Our experts in biomedical and healthcare technologies Name Areas of research Description Benjamin Bach data visualization data science public engagement Working on data visualization and making data accessible and understandable by experts and non-experts. Data visualization is essential in understanding complex processes and data sets. Especially, techniques from storytelling and visual communication have huge potential to communicate findings and information to large and diverse audiences. Melissa Bedinger social sciences & policy human factors resilience Interdisciplinary work in human factors, systems approaches, cascading climate impacts, and sustainable development and global health. Currently using sociotechnical systems approach in neighbourhoods or cities, to understand climate impact scenarios, model possible interventions, and inform resilience planning. Julio Bros-Williamson environmental adaptation social sciences renewable energy energy efficiency Interested in low embodied carbon materials and techniques in the built environment, energy-efficient technological solutions for the refurbishment of existing buildings, and climate change adaptation and resilience of buildings by developing solutions and low carbon building services. Dominic Campopiano biocatalysis industrial biotechnology sustainability Using biocatalysts (natural and engineered) to catalyse chemical reactions, as well as developing chemical tools to reduce waste and increase yields of enzyme-catalysed chemical reactions. James Cheney provenance data quality databases Data curation, provenance and data quality, which are particularly relevant to scientific data management settings that are generically relevant to many of the SDGs. Michael Cowley chemistry discovering new chemistry for a sustainable society Working on the chemistry of the most abundant metals in the Earth’s crust - aluminium and silicon - to provide synthetic methods to prepare bulk and fine chemicals with lower energy costs and without reliance on limited reserves of precious metals. Jamie Davies synthetic biology medicines biotechnology Focussed on improved health and well-being, particularly through research and also dissemination to and partnership wit the global south in the area of pharmacology and diagnostics. Maria Grazia De Angelis environmental protection biomedical applications clean energy sustainable materials Membranes for greenhouse gas emission reduction, sustainable materials for packaging and other applications, and development of low water, accessible and inclusive hemodialysis processes. Simone Dimartino bioprocessing adsorption technologies additive manufacturing Broadly interested in adsorption technologies for applications ranging from manufacture of new healthcare products and foodstuff to CO2 capture. Appolinaire Djikeng tropical livestock genetic improvement smallholder farmers Director of the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH). https://www.ctlgh.org/resources/publications/ Katherine Dunn electrosynbionics bionanotechnology renewable energy Research on electrosynbionics, which involves the development of devices that use biological or bio-inspired components to generate, use or store electricity. This includes biophotovoltaics and biobatteries. Javier Escudero AI data science healthcare Interested in helping clinicians address healthcare challenges, through development of algorithms to extract knowledge from physiological and biomedical time series. Particularly interested in conditions affecting the mind and brain and in digital technology that could be applicable across multiple countries and backgrounds. Daniel Fosas de Pando net zero buildings adaptation indoor air quality Expertise in sustainable buildings that enhance the indoor environment. This involves appraising impacts on occupants and the energy and environmental footprint of buildings. Given the lifespan of buildings, the scope includes research on both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Andrew Free biotechnology anti-microbial resistance biogeochemical cycling Interested in the application of microbial communities to bioremediation, sustainable waste treatment and energy generation from waste. We also have interests in the evolution and spread of antimicrobial resistance and approaches to tackling it. Debora Gottardello AI technological advancements diversity inclusion power hr Research related to the future of work and HR. How organizations and HR department can empower innovation with the right diversity & inclusion, new edge leadership and inspiring culture within workforces. Understand the way in which HR can support ecosystems that consist of more community-driven learning and enforcing social capital along with human capital. Margaret Graham biotechnology remediation renewables Remediation methods to tackle environmental contamination in urban areas, such as the use of biochar/microorganisms to remove manganese from drinking water. Bjarnhedinn Gudlaugsson energy transition renewable energy energy policy Understanding decisions and policies in the context of the energy transition, energy system and policy implementation to provide practical information and support policy-making. Lea-Anne Henry science and policy renewable energy environmental adaptation Work centred on engaging with multiple stakeholders to develop the evidence base needed to implement and build better policies around oceans and marine ecosystems. I have strong links with the fisheries, tourism, oil and gas, and renewables sectors around the Atlantic. I engage with government agencies and international conventions with the aim of co-producing the evidence we need about the impacts of our activities and climate change to ensure marine policies are truly leading us on a path toward a more sustainable future. Louise Holyoake synthetic biology proteins Interested in Synthetic Biology and how it can be utilised to create sustainable solutions. Alex Hutchison data & AI for good climate change responsible innovation The Data for Children Collaborative with UNICEF is a joint partnership between UNICEF, The Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh’s Data Driven Innovation Programme which seeks to enable improvement in outcomes for every child. We draw on the strengths of our partners and their network to bring insight and solve problems using data and responsible innovative data practices, with a focus on delivering against the Sustainable Development Goals. Our mission is to provide the platform that brings together the appropriate data and expertise to answer our challenge questions for children across a variety of themes and geographies. Susan Jarvis sustainable Food systems agritech animal welfare science Interested in Sustainable Food Systems, and in particular the role of animal welfare science to ensure sustainable and socially acceptable food production systems. Leads the delivery of UG programmes and courses in Global Agriculture and Food Security, as well as the DDI Agritech Talent programme aimed at upskilling learners in data science and technology relevant to sustainable food systems. Emily Johnston biotechnology microbial cell factories synthetic biology Development of yeast cell factories for the production of plant triterpenoid compounds. These compounds have huge potential in many industries; for example as surfactants in cleaning products, as vaccine adjuvants and anti-inflammatories in therapeutics, and as gelling agents and foam stabilisers in food products. Some compounds provide novel functionalities (SDG 3 and 9), while others are bio-based alternatives to petrochemical-derived chemicals (SGD 12 and 13). Meriem El Karoui biotechnology molecular microbiology anti-microbial resistance Works on understanding how bacteria become resistant to antibiotics and how to better find solutions to avoid resistance. We combine molecular microbiology, mathematical modelling and biophysics to address these questions Joe Kennedy sustainable food systems AI chronic disease Works on simulations to assess the health and environmental impact of shifting diets. I'm interested in utilising novel machine learning methods in such simulations to boost their performance as well as integrate new datasets to assess a broader array of questions involving land use change and biodiversity impacts. Gary Loake biotechnology agritechnology Interested in cultured plant cells as sustainable biomanufacturing platforms for high value chemicals, and sustainable solutions for crop protection. John McCloskey risk co-production urbanisation We run the GCRF Tomorrow's Cities Hub which aims to reduce disaster risk for the 2 billion new urban residents of tomorrow's rapidly expanding cities. We use interdisciplinary methods to understand risk and tools for risk assessment that can democratise the concept of risk and allow poor communities to argue for safer and more human future urban expansion. Heather McQueen Expertise in biology teaching and interested in the inclusion of SDGs in our curricula. Afshin Mehrpouya governance responsible investments business ethics Primary focus on governance of sustainability and the role of calculative devices within. Recent work explores how use of AI and Big Data are transforming governments' approaches to citizens' behavioral governance. Dominic Moran environmental, agricultural and food systems economics Interested in definitions and metrics of sustainability, economic appraisal of technological options using non-market valuation, and behavioral and political appraisal of technology adoption. Adrian Muwonge digital health and agrictech Develop tools to support Agriculture and Public health in LMICs Diego Oyarzún biotechnology synthetic biology AI data science Computational modelling and data science for better biotech solutions to global sustainability challenges. Bart Pander autotrophic biotechnology business Interested in non-photosynthetic autotrophic microbiology and biotechnology. Paul Patras AI mobile networking Interested in building neural models that aid the management of resources in mobile networks, with a view to reducing their carbon footprint. Symon Podilchak AI sensors engineering Working on a UoE spinout which deals with AI and RF solutions for recycling. Subramanian Ramamoorthy AI technology in education healthcare technologies Expertise in Robotics and AI, with broad interests in the applications of these technologies to helping address societal problems. I am particularly interested in the application of predictive modelling and design methods to advancing healthcare technologies, and technologies for energy and sustainable systems. Also, as an educator, I am keen to explore ways to improve the quality and access to education. Carys Redman-White one health modelling social sciences & policy Modelling antimicrobial use and resistance at the livestock-human interface in LMICs, with the aim of contributing to policy guidance for increased food security and health of livestock-keepers in LMICs as well as long-term global sustainability of antimicrobial drugs. Lynne Regan biotechnology agritechnology human health Expertise in biomaterials, such as hydrogels, made exclusively from recombinant proteins produced by bacteria. This method contrasts with those that use petrochemically derived components to synthesise such materials. Judy Robertson data literacy Academic lead for Data Education in Schools. We're looking for researchers who work on sustainability themes using data who might want to explain their work to school children. https://dataschools.education/. Our seminar series for teachers is themed around the sustainability goals this year. Neil Robertson drinking water solar rural Expertise in materials chemistry for application in low-cost solar photovoltaics, and electrical energy storage via batteries and supercapacitors. We also work on photocatalytic water treatment for rural communities in India, which would also be applicable to similar communities around the world. This is focused on villages where untreated surface water is currently being consumed. Susan Rosser engineering biology biotechnology biomedicine Expertise in engineering biology approaches to engineer cells to perform novel functions e.g. build pathways for the production of biosurfactants, develop enzymes for cold water cleaning and new ways for biology to build things in general. My research is also focused on developing cell and gene therapies that are cheaper, more effective and widely available. Christian Schnier veterinary health internet of things SEBI livestock (https://sebi-livestock.org/) closely works with the Gates foundation to mobilise and improve data and evidence to help the livestock community make better investments that improve livelihoods for smallholders in low and middle-income countries. Sohan Seth AI for social good AI for health AI for science Interested in developing sustainable and explainable AI models from earth observation and household surveys to understand population, poverty, etc., and working with humanitarian organisations to make these tools accessible and operational. We also support data science activities throughout the University through consultancy, analysis and engagement. Lila Skountridaki digitalisation of the workplace & decent work digitalisation of the workplace & productivity Focus on new forms of flexible work (remote work; hybrid work; the 4 day work week) assisted by the digitalisation of the workplace, and how these enhance or threaten the Quality of Working Lives (including work-life balance, staff productivity, staff well-being and employee voice). Adam Stokes robotics bioelectronics engineering Interested in robotics for a safer and sustainable world. Joyce Tait life science innovation policy and regulation responsible innovation Focus on genetic technology solutions to challenges relevant to Net Zero and biodiversity policy objectives, considering: development of business models and value chains for innovative technologies; regulatory systems, standards and guidelines and how they can support of constrain innovation. John Vines design co-creation data-driven technology Interested in issues of social responsibility around technology design and development, and co-creation of new systems with communities that are affected by and responsible for them. Conducted research around digital technologies and data-driven systems in relation to civic action, community development, and in general the role of technologies in supporting sustainable communities and address issues of social inequality. Gary Watnough EO4SDGS poverty mapping Interested in how satellite data can be leveraged for monitoring poverty and livelihoods. This is because we need more data on how SDGs are progressing but the traditional ways of doing this using household surveys are time consuming and expensive. Maria Wolters ehealth human-computer interaction Digital inclusion for health and social care. I am interested in resilient, affordable, and easily maintainable solutions for service users and key providers. I work with LMIC partners (Uganda, Nepal, India) on mental, maternal, and population health. Christopher Wood biotechnology AI bioinformatics Developing new methods for protein design. We collaborate broadly to apply our methods to address challenges in sustainability, both in agriculture and industry. We have a particular interest in developing protein-based sensors as well as novel enzymes that incorporate unnatural cofactors to expand their chemistry. This article was published on 2024-10-15
