Our team
Our core team is responsible for developing and delivering on the vision of the Edinburgh Earth Initiative alongside key partners across the institution and globally.
Professor Margaret Graham, Director
Prof Margaret Graham is a globally recognised Environmental Geochemist with extensive senior leadership experience. She has served most recently as Director of Internationalisation in the School of Geosciences, and co-directs the International Institute for Environmental Studies.
Under Margaret’s leadership, EEI will work together with the three Colleges and key professional services to harness the University of Edinburgh’s collective strengths across Schools to unlock larger-scale benefits. In a sphere of ongoing commitment that deeply engages many students, staff, communities and collaborators, this includes realising high-impact opportunities, enabling more transformative partnerships across the UK and internationally, and strengthening the institution’s ability to secure external funding.
margaret.graham@ed.ac.uk
Lucy Young, Director of Operations
Working with the Director, Lucy supports the Edinburgh Earth Initiative’s planning process and leads the delivery and review of the strategic plan. She also provides leadership and management of the staff team, and directly delivers high priority programmes to support our core objectives for the University of Edinburgh.
l.young@ed.ac.uk
Annabel Cooper, Communications Co-ordinator
As part-time Communications Co-ordinator, Annabel works collaboratively with colleagues and key University of Edinburgh partners to lead the delivery of Edinburgh Earth Initiative’s communications strategy to amplify and showcase climate research and activity across the University of Edinburgh.
Annabel is also Communication Officer at the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, a leading centre for research, teaching, policy and practice for climate action, and a centre of excellence within the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh.
annabel.cooper@ed.ac.uk
Chloe Francis, Earth Fellows Programme Manager
As programme manager Chloe oversees the delivery of the Earth Fellows programme from developing projects and recruiting Fellows, right through to showcasing achievements at the end of Fellowships. She also develops the programme so that it improves year on year and contributes robustly to the Edinburgh Earth Initiative’s objectives.
Prior to joining the University, Chloe worked as a programme manager for science education programmes. She worked with primary and secondary teachers across the UK and Ireland to support and improve science teaching.
chloe.francis@ed.ac.uk
Dr Áine Ryan, Head of Research Engagement
As Head of Research Engagement, Áine works with colleagues across the University to strategically grow climate and sustainability related research activity, income, outputs, and impact. Our support for research will be focused on the strategic growth or expansion of research communities that are aligned to our core research themes, or that offer new connections across them.
Previously, Áine was based in Edinburgh Research Office, as International Research Funding Manager, where she led the University’s EU & International research funding portfolio team (formerly the ‘Europe Team’). Prior to joining the University of Edinburgh, Áine held research management roles at both Heriot-Watt University and the University of Glasgow. Before moving to a career in research management, she worked as a postdoc in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York.
aine.ryan@ed.ac.uk
Heather Stewart, Trusts & Foundations Manager
As Trusts & Foundations Manager, Heather works jointly across the Edinburgh Earth Initiative and the Development & Alumni team. Heather’s focus is to increase the amount of funding coming into the university specifically for climate, environment and sustainability related activities and for the Edinburgh Earth Initiative directly.
h.stewart@ed.ac.uk
Dr Kate Symons, Senior Research Partnership Manager – Scotland Beyond Net Zero
Kate Symons leads on the programme management of all aspects of the Scotland Beyond Net Zero partnership. Kate has experience working with the Scottish Government on evidence to support net zero and just transition policy, particularly focussing on local government, business and industry, and green economic growth.
Kate has a PhD in global development and has worked on research and teaching partnerships in Kenya, Uganda and Mozambique, as well as Scotland.
k.symons@ed.ac.uk
Our People
Collective climate action
The Earth Edinburgh Initiative supports an inspiring community of academics from across the natural, physical, and social sciences, professional services staff, and students with a range of expertise essential in delivering on the vision of the Earth Initiative.
Fellows
An integral part of the Edinburgh Earth Initiative community, Earth Fellows are undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students at the University of Edinburgh who work on impactful, short term, paid climate, environment and sustainability related projects and research.
Juliet Booker
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Climate and sustainability in the curriculum
Juliet Booker is a student in the Master’s in Landscape Architecture (MLA) programme at the University of Edinburgh. She holds a BA in journalism and a certificate in landscape design. Juliet previously worked at Concordia University in Montreal, supporting indigenizing and decolonizing initiatives. She is particularly interested in the role storytelling plays in sustainability and, alongside working as an Earth Fellow, she is a co-convener of Edinburgh School Architecture and Landscape Architecture Climate Action.
Juliet is one of the Earth Fellows for Sustainability and Curriculum. Working with the Department of Social Responsibility and Sustainability, her project is focused in two parts: helping to organise a conference for the Teaching Climate and Sustainability Community of Practice and curriculum mapping sustainability and material use in the Edinburgh College of Arts.
Freya Buckley
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Cultural and Environmental adaptations to new seasons
Freya is a Film Studies MSc student at the University of Edinburgh, with an undergraduate degree in English Literature from the University of Oxford.
As part of the Cultural and Environmental adaptations to new seasons project, Freya is helping to produce a literature review on seasons and sustainability, as well as establishing a network of people interested in this area of climate change knowledge.
Out of work, Freya follows a vegan lifestyle for environmental and ethical reasons and is a member of Surfers Against Sewage.
Rachel Carlile
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Urban agriculture in Edinburgh
Rachel is a PhD student in the School of Social and Political Science, researching community-based food growing projects and the political economic dynamics shaping efforts to create agroecological food systems.
In her role as an Earth Fellow, Rachel will look at the connection between gentrification and urban food growing in Edinburgh, seeking to understand the ways in which food and housing justice play out and are addressed by different people in the city.
Alys Daniels-Creasey
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Woodland restoration research strategy development
Alys is a PhD researcher at the University of Edinburgh working in collaboration with the Scottish Land Commission.
Her research focuses on how investments in Scotland’s natural capital are impacting local communities and asks how these processes can align with visions of justice.
This research complements her work as an Earth Fellow, which involves understanding what knowledge needs woodland restoration practitioners have and co-developing a research strategy to address these needs.
Maria Garcia-Blanes Martinez
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Coastal carbon baselining
Maria is currently an Environmental Protection and Management MSc student at the University of Edinburgh. As an Earth Fellow she is supporting the Coastal Carbon Baselining project. She has previously undertaken a Biochemistry BSc and worked within several research groups under this discipline before deciding to bring this expertise to the extensive task that is the characterisation of climate change effects and carbon mitigation.
Esther Githinji
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Digital Media Officer Sustainable Forests and Landscapes
Esther is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh, pursuing a MSc in Environment and Development with a focus on climate justice and exploring the power of cross-sectoral collaboration and knowledge exchange in addressing the climate crisis.
In her professional work, Esther serves as a cross-sectoral conservation practitioner, developing and delivering innovative, impact programs and projects that foster collaborations between conservationists and local communities towards driving sustainable conservation efforts with a Global South focus. Esther also has extensive experience working across climate and conservation focused organisations crafting communications materials and strategies tailored to convey compelling conservation stories to diverse audiences.
In her role as an Earth Fellow: Digital Media Officer Sustainable Forests and Landscapes, Esther will help to develop and implement the digital communication strategy of the Centre for Sustainable Forests and Landscapes, aimed at growing their reach and delivering sustainable collective impact.
Mary Joboson
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Carbon impact of software
Mary is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh’s Futures Institute, where she is pursuing an MSc in Data, Inequality and Society, with a focus on artificial intelligence, ethical data practices and sustainable futures. Prior to joining the University, Mary practiced law at a leading law firm, providing legal advisory and regulatory support to multinational corporations, government agencies, and international NGOs. With a comprehensive background in data analysis, environmental law, policy, and project management, coupled with a strong commitment to sustainability, she brings a wealth of knowledge and practical experience to the Edinburgh Earth Initiative. As an Earth Fellow, researching the carbon impact of software, she seeks to contribute to the University’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions.
George Mayenga
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Post-Carbon Africa Conference Project
George is a PhD candidate at the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems at the University of Edinburgh and the Jameel Observatory for Food Security and Early Action. His research focuses on how local communities and organisations in the Horn of Africa’s drylands adapt to climate change-related shocks such as conflicts, droughts, and floods. He also explores how formal systems and policies can better support these adaptive mechanisms.
As an Earth Fellow, George works on the Post-Carbon Africa Conference Project with the Centre of African Studies. He handles the project’s administrative tasks and develops a detailed thematic document outlining key areas for a post-carbon Africa’s future. He previously worked as a Climate Change Finance Intern with the Climate Policy Initiative. He holds a degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, and a Master’s in Climate Change Science and Policy from the University of Bristol
Beth Pottle
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Challenging assumptions on yield and biodiversity
Beth is a student on the Planetary Health MSc at Edinburgh Futures Institute.
In her role as an Earth Fellow, Beth will be working on a project looking at different implications of polyculture uptake. This will include helping to produce a systematic map of published research on polyculture and a literature review on the socio-economic impacts of polyculture uptake in farming systems.
Beth is keen to explore how sustainable food systems fit into the context of wider planetary health and hopes to explore this further during her time as an Earth Fellow this year.
Masood Ur Rehman
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Advancing a socio-technical approach to aquifer systems
Masood is a researcher and scholar currently pursuing a PhD at the School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh. His doctoral research, titled “Climate-induced scarcity or governance failure? Denaturalizing drought in Balochistan”, delves into the intricate interplay of socio-political and environmental factors that heighten vulnerability in disaster-prone regions.
With a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Pakistan, Masood brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to his work. He has extensive experience as a consultant on GIS-based projects, collaborating with organizations like the Government of Balochistan and UNDP to address critical regional challenges.
As part of his role with the Edinburgh Earth Initiative (EEI), Masood is advancing a socio-technical approach to aquifer systems. His work focuses on developing innovative social scientific methods to reframe aquifer modeling and management as deeply interconnected social and technical practices, fostering sustainable solutions for water resource management.
Masood’s passion for understanding and addressing complex environmental issues drives his mission to make meaningful contributions to climate change adaptation.
Jennifer Salmon
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Learning for a Sustainable Future at COP
Jenny is a George Moore Scholar at the University of Edinburgh where she is pursuing an LLM in Global Environment and Climate Change Law. She graduated from Law LL.B in Trinity College Dublin.
Jenny is the outgoing UNFCCC Climate Youth Delegate for Ireland where she was part of Ireland’s National Climate Delegation and the Youth Climate Negotiators Fundamental Cohort for COP28. Prior to COP28 she surveyed Irish youth and wrote these findings into Ireland’s negotiating priorities. She represented Irish youth at COP27 in Egypt with NGO Concern Worldwide as their inaugural Youth Climate Ambassador – advocating for climate justice and amplifying the voices of those directly impacted by climate change.
As an Earth Fellow, she hopes to continue to contribute to demystifying the UNFCCC international climate process through working on two MOOCs: ‘Learning for a Sustainable Future’ and ‘Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP29’.
Mai Li Spencer
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Circular Economy research community
Mai Li is an MSc student at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, pursuing Circular Economy.
As an Earth Fellow, she will support the Circular Economy Research Community Project. In her role, Mai Li will research and map the University’s circular economy efforts and develop workshops to identify creative solutions for enhancing the circular economy research network.
Previously, Mai Li studied Business Economics and worked in sustainable development in the nonprofit sector. Passionate about circular transitions and futures studies, she is excited to contribute to innovative design-focused solutions for the University.
Rachel Sharp
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Student voice in curriculum transformation
Rachel is a Master’s student in Developmental Science at the University of Edinburgh.
As an Earth Fellow, Rachel is working with the Curriculum Transformation Project and Strategic Change Unit to develop curriculum pathways and enrichment opportunities for students.
With a focus on sustainability, the enrichment opportunities are aimed at offering students more than just their disclipline-specific knowledge, such as Medical students having the opportunity to engage with topics related to social justice during the course of their degree.
Katherine Taylor
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: University engagement with COP
Katherine is a PhD researcher within the School of GeoSciences at the University of Edinburgh researching compound drought and heatwave events and whether these can be reconstructed over the last millennium to understand future climate risks.
In her role as an Earth Fellow, Katherine will be ensuring that the University is able to engage effectively with both Biodiversity and Climate COP by identifying links between the University research areas and the priorities for both meetings.
Prior to starting her PhD, Katherine worked in a variety of roles across the Civil Service developing her interest in climate policy and governance.
Katherine Troeller
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Climate and sustainability in the curriculum
Katherine is a student on the Global Environment, Politics and Society MSc at Edinburgh. Prior to starting her masters, she spent 5 years working in policy and evaluation, first in the health and social care sector and then education. She is passionate about the opportunity that higher education provides to engage students in climate and sustainability.
Kaia Waxenberg
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Climate change, land management and river flows
Kaia Waxenberg is a PhD candidate at the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Systems. Her research uses global modelling approaches to explore relationships between income inequality, climate change, and food demand.
Kaia holds an MSc in Environmental Protection and Management from the University of Edinburgh and a BA in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Her previous work focused on building the technology and science behind Agrecalc, a leading farm carbon calculator.
As an Earth Fellow, Kaia is researching the effects of climate change and land use policy on river flows in England and Scotland.
Nick Wray
Postgraduate Earth Fellow: Climate change, land management and river flows
Nick is a PhD candidate in the School of Engineering, part of a team looking at how land use policy has affected development and streamflow behaviour in the UK. As an Earth Fellow, Nick is collaborating with Kaia Waxenberg to research the effects of climate change and land use policy on river flows in England and Scotland.
Nick has a background in statistical consultancy, working for various industrial clients, mostly in the railway and electrical engineering sectors.
Secondments
Beth Christie
Beth Christie is a Senior Lecturer in the Institute for Education, Teaching and Leadership in the Moray House School of Education.
Beth is Senior Lecturer Outdoor and Environmental Education, Programme Director MSc Learning for Sustainability, Academic Lead MOOC Learning for a Sustainable Future, Academic Lead MOOC Learning for a Sustainable Future: Live at COP28 and Partner Learning for Sustainability Scotland (UN Regional Centre of Expertise in ESD (Scotland)).
Dr Lars Schewe (Alumni)
Dr Lars Schewe, Reader in Operational Research at the School of Mathematics, was seconded to the Edinburgh Earth Initiative in 2022/23, helping to foster connections between the School of Mathematics, other Schools across the University, and external partners – a collaboration that can potentially translate to large funding bids in the future.
Alumni
Meet our Earth Fellows Alumni – undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students at the University of Edinburgh who have worked on impactful, short term, paid climate related projects and research with Edinburgh Earth Initiative since 2022.
Find out moreTalent
Join our growing community through our Talent Directory of PhD students who are working on climate, environmental and sustainability related research projects at the University of Edinburgh and interested in opportunities and paid short-term work focused on research and partnerships. We welcome interest from all disciplines and backgrounds.
Find out more