The Edinburgh Earth Initiative is delighted to announce the appointment of three Earth Champions to drive transdisciplinary research and innovation in Clean Energy Systems, Circular Economy, and Sustainable Cities.

These senior academic leaders will play a central role in delivering EEI’s Strategy 2025–2030. They will shape bold research narratives, build strategic partnerships, and develop major funding proposals to strengthen the University’s response to the climate and environment crisis. Working across disciplines and with partners in academia, industry, government and communities, they will help translate Edinburgh’s research expertise into real-world solutions to the triple planetary crises.

Professor Ronan Bolton (Clean Energy Systems)

Ronan Bolton is Professor of Sustainable Energy. His work examines the interconnected policy, market and regulatory challenges of transforming carbon-based energy systems, with particular research interests in electricity market design and energy network regulation. As Earth Champion for Clean Energy Systems, he will strengthen the University’s research and innovation narrative across areas including grid and market design, carbon capture and utilisation, offshore renewables, and nuclear energy, while advancing external engagement with policy and industry stakeholders.

Professor Soledad Garcia Ferrari (Sustainable Cities)

Soledad Garcia Ferrari is Programme Director for the MSc Urban Strategies and Design. Her work focuses on current processes of urban development and regeneration in Europe and across the Global South, with particular expertise in sustainable urban planning, community empowerment, participatory approaches, and co-creation in the production and management of urban areas. As Earth Champion for Sustainable Cities, she will oversee mapping of the University’s expertise in this area and connect strengths in the built environment, urban design, and engineering with international collaboration opportunities.

Professor Louise Horsfall (Circular Economy)

Louise Horsfall is Chair of Sustainable Biotechnology and Head of the Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology. Her work focuses on the use of Engineering Biology to make manufacturing more resource efficient and to support the transition towards a sustainable, circular economy. This includes advances in bio-based processes for lithium-ion battery recycling and the combination of biosynthesised nanoparticles with cutting-edge green chemistry techniques to demonstrate routes to improved catalysis. As Earth Champion for the Circular Economy, she will strengthen and connect the University’s circular economy research community and develop strategic external partnerships.

Welcoming the new appointments, Professor Margaret Graham, Director of the Edinburgh Earth Initiative, said: “I would like to extend a very warm welcome to Louise, Ronan and Sole from the Edinburgh Earth Initiative team. We are excited to be working with you towards our transdisciplinary research, innovation and partnership development goals in the Circular Economy, Clean Energy Systems and Sustainable Cities challenge areas.”

Together, EEI’s Earth Champions will help connect expertise across disciplines, scale transformative ideas, and position the University of Edinburgh at the forefront of global climate action. Their leadership marks an important step toward delivering EEI’s vision: mobilising knowledge, partnership, and innovation to create lasting change for people and planet.

Explore the Earth Champions’ full biographies on our People page, and find out more about the Edinburgh Earth Initiative’s vision and priorities in our Strategy 2025–2030.