Who we are

Research large fluvial dispersal systems, in the Amazon, SE Asia and elsewhere. Have published multiple papers in Nature on how climate affects river behaviour, with papers also studying riverine fluxes of sediment and carbon. Research also has implications for sustainability of riverine environments, such as the Mekong Delta. Combine extensive fieldwork and labwork, with novel modelling on GPU-based supercomputers.

• Research role:
• Academic

I work on understanding and quantifying human induced change on the natural environment. My research has stretched across multiple disciplines including, but not limited to, climate, biodiversity, conservation, geoengineering, and pollution. I am currently working on a project that explores the use of data science to understand and address issues of sustainability.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

Prof Mohammad Abusara received his BEng degree from Birzeit University, Palestine, in 2000 and his PhD degree from the University of Southampton, UK, in 2004, both in Electrical Engineering. His PhD was concerned with control of grid-connected inverters

Prof Abusara has over ten years of industrial experience with Bowman Power Group, Southampton, UK, in the field of research and development of digital control of power electronics for distributed energy resources, hybrid vehicles, and machines and drives. During his years in the industry, he significantly contributed to the design and prototyping of a number of commercial products that include grid and parallel connected inverters, MicroGrid, DC/DC converters for hybrid vehicles, and sensorless drives for high speed permanent magnet machines. Dr. Abusara is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Southampton.

• Research role:
• Academic

She is passionate about change agency and how we can ALL make a difference. Her current mindfulness research programme is titled “Mindfulness within and beyond the individual”.  Some of her questions are (1) What is the impact of mindfulness for individuals who are leading change?  (2) How can mindfulness benefit individuals, institutions, communities and society? And (3) How can our shared identity help us become more mindful? Based on mindfulness and social identity processes her impact programme shows how inmates from Kenyan prisons have become mindful leaders: they are transforming themselves, people around them, their institution and even their communities.

• Research role:
• Academic

Climate change; adaptation and vulnerability; demographic change; migration; public health; wellbeing; ecosystem services

• Research role:
• Academic

Urban Flood Resiliece Rainwater Management Urban Metabolisam modelling

• Research roles:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate
• GSI Exchange group

Allen is a senior researcher, investigating the role that innovation and knowledge-based capabilities play in enabling a transition toward the Circular Economy (CE), in particular focussing on Circular Acceleration. At product/service level this considers Circular Innovations; at firm-level Circular Business Models and at regional, national or societal-level, how CE principles contribute to socio-economic transition theories. His prior engineering career provides him with unique skills and has enabled him to team up and research alongside colleagues in the Marine & Maritime Renewable Technologies, Transport & Mobility and Construction.

• Research role:
• Academic

Professor Mike Allen holds joint positions as a Microbial Biochemist at PML (Merit Scientist) and as an Associate Professor of Single Cell Genomics at the College of Life and Environmental Sciences at University of Exeter. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the School of Physics at Bristol University. His interests are varied and encompass both blue skies and applied research topics. Blue skies research focuses mainly on understanding the role of viruses in the ocean using genomic, proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic approaches. Applied research focuses on biocatalysis, bioremediation, biotransformation, bioprocessing and technology development. Mike’s current projects include the development and application of genetically modified microalgae for high value products, marine biorefineries, biofuel/fertiliser production and processing, water sanitation, high throughput liquid processing and the development of novel photobioreactor technologies for promoting microalgal growth.

Current and recent funding sources include Innovate UK, The Roddenberry Foundation, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, NERC and BBSRC.

See how Blue Microbe Marine Bioscience are addressing the Sustainable Development Goals

• Research role:
• Academic

Anderson is an artist and researcher, currently co-investigator on the art/science/philosophy AHRC funded project ‘Representing Biology as Process’ (2017-2021) at the University of Exeter.
She has collaborated on a number of innovative art/science projects including ‘Hidden Geometries’ with the Mathematics Department at Imperial College London; ‘Isomorphology’ and the ‘Cornwall Morphology and Drawing Centre’ at CAST with the Natural History Museum, London; and ‘Portraits: Patients and Psychiatrists’ (Wellcome Trust Arts Award 2009) in collaboration with psychiatrists and patients at Bethlem Royal Hospital. Her work has been exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Freud Museum and the Wellcome Collection, London. Most recently, her work is part of the exhibition ‘Critical Zones; Observatories for Earthly Politics’ at the Centre for Art and Media (ZKM), Karlsruhe, Germany and ‘The Botanical Mind: Art, Mysticism and the Cosmic Tree’ Exhibition at Camden Arts Centre, London.
Recent publications include her book Drawing as a Way of Knowing in Art and Science (Intellect Press), 2017 and peer reviewed articles ‘Drawing and the dynamic nature of living systems’, Elife Journal, ‘Dynamic Form’, Antennae Journal of Nature in Visual Culture, ‘On Drawing and Mathematics: From Inverse Vision to the Liberation of Form’ and ‘Endangered: A study of the Declining Practice of Morphological Drawing in Zoological Taxonomy’, Leonardo Journal, MIT Press and ‘Drawing Resemblance and Isomorphology’, Architectural Theory Review, Taylor and Francis. Alongside academic publications, Anderson has produced a limited edition Artist’s Book series including ‘Portraits: Patients and Psychiatrists’ Wellcome Trust, London, and ‘Isomorphology’ with Super-Collider, London and Atlantic Press, Cornwall.

• Research roles:
• Visiting Fellow
• Academic

Dr Kim Bouwer joined Exeter Law school as a Lecturer in Law (Education & Research) in November 2019. She was previously a Max Weber Fellow at the European University Institute (Florence), a Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow), and a Teaching Fellow at UCL (London and Adelaide). Kim is also qualified as a lawyer and has experience of practice in London and Johannesburg.
Kim is interested in climate and energy law, and focuses on adjudication and participatory processes. She is currently focused on climate litigation, where her work interrogates the impacts of climate litigation, narrative and activism in climate litigation, and hidden implications of unrecognised climate cases. She recently received grant funding from the Modern Law Review to host a workshop on the theme of Climate Litigation in Africa, which was co-hosted with the University of the Witwatersrand in August 2020.

• Research role:
• Academic

I believe that it is possible for humanity to stop global climate change and solve the climate crisis. The solution lies in governments making policy changes to prioritise green energy over fossil fuels, and to apply international pressure of deforestation. The role of climate activists is key in achieving these goals.

• Research role:
• Academic

In my research, I combine theories and methods from Computer Science, Physics and Social Sciences applied to the understanding of human mobility patterns. Our work focuses on the socio-economic effects of this interplay between human travelling behaviours and characteristics of the underlying urban systems.

• Research role:
• Academic

Stewart Barr graduated from the University of Exeter’s Geography Department in 1998 and continued his studies at Exeter undertaking a PhD exploring household waste practices. Building on this research, he worked for two years in the Department as a post-doctoral researcher on an ESRC-funded project entitled ‘Environmental Action in and Around the Home’. He became a Lecturer in Geography in 2003, Senior Lecturer in 2008, Associate Professor in 2012 and is now Professor of Geography. Within the Department Stewart undertakes research in the Environment and Sustainability and Spatial Responsibilities Research Groups and he teaches modules at all levels of undergraduate study.

• Research role:
• Academic

Professor Ian J. Bateman OBE, FBA, FRSA, FRSB, is Director of the Land, Environment, Economics and Policy Institute (LEEP) at the University of Exeter, UK. Ian is a Member of the Natural Capital Committee, the Board of the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee and various HM Treasury working groups. His main research interests revolve around the issue of ensuring sustainable wellbeing through the integration of natural and physical science with economics and by working with business and policy makers.

• Research role:
• Academic

Crop pests and pathogens pose a major threat to global food security. My goal is to understand how climate change and other drivers influence the distribution and impact of crop destroying organisms, and to produce models to help us predict and manage these impacts.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research centres around understanding ecological and human drivers of wildfires and their effects. Wildfires are considered a ‘wicked problem’, there is no one such fits all approach to manage wildfires. My research seeks to understand fire risk but also the important role that wildfires play in regulating Earth system processes and maintaining fire-prone ecosystems. Understanding fire is essential to addressing global challenges, be it via designing new land management practices, assessing the fire risk for afforestation schemes through to protecting human lives, property and ecosystem services.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• SDG Lead

Professor Richard Betts MBE holds a joint position with the Met Office Hadley Centre. He takes an Earth System view of human impacts on the climate system and the consequences of these for society. He led the major international EU-funded project HELIX (High-End cLimate Impacts and eXtremes) on impacts of climate change at 1.5, 2 and 4C global warming, and is technical lead on the UK’s 3rd national Climate Change Risk Assessment. He has served as a Lead Author on the 4th, 5th and 6th Assessment Reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

• Research role:
• Academic

Fenna’s work focuses on unpacking the complexity involved in innovating for a circular economy and sustainability in a business context. A central question in this is how systemic change can be unlocked through changing how we think about both problems and solutions – and developing methods, tools and approaches for designing new business practices and co-creating new value networks. Transdisciplinarity characterises her work through drawing from the domains of design, engineering, sustainability, business and organization science, industrial ecology, social sciences and the system sciences. Fenna is based at the School of Business, Economics and Social Science of the University of Hamburg.

• Research role:
• Academic

I work for the Global Systems Institute (GSI) supporting the GSI Director, Professor Tim Lenton and the GSI Admin as maternity cover. I had previously worked in the legal sector as a Paralegal in family law for the past 15 years.

• Research role:
• Management Board

Steffen Böhm is Professor in Organisation & Sustainability at University of Exeter Business School. He was previously Professor in Management and Sustainability at the University of Essex. He’s also held visiting positions at Uppsala University, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden, as well as at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and St Andrews University, Scotland. His research focuses on the political economy & ecology of the sustainability transition. He has published six books: Repositioning Organization Theory (Palgrave), Against Automobility (Wiley-Blackwell), Upsetting the Offset: The Political Economy of Carbon Markets (Mayfly), The Atmosphere Business (Mayfly), and Ecocultures: Blueprints for Sustainable Communities (Routledge), and Negotiating Climate Change in Crisis (Open Book Publishers). Climate Activism (Cambridge) is forthcoming. More details at steffenboehm.net

• Research role:
• Academic

Niklas studied physics and mathematics at LMU Munich and obtained his PhD in theoretical physics from HU Berlin. In his research, he develops and applies methods routed in dynamical system theory, complex systems science, and machine learning to study abrupt transitions and extreme events in the Earth system, with a focus on data-driven analysis and modelling. Current research topics include past abrupt climate changes as evidenced in paleoclimate proxy records, the stability of the Amazon rainforest and other potentially unstable components of the Earth system, as well as global teleconnection patterns of extreme rainfall

• Research role:
• Academic

I look for early warning signals of abrupt changes in climate systems and ecosystems. This is based on measuring changes in statistical properties of the time series of the system as it approaches the shift. More recently my research has branched out to use similar techniques to measure the changing resilience of ecosystems over time, particularly to detect the loss of resilience in a world of increasing climate variability.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

Joint position holder with the Met Office where I work in the Climate Security Team on projects looking at climate controls on food security problems. In my university role I have a focus on crop pests and diseases. I also retain interests in modelling the paleoclimate of the Miocene epoch, 5-23 million years ago.

• Research role:
• Academic

Nicky Britten is Professor Emerita at the University of Exeter Medical School. She is a sociologist with particular interests in health services research and public involvement in research. She is a member of the Exeter Living Lab as a citizen of Exeter who supports the city’s net zero ambitions. She supports the aim of identifying positive tipping points and virtuous circles arising from the mapping and amplification of the work of local organisations; these are the many active groups in the city and beyond who are working towards a sustainable future.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research is rooted in the humanities but is interdisciplinary in its focus on climate emergency and extinction as related to empire, economies, and ecosystems. I use performance and its embodied methodologies to generate and communicate new understandings of human and more than human interactions. I specialise in collaboration and the structuring of collective work, and am keen to apply this research in other disciplines and fields in order to activate sustainable change.

• Research role:
• Academic

Aquatic ecology and ecotoxicology – evaluating the impacts of chemical, physical and biological stressors on aquatic organisms. Molecular, population and community ecology including: population dynamics and population genetics, focusing mainly on fish; application of computational and biological test systems for predicting environmental effects environmental stressors and food web interactions. Sustainable aquaculture – safeguarding environmental and human health, encompassing water quality management and mitigating the impacts of harm algal blooms.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I’m a Physicist (Theoretical Physics, Lancaster degree: First including History minor, PhD 1994 and CPhys) and science communicator. I am interested in data analytics and how we can better identify and explain physical phenomena (chaotic and regular) in the climate system, especially its impact to the biosphere and how we enable inclusive STEM cultures. I’m the Zero Hunger GSI SDG lead and also am the interim GSI SDG overall lead.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• GSI Exchange group
• SDG Lead

I’m a Geographer (based in Psychology) currently examining place-based actions on plastics and theories of change, as part of the ExeMPlaR project. My PhD (2012), examined climate change and violence, working closely with international climate justice networks and peasant farmer groups. Subsequent research has examined civil society participation and action, with an emphasis on place-based transformations and social innovation in relation to sustainable cities, extreme weather resilience, climate change, and post-conflict areas. I am interested in developing civic methodologies that increase the diversity of voices within environmental decision making and directly address global challenges through place-based actions.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

My research sits at the interface between human geography, political theory, and science and technology studies and addresses governance of socio-environmental change. I have a particular focus on the global challenge on climate change with projects spanning issues related to both adaptation (floods) and mitigation (energy).

• Research role:
• Academic

I work on quantifying and understanding changing resilience of semi-arid ecosystems. With changing climate variance there is an increased threat to the viability of ecosystems which have previously existed within sustainable climatic boundaries. Understanding the changes in resilience of these ecosystems is essential for developing effective policies and solutions to help protect these ecosystems.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I am a Population Geographer with interdisciplinary research interests at the nexus between climate science and society, with focus on the intersection between demographic processes including migration and mobility, human security, wellbeing and sustainability. There have been many drivers of population movement throughout human history.The Anthropocene is marked by the emergence of drivers such as climate change, inequality, and conflict. These drivers are leading to new flows, directions and patterns of human migration and displacement worldwide. My research investigates the complexity of social, economic and environmental factors underlying migration trends under climate change.

• Research role:
• Academic

I work across history and social studies of science, technology and medicine, researching public controversies through an interdisciplinary lens. I have particular interests in science engagement, participation and policy; environmental and agricultural politics; contemporary history; and health. My research investigates how scientific knowledge is produced, communicated, interpreted and contested in the wider public sphere, particularly during public knowledge controversies. I have studied this in the context of case studies of popular evolutionary psychology; food chain risks; agenda building across human, animal and environmental health; and debates over culling wildlife (badgers) for infectious disease control (bovine tuberculosis)

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a PhD student in the Mathematics Department with an interest in climate modelling as well as wider climate related issues. I am investigating the effects of gravity wave drag parameterisations in general circulation models.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

The effect of climate change on the water cycle will be profound, impacting human society and the natural world through more intense rainfall and more severe droughts. My research aims to understand how climate change is affecting the water cycle at the regional scales where climate change mitiation and adaptation decisions are taken. I particularly focus on tropical regions, many of which are particularly vulnerable to our changing climate.

• Research roles:
• Met Office
• Academic

My main research topics include urban drainage, hydrology and hydraulic modelling, computational fluid dynamic, flood forecasting and early warning, flood damage assessment, flood risk management, hazard mitigation and resilience strategies. My work will improve the understanding of the consequences of climate change on extreme flood hazards, and their impact to societies and environment. Hence, it will support the development of interventions to better protect the communities and enhance the resilience to climate change.

• Research roles:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate
• SDG Lead

I focus on applying some machine learning algorithms to calibrate citizen weather observation data. This revised data with offical data can further be used for better prediction of storms and damages by them.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

Renewable Energy: Working on various different technologies as well as community participation and engagement and environmental impact

• Research role:
• Academic

Aimee is a Royal Society funded PhD student working with the Southern Ocean Carbon team. Her project aims to better understand the Southern Ocean carbon sink through observational work using autonomous vehicles and model simulations.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

My research is on physical aspects of climate change. I principally use models to understand how climate change might evolve over the century. Current interests are in El Nino and telconnections and changes in the hydrological cycle in the tropics.

• Research role:
• Academic

Peter researches and teaches in national policy for the effective promotion of renewable energy technologies and their integration into increasingly smarter grids. He has a particular interest in the design and implementation of policy and regulation to support renewable energy sources of electricity and of heat within the UK and amongst EU Member States.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• GSI Exchange group
• SDG Lead

My PhD explores how we can apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other Data Science tools to understand and address current environmental problems. My research interests are in Earth System Science, particularly the resilience of the weathering feedback over deep time. I also have interests in science communication and engagement, through events and Exeters Climate Change MOOCs.

• Research roles:
• Postgraduate
• GSI Exchange group

My research focuses on projections of the Earth System in the anthropocene. I am especially interested in the coupling between the climate and the land carbon cycle.

• Research role:
• Academic

My PhD project investigates the impact of climate change on Andean tropical montane forests. These are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems in the world, and provide direct and indirect ecosystem services for millions of people, but are predicted to experience severe climate warming this century. Therefore, it is essential to better understand how resilient these forests will be in the face of climate change, using this knowledge to inform management strategies and to feedback to the Earth System Models making climate change projections.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I am an eco-social artist, activist, educator and facilitator, working collaboratively across disciplines to engage broad public participation, address specific ecological challenges and catalyse systemic change. I co-create events, performances, dialogue spaces and long-term projects inviting people into active, inquiring and mutually-beneficial relationships with each other, the land and other co-inhabitants of the world and working to help repair this fraying weave of connections on which we depend. I frequently work in collaboration with researchers in the GSI including on projects such as A Field of Wheat, Earthwalking & Tidelines.

• Research role:

I’m an environmental scientist with interests spanning between geography, ecology and remote sensing. The overarching aim of my research is improving our understanding of how landscapes function and are manged for broader societal benefit.
I use multi-scale remote sensing approaches, ranging from centimetre-scale photogrammetric surveys through to global-scale satellite observations to transcend scale gaps that otherwise limit scientific understanding of important ecosystems, from high latitudes to drylands.
I am particularly interested in how the carbon stocks and fluxes of terrestrial ecosystems respond to rapidly changing environmental conditions, including climatic warming, increased CO2 concentrations, changing precipitation patterns and altered fire regimes.

• Research roles:
• Research Fellow

I am a PhD in Archaeology student focusing on sustainability science and trying to find out what archaeology can teach us about sustainable living in tropical forest environments

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

My present research interests include dynamical systems and control theory, big data analytics, machine learning, computational intelligence, signal processing, and fractional calculus in diverse applications in energy, environment and biomedical engineering. I am particularly interested in machine leraning approaches for smart energy systems, environment monitoring and biomedical signal processing and related big data analytics problems. I wrote several papers and have active research collaboraions in these areas.

• Research role:
• Academic

Climate change mitigation is a key focus of my research. How can we achieve rapid and extensive decarbonisation in ways that are fair, legitimate and acceptable to communities that are directly impacted by infrastructure projects?

• Research role:
• Academic

Justin is professor of science and environmental education at the University of Exeter, UK. His research focuses on learning and engagement in and out of schools. After studying for a degree in chemistry, Justin trained as a teacher and taught in London schools before joining King’s College London in 1989, where he worked as a researcher and teacher educator until 2014.Justin was President of the European Science Education Research Association from 2007-11 and is President of the National Association for Environmental Education. He edits the journal, Studies in Science Education, and Associate Editor of Environmental Education Research.

• Research role:
• Academic

Nikolaos Dimakis is a Senior Data Scientist at J.O.Hambro Capital Management prior to which he led the Data Science Team in the Innovation Lab of Federated Hermes, with a focus on ESG and sustainability analysis, using alternative data. Before joining Federated Hermes International, he worked at the wholesale credit risk team of Barclays Investment Bank where he was involved in credit risk modelling for large corporates. Nikolaos was the quantitative analyst of Prius Partners, an ESG analytics start-up. Nikolaos started his career in finance in 2009 at La Fayette Investment Management UK, where he was the quantitative and risk analyst for the company’s funds. Prior to that, Nikolaos was involved in EU and UK DoD research projects in multi-agent systems, focusing on systems supporting human activities.

Nikolaos has a BSc. in Computer Science and Informatics from the University of Patras in Greece, a MSc. in Information Networking from Carnegie Mellon University, and an MPhil. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Imperial College London.

• Research roles:
• Visiting Fellow

I’m fascinated by the Earth system, how life emerged and evolved on it, and what that meant for the development of the planet. A central theme of my research and teaching explores how we interact with the Earth, and how such interactions will affect humans now and potentially far into the future.

• Research roles:
• Management Board
• Academic
• SDG Lead

My research is focussed on the role of building physics in determining the thermal performance in buildings such as the potential energy demand and the risk of thermal discomfort. Buildings are long term assets which must be fit for purpose in the current climate as well as in the future which means that they need to be both low carbon and resilient to future climates. As such I am particularly interested in the relationship between the external weather and climate and the indoor environment and the impacts that climate change will have on the built environment.

• Research role:
• Academic

Katharine Earnshaw is a Classicist specialising in Latin poetry and environmental ethics. She is Principal Investigator on two AHRC-funded projects, Fieldwork and Field || guides, both within the ‘Landscape Decisions Programme’; these consider agricultural ethics through language, art, and experience. She is Co-Investigator (with Tim Lenton) on the NERC-led ‘MEMBRA: Understanding Memory of UK Treescapes for Better Resilience and Adaptation’, part of the ‘Future of UK Treescapes’ programme, and is leading a strand exploring how the concept of tree memories can affect, and has already affected, understandings of tree agency and the moral standing of trees.

• Research role:
• Academic

Skilled in research, communication, project management and bid-writing, with a grounding in both natural and social sciences, I support private, public, academic and NGO clients in the UK and abroad as a versatile freelancer and occasional employee on diverse environmental topics.

• Research roles:
• Visiting Fellow

My research focuses on adaptation and acclimation in animals exposed to environmental change. Specifically I am driven by the question of how a mechanistic understanding of animal physiology can be used to improve the productivity and sustainability of aquaculture in a wide range of production settings. This also extends to understanding how aquaculture can be used to help secure future marine ecosystems in the face of climate change impacts. During my career I have developed an interdisciplinary range of expertise in animal physiology, immunology, metabolomics, developmental biology, ecotoxicology, marine chemistry, climate change ecology and aquaculture.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am an Associate Professor of Water Engineering and Industrial Fellow of The Royal Academy of Engineering based in the Centre for Water Systems, University of Exeter. I specialise in urban water systems modelling, asset management, water resources management, many-objective optimisation, uncertainty and risk assessment, and decision aid. My research interests cover the interdisciplinary field of Hydroinformatics including Artificial Intelligence, data mining and optimisation techniques and their application for real-time control for smart water systems, integrated asset management of water supply and distribution systems including supply/demand analysis, leakage analysis, pressure/energy management, reliability and resilience issues, asset incidents and deterioration modelling.

• Research role:
• Academic

I study forest ecology and land-cover land-use change in the tropics. My research focusses on the effects of fire, drought, and forest degradation on forests and soils. Addressing these impacts and developing approaches to manage forests is crucial to conserving forests and biodiversity, while sustainably using forest resources.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am in my first year on the Environmental Intelligence CDT, with current research interests in marine ecology, marine protected area design and marine resource management. I will be working on the application of big data approaches and novel AI solutions to help tackle the environmental challenges surrounding these interests.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

Global carbon cycle, climate-carbon cycle feedbacks, Earth System Modelling

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a biogeochemist with expertise in climatic regulation of carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems. My particular ecosystem of interest is peatlands and I have purposely worked on peatlands situated in different climatic zones from the poles to the tropics to have a global perspective on these ecosystems. The aim of my career is to elucidate the unique role of peatlands in the global carbon cycle in order to better safeguard these important ecosytems and all of the various and key ecosystem servies they provide, like cabon storage and water provisioning amongst others.

• Research role:
• Academic

Vast quantities of materials are manufactured and used every day on a global scale including building materials, industrial and consumer items, plastic packaging and textiles. Our failure to consider what happens to these after we throw them away has led to catastrophic impacts to wildlife and people. My research in ecotoxicology considers key questions; how do pollutants damage living systems? what makes some organisms more vulnerable than others? how can we use this knowledge to design a non-toxic environment for the future? Current projects include developing risk maps and circular economies for plastics, rapid assessment tools for oilpills

• Research role:
• Academic

Ashish Ghadiali is a filmmaker, activist and cultural organiser – formerly Activist-in-Residence at UCL’s Sarah Parker Remond Centre for the Study of Racism and Racialisation, a co-ordinating committee member of the COP26 civil society coalition and a member of the grassroots climate justice collective Wretched of the Earth. He was lead organiser behind UCL’s 1.5c Charter, launched in collaboration with GSI Exeter and ICCCAD, Dhaka in July 2021, and of the Black Atlantic Arts Partnership with UCL SPRC, Serpentine Galleries, the Royal Court Theatre and Dartington Trust, launched in September 2021.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

Daniel is an experiences investment professional. He is a former Chief Executive of the Investment Association, the trade body for the UK’s £10 trillion asset management industry. He is an Independent Non-Executive Director at Moneybox, the fastest growing FinTech investment platform for Millennials. He is a member of Legal & General’s Independent Governance Committee, with responsibility to protect the interests of 2m customers and over £25bn of their pension funds.

• Research roles:
• Visiting Fellow

I work in the crossover between political/social/ethical thought and philosophy of biology. I am interested in how different ways of understanding organic phenomena (organisms and ecosystems) shape socio-political relations and ethical thinking in different ways. I am also interested in understanding the relation to life/nature that we need to cultivate in order to ensure a sustainable human future.

• Research role:
• Academic

Through my research, I try to understand how agricultural ecosystems respond to – and influence – global environmental change. I often use meta-analytic techniques to synthesise research in the areas of agronomy and environmental science, with the ultimate goal of identifying sustainable agricultural practices that can feed the planet in a changing climate.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am doing my PhD at the Exeter Business School. My current research examines the role of business activism in driving the CE transition.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I research oceans within the climate system, with a particular focus on how can/will the uptake of anthropogenic carbon by the oceans mitigate climate change.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research focuses on interactions between climate, climate mitigation, and the land surface. I use computer models to study vegetation and soil responses to climate change and land use change. Climate change will impact future forests, natural ecosystems, and agricultural lands – my interest is primarily in the impact these biomes will have on climate change. I focus on projects that enable a better understanding of the resilience and fate of carbon on the land. I’m also interested in fitting this work into more holistic approaches to land use and climate mitigation that will benefit humans and nature.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research investigates the role of terrestrial ecosystems in controlling rates of climate change, as well as the potential for management of plants and soils to increase carbon storage on land and mitigate climate change. My focus is therefore on improving understanding of carbon and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am an interdisciplinary social scientist. My research and teaching is focused on the governance of science, technology and innovation. I employ qualitative methods to examine the actors, institutions and ideas that shape governance decisions about biotechnology in cases of GM insects, gene drive, and genome-editing. Current GCRF projects are focused on the governance of gene drive mosquitoes to target malaria in Uganda and Mali, particularly co-development and risk regulation. Previous projects focused on agricultural biotechnology and plant and animal genome editing. I hold a PhD in Politics and Environmental Studies from the University of Toronto.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• Management Board
• SDG Lead

I work on energy policy for rapid decarbonisaton, particularly on international transport. Aviation is highly damaging and is growing rapidly; I work on curbing this growth and developing alternatives

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I project manage the UK’s 3rd Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA3) Technical Chapters project which will directly influence government climate change policy. I also project managed the successful international EU-funded HELIX project. In 2016 I played a major role in obtaining UNFCCC Observer Status for the University of Exeter giving the University official access to the international COP conferences on Climate Change. I have managed the University’s presence at COP23, COP24 and COP25. I look forward to COP26 in Glasgow and being part of the UK’s efforts to take leadership on climate action and to show case the findings of CCRA3.

• Research roles:
• Project Manager

Dr Raphaëlle D. Haywood is an astrophysicist who hunts for planets that orbit other stars — exoplanets. Before joining Exeter, Raphaëlle was a NASA Sagan Fellow at Harvard University. Raphaëlle holds a Masters in Physics from Imperial College London, a PhD in Astrophysics from the University of St Andrews and a Certificate in Sustainability from Harvard’s Extension School. As a GSI member, Raphaëlle uses observations of both exoplanets and Earth to place our unique home into its astronomical context and thus reframe global issues, in order to drive action on environmental challenges.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research focusses on the drivers of climate change, with a particular focus on the impact of atmospheric aerosols which are microscopic particles that originate from industrial pollution, biomass burning smoke, mineral dust, volcanic eruptions and sea-spray. Overall, aerosols act to cool climate through reflection of sunlight back out to space and through their impacts on cloud reflectivity. As such, one area that is of particular interest to humanity, is the deliberate use of aerosols to ameliorate the impacts of global warming. Such an approach is incredibly controversial and requires interdisciplinary understanding from scientific, social, philosophical, economic and moral standpoints.

• Research roles:
• Professor of Atmospheric Science
• Academic

My research interests are broadly in the area of Earth history and particularly the interplay of long-term environmental changes and short-term shocks to the system. I use a range of laboratory and field techniques at the interface of stratigraphy, sedimentology, geochemistry and palaeobotany. This work addresses global challenges in that the geological record contains the evidence for how the Earth’s environmental systems have actually responded to major perturbations, highlighting mechanisms and timescales that would not be apparent from study of the recent past alone.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a volcanologist, working to improve eruption forecasting and to enhance the resilience of the lives and livelihoods of people living in communities threatened by volcanoes.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am ecosystem scientist interested in the how our changing use of land is altering the functioning of the terrestrial biosphere and its interactions with the atmosphere. My research focuses on stocks and fluxes of carbon, energy and water in agricultural, drylands, saltmarshes, temperate peatlands, tropical forests and tropical peat systems.

• Research role:
• Academic

My PhD research project is the first to combine clam records (sclerochronology) and ecosystem models to better understand the coastal oceans, specifically around the UK. The research aims to disentangle the mechanisms behind clam growth in order for sclerochronological records to be used more effectively. The clam records are also being used to test the accuracy of models where real-world data is lacking. It is of vital socio-economic importance to understand how the shelf sea regions are changing (and how they will change in the future) so providing reliable, long-term data of this environment is incredibly valuable.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I am an intern for the GSI. I work with the management and communications team to assist with website modification, the GSI residential, policy website, film campaigns, GSI Instagram and administration. I am currently helping with the GSS master’s program by communicating with external partners to organise their end of year projects. I also assist with lab and field research for the wildfire department.

• Research roles:
• Management Board
• GSI Exchange group

I work on the biogeochemistry, health impacts and sustainability of mining and mine wastes. My work addresses the global challenges of clean good health and wellbeing, quality education, clean water, industry and innovation and responsible production.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• SDG Lead

Creative Writing PhD student writing about climate change, foraging and community farming. Exploring ways to tell the climate story through analysis of hybrid texts such as those that combine memoir and science or other factual information. Part-time farm worker and hands-on grandma.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I am a computational social scientist in the Department of Politics. My work focuses on questions of public involvement and engagement in environmental decision making. In my research I explore two related themes: how the structure and dynamics of inter-organizational networks affect policy change, and how the structure and dynamics of belief networks affect behavioral change. Substantively, I study how people try to bring about societal change in response to political and environmental concerns.

• Research role:
• Academic

I have extensive experience in modelling and control of seawater intrusion considering the effects of climate change and sea level rise; ocean-powered desalination, sustainable use of geomaterials, decision support systems; numerical modelling; modelling of hydraulic fracturing and multiphase flow through fractured media; modelling of flow and contaminant transport in soils; and application of artificial intelligence and data mining in engineering problems. I am currently the PI in a European Project on Geomaterials from Waste to Resource; a British Council-funded project on solar-powered desalination for greenhouse agriculture in Egypt; and a Royal Society-funded project on modelling of seawater intrusion in Taiwan.

• Research role:
• Academic

Professor Johanning is a leading researcher with international recognition in the field of ocean technology with a focus towards offshore renewable energy (ORE). He is Deputy Head of Engineering and Academic Lead of the ORE Group at the University of Exeter. His research outputs include over 200 peer reviewed book chapters, journal and conference papers, as well as three patents, dedicated to ORE. Professor Johanning has long standing relation with Chinese organisations focusing on research & development of UK-China partnerships in Offshore Renewable Energy and currently holds a visiting post as Associated Dean of Yantai Research Institution, Harbin Engineering University.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am an interdisciplinary social scientist with particular expertise in the fields of urban studies (including sustainable urbanism) and programme evaluation. Throughout my research I am committed to using, refining and developing empirical approaches that enable the generation of insights into critical questions concerning urban planning, urban public space, and public policy programmes.

• Research role:
• Academic

My PhD research involved a study of the educational experiences of children in care over five decades. I interviewed individuals aged 11 – 59 and analysed their narratives thematically to identify synergies across the years. My findings highlighted how a narrow definition of education serves to exclude this articular disadvantaged group from formal education, and does little to support the development of the individual. It would be useful to deploy the model I developed during this study with participants from other marginalised communities in order to more fully understand the educational challenges of other disadvantaged communities.

• Research role:

My research focuses on the development of life cycle assessment (LCA) tools to assess and compare the sustainability of a wide range of products and systems including plastics, waste, water, energy and food. That involves analysing the production and consumption systems and obtaining data for the amounts of materials and energy inputs as well as the emissions and wastes during their whole lifetime. This analysis helps to address the global production and consumption challenges by mapping the use of resources, estimating the resulting environmental impacts, comparing existing and future scenarios and identifying areas for improvement.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I am a psychologist working on dietary behaviour change for health and sustainability. I have developed app/online ‘brain training’ games that help people avoid unhealthy/unsustainable foods and go for healthier/more sustainable foods instead. Over 100,000 people from around the world have tried my intervention, which helps people to reduce their unhealthy snacking, reduce their meat intake and lose weight. Beyond my research, I am an academic lead on the “Food for Thought” grand challenge and MOOC and I work with local food organisations (Sugar Smart and Food Exeter).

• Research role:
• Academic

A socioeconomic systems transition to realise more sustainable and equitable societies will have to be undertaken as the destabilising consequences of environmental change significantly increase, presenting threats and opportunities for this transition. My research focusses on the policy and political implications of this situation, including a focus on intergenerational issues and the leadership challenge facing younger generations. I am also an Associate Fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), formerly the Director of the UK Health Alliance on Climate Change, and have been a policy researcher at the LSE, Oxford University, and the House of Lords.

• Research roles:
• Visiting Fellow

I use remote sensing to analyse peatland environments, including their vulnerability to climate change and how restoration can reduce carbon emissions and increase sequestration.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

My research focuses on understanding the behaviour of the Earth as a whole system – the complex web of biological, geochemical and physical processes that shape the chemical composition of the atmosphere and oceans, and the climate of Earth. I’m particularly interested in how life has reshaped the planet in the past, and what lessons we can draw from this as we proceed to reshape the planet now.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• Management Board

My research spans the fields of history and philosophy of biology, science and technology studies and general philosophy of science, and currently focuses on the impact of Big and Open Data on research and wider society, and the development of models, infrastructures and semantics to integrate results from the plant sciences, environmental sciences and biomedicine towards confronting global challenges like food security and health and wellbeing.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a marine biologist with a broad research portfolio studying the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on the physiology and reproductive ecology of marine invertebrates. My research combines aquarium based exposure studies with in situ field based measurements from locations around the World to determine how marine invertebrates are responding to global changes in their environment as a result of warming, ocean acidification, and pollution, including a current focus on the impacts of marine plastic.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• Management Board

My research is focused on energy conversion and storage, with an emphasis on battery electrode materials, anion exchange membrane water electrolyser for green hydrogen production, and nanoscale materials for electrocatalysis. Since 2003 I have made major contribution to eight large projects including 3 EPSRC, 2 Innovate UK, and 3 EU projects. I am currently the principal investigator of an EPSRC project, the PI at the University of Exeter side for two EU projects, a member of Science Board of the EPSRC Energy Storage Supergen Hub, a board member of EPSRC Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Supergen Hub, and also a board member of British Standards Institution.

• Research role:
• Academic

My PhD research focuses on using satellite remote sensing data to monitor and manage degradation in rangeland ecosystems, collaborating with a community conservation organisation in Northern Kenya. I am funded by UKRI through the Centre for Doctoral Training in Environmental Intelligence.

My wider interests include land-based pathways for climate change mitigation, carbon dioxide removal and sustainable food systems.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I work in world literary studies, the environmental humanities and world-systems theory, and am interested in how culture registers the global effects of energy extraction, pollution and waste, and transformations in food regimes, in regions like SE Asia, the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America. I have already published on global representations of plastic pollution; designed an exhibition on marine plastics and poetry; and published on food eco-modernisation in post-1950s SE Asian literatures; with future projects planned on the cultures and unequal politics of resource extraction and waste exportation in Africa and Asia.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research has two main themes: (1) improving our understanding of the large-scale circulation of Earth’s atmosphere, and (2) studying the climate system holistically in order to better predict how it will respond to increased CO2 concentrations. I am also interested in climate issues more broadly, including climate model development and evaluation, ocean heat uptake and climate variability on all time-scales. One theme in my work is an emphasis on using idealized models to capture key features of more complex systems, with the goal of connecting results from these idealized models to observations and comprehensive climate models.

• Research roles:
• Associate Professor of Climate Science at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography

I am a climate scientist and model developer. I use idealised climate models to study convection, clouds and the large-scale circulation of the atmosphere.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

My clinical research is in the field of movement disorders and neurodegenerative disorders (e.g. Parkinson’s disease, dementia). The increasing prevalence of these chronic disorders (paradoxically largely a consequence of improved life expectancies, following significant advances in global health and nutrition, leading to an expanding ageing population) present increasingly complex challenges for global health and care services and wider society. These rapid, though potentially short-term, gains in global health have obscured a dangerously precipitous decline in planetary health. As an NHS health professional, I recognise the huge educational and practical challenge of transforming healthcare delivery into a sustainable global system.

• Research roles:
• NHS England/PHE SRSHN Sustainability and Health Ambassador

My research focuses on the modelling of radiative transfer in the atmosphere, particularly in relation to extending the limits of where atmospheric models are traditionally applied. I work closely with the exoplanet and space weather modelling communities and am interested in how these areas can help with modelling the climate of the Earth.

• Research roles:
• Met Office
• Academic

Applying global spatial data-sets to questions concerning the environment. My background is in glaciology so have predominantly investigated sea-ice and ice cap responses to climate change.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a geologist with a background in researching how metals critical to low carbon technologies are concentrated in natural systems. My current work is investigating the development of geomodels for technology metals that integrate circular economy principals.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I currently perform research into planetary climates, chiefly exoplanets, exploring the range of environments planets can support. This work enables a greater understanding of how our own system might evolve or change in the future by helping us better understand its limits and behaviours in varying and extreme conditions. As part of my work I have adapted a global climate model to flexible use across a range of situations, and although currently abiotic am also exploring the inclusion of elements of life-environment interaction in my research.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a political theorist working on climate justice and climate ethics with a particular interest in questions of intergenerational justice. My recent work has focused on climate justice in a carbon budget, climate denial, the ethics and governance of geoengineering, and climate displacement and resettlement. I am completing a book defending a new international crime of ‘postericide’ which is required in the face of the climate crisis

• Research role:
• Academic

Doug applies statistical and data science methods to climate models to understand uncertainty in the Earth system. His research focuses on making better models and better predictions to better inform decisions in a changing climate.

Doug works part time at the GSI and the Met Office.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research interests are in water reuse technologies, water consumption trends, rainwater harvesting, grey water recycling, water saving micro-components, life cycle analysis, sustainable drainage systems, carbon foot printing, implications of water demand management on water distribution and wastewater collection systems, decision support systems, food-water-energy nexus and water management in developing countries.

• Research role:
• Academic

I direct the BioComplex Laboratory in Exeter focusing on research on Complex Networks, Bio-Inspired Computing, Complex Systems and Human Dynamics. Such areas are intrinsically linked with Urban Systems and Sustainability. We have applied our research to problems such as city efficiency, crime modelling, and human mobility predictability. I’m also the co-editor-in-chief of the Applied Network Science Journal published by Springer Nature.

• Research role:
• Academic

Expertise on Vegetation modelling & plant physiology at various scales and across ecosystems with a lot of focus on tropics.These are useful tools to assess climate change impacts on ecosystem services, water provision, biodiversity, C storage etc

• Research role:
• Academic

I am an Associate Professor in climate change policy, with research focusing on developing models and methods for public policy appraisal in low-carbon innovation based on complexity science, and for assessing the macroeconomic impacts of diverse types of low-carbon, energy and climate policies. I coordinate a £4.8m project for the BEIS Industrial Strategy, involving institutions across the world on complexity science methods to inform policy-making for a low-carbon transition. I am a contributing author for the IPCC AR6 report in the chapter on finance. GSI SDG8 Lead

• Research roles:
• Academic
• Management Board
• SDG Lead

I am a PhD student in Biosciences looking at viral hijacking in the ocean

• Research roles:
• Postgraduate
• GSI Exchange group

I am part of the GSI administration team. I am committed to the work of the GSI, with a personal interest in the impact of climate change on human migration patterns,  and the creation of internally displaced people through resource competition.

• Research role:
• Management Board

I’m an astrophysicist currently working across the Environment and Sustainability Institute in Cornwall and the Astrophysics group in Exeter to measure and model the spatial and temporal variations in nighttime lighting, and determine its ecological impacts on the environment.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

Shaher has worked for a range of local and international NGOs and refugee-related charities in several countries in Europe and the Middle East since 2009 and in the UK since 2016.

He has an MA in Post-war Recovery Studies from the University of York, a postgraduate diploma in Project Management and a BA in English Literature from University of Damascus.

Shaher has also taught in several institutions in the Middle East including the faculty of Political Sciences at University of Damascus.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I teach and research in the area of civic engagment and am interested in democratic renewal and citizen participation in public policy, and tools of behaviour change, and how these methods and approaches can be used to address global challenges such as inequality and climate change. I’m also interested in collaboration and partnership working across organisations and am committed to, and have experience of, working with partners outside of academia to address societal challenges.

• Research role:
• Academic

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health and economic concern. Understanding the evolution of antimicrobial resistance in the environment is crucial for achieving good health, clean water and contributing to sustainable production and use of antibiotics. My research focuses on evolution of antimicrobial resistance at low concentrations of antibiotics and other selective compounds; and environmental risk assessment.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research focuses on renewable energy transition in Nigeria – a country ranked second to India with the highest number of people without access to energy. I am researching possible market-driven solutions to energy poverty both in urban and rural areas. I employ stated preference methods to elicit responses and estimate households’ willingness to pay

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I work on the impacts of underwater noise pollution on fish. The most widespread source of underwater noise is traffic, causing stress and distraction with a range of consequences. There are physiological, developmental and behavioural effects with impacts on survival and communities. I want to use our knowledge to protect the fish that live in valuable but vulnerable ecosystems like coral reefs, so I have started to test solutions. We have evidence that changing from two-stroke to four-stroke motors, driving slower and driving further away from reefs can alleviate some of the negative impacts of noise pollution, potentially increasing resilience

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I provide administrative support to the Global Systems Institute and act as Assistant to the Director, Professor Tim Lenton. My personal values align closely with those of the GSI and I really enjoy being able to support the work of world class researchers who demonstrate a real commitment to making the world a better and more sustainable place.

• Research roles:
• Management Board
• GSI Exchange group

My research focuses on predicting bio-signatures and understanding how life-environment feedbacks influence the habitability of planets. Understanding our own planet will inform our search for potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system and in turn what we learn of other planets will further our understanding of Earth.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I have a BSc in physics and astronomy, MSc in climate physics and my PhD was on the assessment of climate models, specificallly of temperature. Currently, I am working as a postdoctoral research fellow with Dr Jean Francois Mercure for the EEIST project. My research will focus on various aspects of energy policy in China, India and Brazil.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

The CEE is an interdisciplinary team which focuses on assisting its public sector partners tackle challenges related to energy and the built environment. Areas of research include sustainable buildings (thermal modelling, daylighting , acoustics etc.), climate change and energy policy/planning, built environment and building performance assessment, carbon footpringting, air quality and sustainable transport, renewable energy systems and waste management.

• Research roles:
• Centre Director

I research on maritime, insurance, environmental and energy law. I am researching on oil and gas exploration and the global challenge to do so in a sustainable way as well as on oil pollution liability and climate change (especially re the Arctic). I carry out research in autonomous transportation (cars, vessels, drones). With regards to autonomous vessels I focus on how their operation will affect the coastal states and on the environmental aspects of unmanned oil and gas installations and ways to integrate safeguards for the environment and the local / indigenous communities (eg Arctic).

• Research role:
• Academic

My research concerns weather and climate change in theatre and performance, as well as weathering as a form of everyday performance. I am especially interested in reception and audiences and analyse how culture is implicated in the causes of climate change as well as its potential for climate action. I am a Co-Investigator on an AHRC project called Atmospheric Theatres: Open-Air Performance and the Environment, exploring how open-air drama might help raise awareness of atmospheric conditions, and was performance lead for the NERC Climate Stories project. I am completing a monograph on Weathering Shakespeare for Bloomsbury’s Environmental Cultures series.

• Research role:
• Academic

A former Financial Services (FS) Executive with extensive experience of strategic development and business management activities across Retail, Commercial, Wealth Management and Private Banking. I connect FS firms to the Global Systems Institute to facilitate the translation and application of climate science to improve the resilience and growth prospects of the FS industry. I help partner firms draw upon the wealth of world-leading academic expertise and industry experience across the entire university to support their efforts in responding to the Climate Emergency.

• Research roles:
• Professional Services (Impact & Partnership Development)

Human Geographer at the Environment & Sustainability Institute (Penryn) focusing on the social impacts of seaweed farming for local communities in the UK and abroad.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I am studying past climate events in tropical South America. To research this, I am studying the fossil pollen, dinoflagellate plankton and charcoal from marine cores off northern South America. By studying the microfossil and charcoal trends, it is possible to gain insights on how both the marine and terrestrial ecosystems changed during past climate events which occurred during the late Pleistocene. An understanding of past responses to climate events could prove important in understanding how ecosystems will respond to the modern, changing climate.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I am both an academic and land worker.

Academically I have been researching the mechanisms behind Gaian regulation. Particularly focussing on the meta ecosystem dynamics that lead to self regulation in natural systems.

Outside of academia, I work in sustainable land management. I am currently blending my two worlds through activities such as developing agroecological research collaborations and using our understanding of Gaia to inform land management practices.

• Research roles:
• Non stipendiary visiting fellow

Currently, our lack of understanding of physical processes in clouds, including interactions with aerosols, is the largest source of uncertainty in estimates of climate sensitivity. My research is focused on improving future estimates of climate change by reducing aerosol-cloud process uncertainty in general circulation models (GCMs). To this end, I develop novel computational strategies (Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and Lagrangian trajectory modelling) to better constrain models of aerosol-cloud-interactions in GCMs against observations.

• Research role:
• Academic

Stefano Pascucci is a social scientist interested in sustainability connected to organization theories, innovation management, entrepreneurship and value chain analysis. His research focuses on agribusiness, sustainability and circular economy. He is particularly concerned about how to analyse the interplay between sustainability, innovation and value chain configurations.

• Research role:
• Academic

Public health doctor. Former Director of NHS/PHE Sustainable Development Unit. Honorary Professor and an Associate at the Medical and Health School at the University of Exeter, UK, an Advisory Group member and associate with the Wellcome Centre for Cultures and Environments of Health,and a collaborator with the European Centre for Environment and Health and the Global Systems Institute.

• Research role:
• Academic

My background is in the tropics, especially Latin America, where I have worked for more than 20 years across 10 countries. In recent years most of my research has focused on biodiversity, biogeography and ecology of dry biomes in the tropics. Much of my work has clear implications for conservation and livelihoods, and this continues in new projects with focus on agroforestry and ecosystem restoration in some of the world’s most threatened tropical forests and savannas

• Research role:
• Academic

My research uses both field and experimental approaches to address fundamental questions about the response of coral reefs and reef islands to environmental and climatic change. This work sits at the interface between marine geology and ecology and I have, in particular, a strong interest in the impacts of ecological change on rates of reef carbonate production and on reef sediment generation. This work has significant implications for understanding reef capacity to respond to sea-level rise, and for predicting reef island shoreline change. On-going research encompasses studies in both the Indo-Pacific (Australia, Chagos, Maldives) and Caribbean regions (Mexico, Bahamas).

• Research role:
• Academic

Ajit’s research is focused on the development and deployment of optimization algorithms to aid in the design of offshore renewable energy devices and arrays. He is currently working on several projects applying optimization and machine learning techniques including: the Supergen ORE Hub Flexible Fund Project Accounting for Current in Wave Buoy Measurements where the team are developing a novel optimization-based framework for considering the impact of currents on wave buoys; the ERDF Funded Marine-I where his work supports SMEs working in marine engineering in Cornwall; the Interreg France (Channel) England supported EUROSWAC project exploring sea water cooling systems; the Supergen ORE Hub Flexible Fund project Machine Learning for Low-Cost Offshore Modelling (MaLCOM) exploring the use of machine learning to improve wave forecasting methods; and several other industry supported projects.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am working on a project to identify sustainable uses of problematic seaweed blooms in the Caribbean working towards food security and economic benefits to local communities whilst also conserving local habitats and economies.

• Research roles:
• graduate research assistant
• GSI Exchange group

Natalie has active research and teaching interests at the intersections of the arts, humanities and natural sciences. Her research explores the narrative potentials for mapping-worlds-otherwise, through multidisciplinary approaches to contemporary literary studies, especially 21C poetry and its connection with inter-artistic practices and entangled agencies.
Natalie is the author of two monographs: Fugitive Pieces: Poetry, Publishing and Visual Culture (2020) and Speaking to You (2012). Her current research focuses on electronic literature that investigates cloud computing’s ecological and social effects. She has papers forthcoming on satellite technology and the undersea network, deglaciation and sea level rise, and climate feelings.

• Research role:
• Academic

My work focuses on land management and food production as ways in which humanity profoundly influences Earth system processes. I am interested in the opportunities to reshape our influence on the Earth system for the better by using regenerative land use practices based in sound ecology. Projects at the moment are focused on community led ecosystem restoration projects in East Africa, and on modelling carbon fluxes in the global food system. As GSI Impact Research Fellow I engage with external partners and colleagues across the institute to build collaborations focused on putting our research into practice.

• Research roles:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate
• Management Board
• GSI Exchange group

I bring anarchist political thought to bear on the central problems of order and justice in world politics. Through co-production with anarchist groups, we explore questions of constitutional order in the absence of a (world) state.

• Research role:
• Academic

I undertake research in Earth Surface Science that focuses on perturbation of the terrestrial carbon cycle and ecosystem service delivery by soil erosion and sediment deposition. In addition to continuing work in Europe, Tim’s current projects take him to Guizhou Province, China (including collaboration with Peking University, Tianjin University, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Geochemistry), India (Indian Council for Agricultural Research) and South America (Brazilian National Institute for Space Research).

• Research role:
• Academic

I am an interdisciplinary academic with a physical geography background, with expertise in using and developing collaborative tools and holistic approaches to address real-world global challenges, especially focusing on water security (quantity and quality), the food-water-energy nexus, and direct and indirect anthropogenic impacts on the natural system.

• Research role:
• Academic

I lead on supporting the Director and Academic Management Team in the development of the Global Systems Institute (GSI). I coordinate the creation of the Institute’s strategy and lead on developing and delivering the operational plan to achieve the vision and strategic priorities. This includes forming transdisciplinary research teams, engagement with partner research organisations, establishing new education programmes and a vibrant doctoral training programme.

• Research role:
• Management Board

I’m interested innovating to provide value from new developments in environmental science, technology, and other related disciplines. I primarily do this via my role as Head of Product Futures at the Met Office. Among other things, I’m developing opportunities to develop products concerning: autonomous vehicles; financial and insurance sector; data platforms; AR/VR interfaces; etc.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am the Exeter based Senior Researcher for the GW4 Climate Alliance, an interdisciplinary research consortium of the universities of Bath, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter working to develop a cohesive community of GW4 climate expertise within the region and beyond.

• Research roles:
• Senior Research Administrator GW4 Climate Alliance

Previously I was based in Geography (Degree Environment) (Masters Sustainable Development). A PhD student in English, my research is in community and reaction to changing culture over time. Outside of studies I am a Founder Member (2007) and Chair of Sustainable Crediton, a Transition Town. We aim to help people in Crediton and the local area to lead more sustainable lifestyles and work towards a carbon neutral future, changing expectations and what we do in our day to day lives, to become self-supporting and resilient in the face of the coming challenges of climate change, peak oil and food insecurity.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

My PhD project, funded under the H2020 MISTRAL programme, will evaluate how publics can have greater input into local consenting and national energy policy making, relative to incumbent large-scale utilities, to enable energy transitions that are both just and socially acceptable.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

My research aims to further understanding of: 1) how tropical ecosystems respond to environmental change through empirical research and vegetation modelling; 2) the best way to restore tropical ecosystems following degradation;

• Research role:
• Academic

Dr. Sandover is a Lecturer in Human Geography at The University of Exeter with research interests in Sustainable Food Networks, food policy partnerships and Public Participation in Climate Change policy making.Using a knowledge co-production approach, she has in recent years been investigating action toward the formation of sustainable food networks in the South West UK particularly focused on building local food partnerships with local authorities. From 2018-2020 she has led research on three collaborative and interdisciplinary food networks projects in Devon and Cornwall. She has been recently researching Publication Participation in Climate Change policy making, exploring the setting up of the Devon Climate Emergency’s Net Zero Citizen Assembly.

• Research role:
• Academic

With research focused on population health statistics and health services design and consultancy, and with expertise in computational fluid dynamics of the cardiovascular system, the aim is to promote good health and well-being, one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Working in big data science (e.g. www.data-mashup.org.uk) at the interface between climate and human health sciences, the research aims to develop new numerical simulation tools supporting services protecting people and building more resilient healthcare.

• Research roles:
• Met Office, ECEHH

I’m visual artist undertaking health and well-being related practice as research in the Drama Department. My work is often in response to careful listening and I’m keen to open my ears to those who find themselves pushed to the margins. I employ performative drawing and diagramming as active forms of coming to know and make sense of what it is to be human entangled in a more-than- human world.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I lead research and production of long range predictions at the Met Office. These predictions allow government and business adapt to climate variability and extreme events as climate change unfolds.

• Research role:
• Academic

I work on Citizen-Led Science: a participatory endeavour that seeks to establish new relationships and political possibilities at the interface of Science and Society. I have explored genomics, digital activism and forensics in collaboration with grassroots activists, NGOs and interested stakeholders dealing with mass atrocities, human rights violations and environmental crimes. My ethnographic research explores how biomedical and forensic scientific projects shape the public sphere and claims for sovereignty in Mexico and Colombia, and more recently I have conducted research in Japan and Indonesia. I am currently developing a research agenda for inclusive smartness and urbanism in Mexico City.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• Management Board

My research focuses on the climate of the polar regions and in particular, how Arctic sea-ice loss influences mid-latitude weather and climate. Effective climate action is best informed by credible climate prediction and projections. Achieving credible climate predictions and projections can, ultimately, only be achieved by understanding changes in terms of their physical drivers (such as Arctic sea-ice loss) and by improving climate models such that biases are significantly reduced.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am interested in understanding the large-scale dynamics of the atmosphere and oceans of Earth (and sometimes other planets too). I use a combination of idealised models, comprehensive general circulation models, and observational data.

• Research role:
• Academic

I have a BSc in Chemical engineering, MSc in Energy Science and Technology and PhD in Energy and Environmental Modelling. Currently, I am working as a postdoctoral researcher with Prof Timothy Lenton and Dr Jean Francois Mercure for several projects such as NAVIGATE and EARTH LEAGUE. My recent research is focused on investigating global interactions of sector policies (energy tax, power, transport, residential, industry, etc) by using macro-economic, energy and environmental model E3ME-FTT-GENIE.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

My work relates to the study of vegetation and how it interacts with climate, at local, regional and global scales. Recent work has focused on temperate & tropical ecosystems and the role of climate, land-use change and changing atmospheric composition on ecosystem service provision. This includes trade-offs and co-benefits of land-use in the future, and the role of land-based climate mitigation to avoid dangerous climate change.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a published novelist and poet, specialising in environmental and speculative literature, with a focus on future landscapes, climate change and the Anthropocene. As a writer and researcher I have a particular interest in interdisciplinary practice and working with natural and social scientists to explore the role that creativity can play in tackling major environmental and social issues. I am on the steering committee of the UK Future Earth ECR Network and a member of ASLE-UKI. My debut novel Doggerland was published by 4th Estate in 2019 and was a Guardian Book of the Year.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am an environmental social scientist with a wide range of research interests. My research generally focuses on developing a better understanding of innovation and systemic inertia in energy and other complex systems, and the implications thereof for meeting both policy and societal objectives.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• SDG Lead

Professor David B. Stephenson is Director of the Exeter Climate Systems (XCS) research centre, which has grown impressively since he founded it upon his arrival in Exeter in 2007. His research focuses on the development and novel application of statistical modelling to understand climate processes and predictions. Since 1989, he has published more than 170 well-cited papers and a leading book on forecast verification (H-index of 70). He was one of the authors in the 2013 IPCC 5th assessment report: lead author on chapter 14 and contributing author on chapters 2 and 9.
He is an elected member of the prestigious Academia Europaea – the European Academy of Science. In 2012, he was awarded the Adrian Gill prize of the Royal Meteorological Society for pioneering interdisciplinary collaboration between climate and statistical science.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am researching the causes of climate change and the extent to which the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events are being affected by human-induced emissions. I am also very interested in the wider public engagement in climate science and led the NERC funded project Climate Stories (www.climatestories.org.uk)

• Research role:
• Academic

My research focuses on the third generation photovoltaics such as perovskite, dye sensitised solar cells etc. My research is focusing on water purification and pollution-free water.

• Research role:
• Academic

I’m a Senior Lecturer in Renewable Energy. My research is focussing on Reliability Engineering for Renewable Energy technologies. This include the numerical modelling of energy technologies, the system reliability assessment and technical Due Diligence. I have led and collaborated on several international development projects in South Africa, China and the Philippines, ranging from offshore wind energy to solar systems in rural communities

• Research role:
• Academic

I work on large-scale atmospheric dynamics, with a particular focus on atmosphere-ocean interaction and teleconnections. Using simple numerical models and theory, I am trying to better understand these connections, and how they impact different parts of the world on seasonal and climate timescales.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research is interdisciplinary and solutions-focused, using engagement and science communication approaches to apply biosciences research to global issues. I work with a wide range of external partners to focus on sustainable development, in particular regarding pharmaceutical pollution of aquatic systems. My work includes finding solutions to mitigate the risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and to promote more sustainable food production and healthcare systems.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I develop weather and climate models; climate dynamics.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research interests and expertise are in Hydrogen Energy, Sustainable Fabrication of Nanoporous Composites, and Neutron Scattering Characterisation technique.
Mi Tian significantly contributes to the development of porous polymer composite for on-board hydrogen system, which has a direct impact on light-weighted vehicle and low carbon economy. She has been leading the research on neutron scattering technique for hydrogen energy materials, which provides the fundamental properties of hydrogen and hence leads to novel hydrogen material design.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a NERC GW4+ DTP PhD student in Geography at the University of Exeter, in collaboration with the Met Office. My PhD project is entitled “Keeping above the waves? The response of coastal freshwater peatlands to sea-level rise”.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

My research relates to long-term vegetation dynamics in high biodiversity hotspots in tropical South America, both inland and on coastal areas. My results and outputs can inform and contribute to mitigate several global challenges including: sustainable use of resources, ecosystem management, restoration and conservation, and understanding the effects of future global change on biodiversity.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• SDG Lead

Dr Maya Vachkova is a systems thinker and facilitator with a passion for peace and participatory organisational transformations. She holds an LLM, an MA in Peace, Conflict and Development and a PhD in Systems Thinking.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am looking for the understanding of food consumers’ intentions and purchase behaviour around local/organic food and their relatedness to alternative food networks as a way to address a sustainable agro-food system. My research interests are food sovereignty, food citizenship and food security and nutrition in Latin American countries.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

My research focuses on global climate change and its impacts on vulnerable states and communities, with a particular focus on Small Island Developing States. It explores the relationship between international human rights law and climate justice and seeks to address legal lacuna in the protection available to climate-vulnerable communities, particularly those at risk of displacement.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am a Chartered Meteorologist with over 20 years professional experience. I am a specialist in the design, implementation and evaluation of weather and climate information services (WCIS). I support major international development organisations, national governments, NGOs and other institutional actors to work with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services and their stakeholders at national, sub-regional and regional levels to provide inclusive, actionable WCIS to improve livelihoods and resilience of communities. I am foremost a practitioner in meteorology but have a broad academic background including psychology and have a particular interests in effective communication, co-production and enabling behaviour change.

• Research roles:
• Independent International Development Consultant

More than 1.3 billion of people live in slums over the world, and the projected figure is over 2 billion people by 2050. The use of Portland cement-based materials in building has two main drawbacks: (a) its availability and cost in developing, land-locked countries with poor infrastructures that are fully dependent on importation; (b) the environmental impact of the production of PC, totalling about 1 ton of CO2 emitted per each ton of PC produced and resulting in 8-10%. My research focusses on the use of alternative building materials, fostering the use of waste/by-products in a circular economy approach

• Research role:
• Academic

Investigating Earth system feedbacks and the history of Oxygen. In particular, using Dynamic Global Vegetation Models (DGVMs) to investigate the role in which fire has played in keeping Oxygen levels relatively constant over time.

• Research roles:
• Postgraduate
• GSI Exchange group

Stuart is a research fellow at the University of Exeter in Cornwall, with an interest in tidal stream energy, reliability, life cycle assessment, emissions and impact modelling.
He has previously worked on modelling the impact plastic waste and replacing plastic with bioplastic in the UK and Africa, the impact of milk production and agriculture, defossilising the electricity supply and tidal hydrodynamics.
He is a Charterer Engineer and member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, and a STEM Ambassador.

• Research roles:
• Academic
• GSI Exchange group

Postdoctoral Research Associate
MEMBRA (Understanding Memory of Treescapes for Better Resilience and Adaptation), part of the NERC-funded ‘Future of UK Treescapes’ programme, University of Exeter, Department of Classics and Ancient History, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4RJ
Project Twitter: @MEMBRA_Trees
My Twitter: @WallaceHare

τοῖσι φέρει μὲν γαῖα πολὺν βίον, οὔρεσι δὲ δρῦς
ἄκρη μέν τε φέρει βαλάνους, μέσση δὲ μελίσσας…

For them, the Earth bears a great living, while on the mountains the oak / Bears acorns on the top, and bees in the middle.
(Hesiod, Works and Days 232-33)

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I am a Lecturer in World Literatures in the Department of English and Film at the University of Exeter. My research examines contemporary African literature and the creative industries, with a particular emphasis on literature’s relationship to cities and communities, and on the infrastructures of publishing and creative writing training. My work has been published in Wasafiri, Research in African Literatures and the Routledge Handbook of African Literature. I am a Director for Kigali-based publishing company Huza Press, a co-founder and editor of www.africainwords.com, and co-producer of Africa Writes Bristol 2019.

• Research role:
• Academic

My PhD uses Data Science to explore the ways in which climate change, conflict and migration intersect. My research interests are in machine learning, complex systems and climate justice.

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

I am an Earth system scientist, with expertise in the processes that have kept this planet habitable over more than four billion years, and a special interest in the factors controlling atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, both naturally and in the modern, human-disturbed world. I work on observational ocean and atmospheric science, modelling and theory, currently for example with projects on the uptake of CO2 by the oceans, the mechanisms behind low carbon dioxide in glacial time, and what controls atmospheric oxygen. Understanding the complex Earth system is essential if we are to have a sustainable long-term future on this planet.

• Research role:
• Academic

I use atmopsheric dispersion modelling to understand and forecast airborne-transported hazards to enable people to stay safe and thrive. My research interests include developing, improving and validating models, e.g., NAME (the Met Office’s Lagrangian dispersion model), and applying dispersion modelling to a wide-range of natural and man-made hazards, including volcanic eruptions, air quality and pollution, animal, human and plant diseases, chemical, biological and radiological releases, fires and Saharan dust. I am also interested in multi-disciplinary efforts to assess health, financial and environmental impacts and in the communication of modelling results and uncertainty to non-specialists, other disciplines and customers.

• Research role:
• Academic

Gail Whiteman is a Professor of Sustainability at the University of Exeter Business School (UK). She is a social science expert how decision-makers make sense of systemic global risks from climate change and other environmental threats.

• Research role:
• Academic

My research involves addressing global challenges through robust modelling of the interactions between people and their environment, with a focus on food resources, vegetation, water availability and land-surface feedbacks.

• Research roles:
• Met Office
• Academic
• GSI Exchange group

My research analyses large datasets from social media and the Web to address questions related to environmental issues. Core topics include mapping the complex media ecosystem around climate change and using social media to observe social impacts of extreme weather and natural hazards. I am interested in any novel application of data and computational methods to environmental problems.

• Research role:
• Academic

Tipping points in the Earth system, emergent constraints on climate sensitivity, using conceptual models to understand more complex ones

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I work on three related global challenges: sustainable agriculture, food security and land management. I am a social scientist but usually work with natural scientists.

• Research role:
• Academic

A part of the Business School, practitioner delivering marketing modules with a particular focus on ethical and environmental communications. Also work part time for Iken Associates consultancy, delivering strategic sustainability projects for clients including Heathrow airport, NHS and the Liberal Democrats.

• Research role:
• Academic

I focus on energy policy and regulation. Researching how to enable a shift to more sustainable energy systems.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am researching alternative stable states in tropical vegetation and in general tipping in spatiotemporal systems. Current applications: Amazonian forest and Sahel vegetation resilience. The former is important for gobal biodiversity and climate feedbacks, the latter is linked to recurring famines in North Africa. I am relying on tools from dynamical systems, phase transitions, networks and data science to set up rigorous and empirically justified conceptual models.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

I am a motivated research leader with a strong technical background and rich experience in interdisciplinary research around Energy, Water, Food, Environment and Sustainability. I lead the Exeter Energy, Environment & Economy (4E) research group at the Environment and Sustainability Institute (ESI). I work in a transdisciplinary way to develop computer-based models and tools to quantitatively and holistically assess the environmental, economic and social sustainability of a wide range of sociotechnical systems at local, regional and global scales. The overarching aim of my research is to help governments, industries and the public make more informed decisions with regard to sustainability.

• Research role:
• Academic

I am involved in geothermal energy exploration for deep (>2 km) geothermal targets in Cornwall and Devon. The work is in collaboration with the British Geological Survey, Heriot-Watt University and industrial partners such as GeoScience Ltd and Geothermal Engineering Ltd who are currently operating the United Downs Deep Geothermal Project site. I am a firm believe that geothermal energy can provide a new baseline green energy source globally and I am particularly interested in deep sources of heat for geothermal energy away from active plate boundaries.

• Research role:
• Postdoctoral Research Associate

My research topic is the effect of climate change and climate extremes on the production of rice, wheat and maize in China

• Research role:
• Postgraduate

Chendi Zhang is Professor of Finance and the Director of Exeter Sustainable Finance Centre. He is interim Associate Dean for Research & Knowledge Transfer at the University of Exeter Business School. He specialises in sustainable and responsible finance, corporate finance, behavioural finance, and emerging markets.

• Research role:
• Academic