Biography

Dr. Brighton Austin Chunga is a distinguished researcher and academic specializing in hydrology, system dynamics modeling, groundwater development, and water resources management. As Head of Department, he plays a pivotal role in advancing water and sanitation research, driving policy engagement, and mentoring future environmental scientists.

His work spans hydrological modeling, irrigation engineering, GIS and geoinformatics, and water allocation in the face of climate change. Dr. Chunga has led multiple high-impact research projects, including the Systematic Review of Malawi Groundwater Literature, Climate and Water Resources Data Digitization in Malawi, and the River Basin Closure and Catchment Restoration Project. His expertise contributes to shaping Malawi’s approach to sustainable water governance, environmental resilience, and WaSH innovations.

Dr. Chunga is widely published, with research featured in top-tier environmental and water science journals. His scholarly contributions have influenced water policy, resource management strategies, and climate adaptation efforts in Malawi and beyond.

Publications and Conference Papers

1. Chunga, B. A., Graves, A., & Knox, J. W. (2023). Evaluating barriers to effective rural stakeholder engagement in catchment management in Malawi. Environmental Science & Policy, 147, 138-146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.06.006
2. Chunga, B.A. (2023). Towards resilient catchment management for secured water resources in Malawi. 2023 Sustainability Research and Innovation Congress – Africa Satellite. 20 – 22 June 2023, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
3. Mng’ombe, M., Chunga, B.A., Mtonga, E., Chidya, R., and Malota, M. (2023). Infilling Missing Data and Outliers for a Conventional Sewage Treatment Plant Using a Self-Organising Map. H2Open Journal. https://doi.org/10.2166/h2oj.2023.013
4. Chunga, B. A., Walter, M., Xueliang, C., De Clercq, W., Watson, A., and Malota, M. (2023). Water Allocation using System Dynamic Modelling in the Aquaculture Integrated with Small-Scale Irrigation Systems in Malawi. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth 129:103355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pce.2022.103355
5. Chunga, B., Ungwe, A., and Kusi-Appiah, A. (2023). Impacts of coronavirus on water demand and supply in the Towns of Malawi: Recounting the compulsory handwashing preventative regulation in Masoga, M.A., Nojiyeza, I. S., Shokane, A. L., Todd, I., and Mensah, J.V. (eds) Humanities and Social Sciences perspectives on COVID-19-A Vista of Shame. Cape Town, Africa Century Editions (ACE PRESS). 84-101.
6. Chunga, B.A., Mkwambisi, D., Workman, C.S., de los Reyes III, F., and Holm, R. (2023). Educating sanitation professions: Moving from STEM to specialist training in higher education in Malawi. Waterlines; 41:3, 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.3362/1756-3488.22-00662
7. Brighton A. Chunga, Andy Kusi-Appiah, Clement Masangano, Oswald K. Mwamsamali, (2022). Environmental and social consequences for moving beyond archaic legislation and policy: delay and disjoint in water governance, Malawi. Water Policy; 24 (2), 470-484. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2022.257
8. Mphatso Malota, Joshua Mchenga, and Brighton Austin Chunga (2022). WaSim Model for Subsurface Drainage Design Using Soil Hydraulic Parameters Estimated by Pedotransfer Functions. Applied Water Science; 12:171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-022-01699-z
9. Japhet Khendlo, Brighton A. Chunga, Mavuto Tembo (2022). Nexus of Road Geometrics & Human Factor on Traffic Accidents Along Mzuzu-Jenda M1 Road Stretch. Technology and Innovation for Sustainable International Development and Policy. Consortium for International Management, Policy and Development (CIMPAD). Twelfth International Conference, 17 – 20 July 2022, Amaryllis Hotel, Blantyre, Malawi, Africa
10. Holm, R., Chunga, B. A., Mallory, A., Hutchings, P., and Parker, A. (2021). A Qualitative Study of NIMBYism for Waste in Smaller Urban Areas of a Low-Income Country, Mzuzu, Malawi. Environmental Health Insights (15) 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1178630220984147
11. Chunga, B. A., Walter, M., Wieprecht, S., Xueliang, C., De Clercq, W., Watson, A., and Malota, M. (2021). Water Allocation using System Dynamic Modelling in the Aquaculture Integrated with Small-Scale Irrigation Systems in Malawi. Integrated Water Resources Management for Sustainable Development in Eastern and Southern Africa. 22nd WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, 20-22 October 2021, Harare, Zimbabwe
12. Mng’ombe, Madalitso; Mtonga, Eddie; Chidya, Russel; Chunga, Brighton A. (2021): Modelling of Kauma waste stabilisation pond treatment process using artificial intelligence. Loughborough University. Conference contribution. https://hdl.handle.net/2134/16924096.v1
13. Chunga, B. A. (2019). Water Resources Management: Rural Community Participation at Catchment Level in Malawi. PhD Thesis, Cranfield University, Bedford, England, United Kingdom
14. Upton, K., Ó Dochartaigh, B.É., Chunga, B. and Bellwood-Howard, I. (2018). Africa Groundwater Atlas: Hydrogeology of Malawi. British Geological Survey [http://earthwise.bgs.ac.uk/index.php/Hydrogeology_of_Malawi] [Online Groundwater Atlas]
15. Upton, K., Ó Dochartaigh, B.É., and Chunga, B. (2016). Africa Groundwater Atlas: Hydrogeology of Malawi. British Geological Survey [Online Groundwater Atlass]