform aquifer vulnerability studies, and thus the risks posed to drinking water sources. Dr. Dickson brings this background to the study of local water security, particularly in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. She collaborates with other disciplines towards a holistic understanding that encompasses the physical, social, cultural, and economic elements of local water security.

Publications

Recent

1. Lucier, K.*, Dickson S.E., Schuster-Wallace C. 2017. Effectiveness of silver and copper nanoparticle-infused ceramic drinking water filters in reducing microbiological contaminants. J. Water Supply Res. T.

2. Baraka, A. *, Dickson, S.E., Gobara, M., El-Sayyad, G.S., Zorainy, M., Awaad, M.I., Hatem, H., Kotb, M. M. *, Tawfic, A. F*. 2017. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using natural pigments extracted from Alfalfa leaves and its use for antimicrobial activity. Chem. Pap. doi:10.1007/s11696-017-0221-9

3. Tawfic, A. F.*, Dickson, S. E., Kim, Y., Mekky, W., Gobara, M., Baraka, A.* 2017. Preparation and characterization of nickel hexacyanoferrate films for the removal of cesium ion by electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX). J Solid State Electrochem. doi:10.1007/s10008-017-3635-y
4. Cianflone, S.P.L.*, Dickson S.E. and Mumford K. 2016. On the importance of gravity in DNAPL invasion of saturated horizontal fractures. Groundwater doi:10.1111/gwat.12441

5. Dickson S.E. and Schuster-Wallace C., and Newton J.J.* 2016. Water Security Assessment Indicators: The Rural Context. Water Resour. Managem. 30:1567–1604 doi:10.1007/s11269-016-1254-5

6. Rodrigues S.* and Dickson S.E. 2015. The Effect of Matrix Properties and Preferential Pathways on the Transport of E. coli RS2-GFP in Single, Saturated, Variable-Aperture Fractures. Environ. Sci. Technol. 49 (14):8425–8431 doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b01578

7. Lubianetzky T.A.*, Dickson S.E. and Guo Y. 2015. Proposed method: incorporation of fractured rock in aquifer vulnerability assessments. Environ. Earth Sci. 74(6):4813-4825 doi:10.1007/s12665-015-4471-y

8. Mahaffy N.*, Dickson S.E., Cantwell R., Lucier K.* and Schuster-Wallace C. 2015. Effects of physical disturbances on media and performance of household-scale slow sand (BioSand) filters. J. Water Supply Res. T. 64(3):250–259 doi:10.2166/aqua.2014.061

9. Tawfic A.F.*, Dickson S.E., Kim Y. and Mekky W. 2015. Enhanced capacity and stability for the separation of caesium in electrically switched ion exchange. Nucl. Sci. Eng. 67(3):608-611 doi.org/10.13182/FST14-T91

10. Rodrigues S.* and Dickson S.E. 2014. A Phenomenological Model for Particulate Retention in Single, Saturated Fractures. Ground Water 52(2): 277-283. DOI: 10.1111/gwat.12062

Rodrigues, S*. J. Qu* and S.E. Dickson, 2013. Colloid retention mechanisms in single, saturated variable aperture fractures. Water Research, 47(1):31-42. DOI: 10.1016

View more Publications

Biography

Education

B.A.Sc., Ph.D. (Waterloo)

Achievements

P.Eng.

Related Courses

Code Title Instructor Outline Info
CIV ENG 779 Graduate Aquatic Chemistry  
Dr. Sarah Dickson-Anderson - Headshot Dr. Sarah Dickson-Anderson
CIV ENG 770 Graduate Advanced Groundwater Flow and Contaminant Transport  
Dr. Sarah Dickson-Anderson - Headshot Dr. Sarah Dickson-Anderson