Rate My Professor Eric Kennedy

Professor Eric Kennedy serves as Honorary Professor in Chemical Engineering within the School of Engineering at the University of Newcastle, Australia. He holds a BSc (Pure and Applied Chemistry) with 1st Class Honours (1985) and a PhD in Physical Chemistry (1989), both from the University of New South Wales. After postdoctoral research fellowships at Macquarie University, Texas A&M University, and Yale University, Kennedy joined the University of Newcastle's Department of Chemical Engineering as a Lecturer in 1994. He progressed to Senior Lecturer (1998), Associate Professor (2002), and Professor (2006). Throughout his career, he has undertaken significant administrative roles, including Head of the Discipline of Chemical Engineering (2004-2007), Head of the School of Engineering (2005-2006), Assistant Dean (International) (1998-2000), and Assistant Dean (Research) (2004-2007). Kennedy is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (since 2009), Treasurer of the Catalysis Society of Australia, and a member of the International Association of Fire Safety Science.

His research specializations encompass fire chemistry, formation and destruction of toxic pollutants such as polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs), thermal decomposition of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) like PFOS and PFOA, catalytic processes including hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oils and oxidation of ventilation air methane, mineral carbonation for CO2 sequestration, and combustion of low-concentration methane streams. With 285 journal articles, 9 book chapters, 121 peer-reviewed papers, and 5 edited books to his name, key publications include "Mechanisms for Formation, Chlorination, Dechlorination and Destruction of Polychlorinated Dibenzo-p-dioxins and Dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs)" (2009), "Kinetics of Decomposition of PFOS Relevant to Thermal Desorption Remediation of Soils" (2021), and "Thermal Decomposition of Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) in the Presence of Water Vapor" (2022). Kennedy has earned major awards such as the RACI Applied Research Award (2016), Harry C. Bigglestone Award (2008), RK Murphy Medal (2005), Eureka Prize for Environmental Research (2002), and RACI Green Chemistry Award (2000). His contributions have advanced understanding of pollutant mitigation and sustainable chemical processes, supported by extensive ARC and industry funding.