Biography 

Professor of Sustainable Land Management

Professor David O’Connor gained his PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he also worked as a postdoctoral researcher. He also held a research position at Tsinghua University, Beijing, before joining the Royal Agricultural University.

David’s research primarily focuses on environmental pollution issues related to agricultural land and sustainable remediation. He has made an internationally recognised contribution to the field, with more than 70 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Science, Nature Sustainability, Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, and One Earth.

His research reveals that soil pollution is more widespread worldwide than previously thought, posing serious risks to food security and public health. For instance, working with an international team, he contributed to a global study showing that 14–17% of the world’s cropland is contaminated with metals.

David has led high-impact research, most notably in conceptualising, developing, and coordinating the Ukraine War-Polluted Soil: Recovery and Remediation project. This highly complex project represents a large soil metals analysis programme in conflict-affected areas of Ukraine, analysing 8400 soil samples across 5 regions (Oblasts) and covering 4486 hectares of agricultural land. Under David’s leadership, the project has delivered substantial outcomes. Two analytical laboratories were established in Sumy and Kharkiv, 54 people have been trained in soil analysis, and targeted recommendations have been provided to support government authorities and landowners in restoring conflict-damaged farmland.

Outside the RAU, David was elected in 2023 to the leadership team of the International Network on Soil Pollution (INSOP) at the UN FAO. In his role, he has helped oversee a global network of more than 1,000 members across 130 countries, and as Leader of the Food Safety Working Group, he steers international initiatives at the interface of soil pollution, food safety, and One Health, including developing educational materials for the FAO’s Soil Doctors Programme, benefitting farming communities in several developing countries. David also serves as Deputy Editor of Soil Use and Management journal, helping establish it as one of the leading international soil science journals.

Research

Research interests

  • Agricultural soil pollution
  • Biochar applications in soil systems
  • Microplastics (MPs) in terrestrial systems
  • Heavy metals in soils
  • Sustainable remediation of contaminated land

Teaching

  • 6M001 Research Project / Dissertation
  • 7L011 Rural Land and Property in Society
  • 7A008 Managing Global Soils in a Changing Climate

Publications

  • Hou, D., Jia, X., Wang, L., McGrath, S. P., Zhu, Y.-G., Hu, Q., Zhao, F.-J., Bank, M. S., O’Connor, D., & Nriagu, J. (2025). Global soil pollution by toxic metals threatens agriculture and human health. Science, 388(6744), 316-321. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adr5214
  • Hou, D., O’Connor, D., Igalavithana, A. D., Alessi, D. S., Luo, J., Tsang, D. C. W., Sparks, D. L., Yamauchi, Y., Rinklebe, J., & Ok, Y. S. (2020). Metal contamination and bioremediation of agricultural soils for food safety and sustainability. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1(7), 366-381. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0061-y
  • Hou, D., Al-Tabbaa, A., O’Connor, D., Hu, Q., Zhu, Y.-G., Wang, L., Kirkwood, N., Ok, Y. S., Tsang, D. C. W., Bolan, N. S., & Rinklebe, J. (2023). Sustainable remediation and redevelopment of brownfield sites. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4(4), 271-286. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00404-1
  • O’Connor, D., Hou, D., Ok, Y. S., & Lanphear, B. P. (2020). The effects of iniquitous lead exposure on health. Nature Sustainability, 3(2), 77-79.
  • Wang, L., O’Connor, D., Rinklebe, J., Ok, Y. S., Tsang, D. C. W., Shen, Z., & Hou, D. (2020). Biochar aging: Mechanisms, physicochemical changes, assessment, and implications for field applications. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(23), 14797-14814.
  • Zhao, B., O’Connor, D., Zhang, J., Peng, T., Shen, Z., Tsang, D. C. W., & Hou, D. (2018). Effect of pyrolysis temperature, heating rate, and residence time on rapeseed stem derived biochar. Journal of Cleaner Production, 174, 977-987.
  • O’Connor, D., Peng, T., Zhang, J., Tsang, D. C. W., Alessi, D. S., Shen, Z., Bolan, N. S., & Hou, D. (2018). Biochar application for the remediation of heavy metal polluted land: A review of in situ field trials. Science of the Total Environment, 619-620, 815-826.
  • O’Connor, D., Hou, D., Ok, Y. S., Mulder, J., Duan, L., Wu, Q., Wang, S., Tack, F. M. G., & Rinklebe, J. (2019). Mercury speciation, transformation, and transportation in soils, atmospheric flux, and implications for risk management: A critical review. Environment International, 126, 747-761. 
  • Hou, D., Bolan, N. S., Tsang, D. C. W., Kirkham, M. B., & O’Connor, D. (2020). Sustainable soil use and management: An interdisciplinary and systematic approach. Science of the Total Environment, 729, Article 138961.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138961