The King's Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme
With The King's Global Sustainability Fellowship Programme, we are building a cohort of leading academics from around the world. They undertake research with the ambition of unlocking the potential of the University to partner with business, government and financial institutions on real-world challenges and opportunities that must be addressed in order to build a sustainable economy.
The Programme aims to foster new transdisciplinary thinking on sustainability, leading to practical insights, tools and recommendations for decision-makers to carry into their organisations alongside important advances in fundamental knowledge. Since 2022, the Programme has been based at CISL’s new premises; a low carbon, retrofitted building in the centre of Cambridge, which serves as a vibrant atmosphere for collaborative research.
The Programme brings outstanding individuals into CISL to research its ‘Transformation 2030 Agenda’ in zero carbon, circular economy, protection of nature, inclusive and resilient societies. Each Fellowship develops real-world solutions, encompassing relevance, practicality and research impact to enable private sector action on sustainability. Funding for the Fellowships has been secured through philanthropic donations from visionary companies, foundations and individuals.
Current Fellowships
Dr Gabriel Okello – Air quality and NCDs
Gabriel researches strategies to reduce outdoor air pollution in African cities. He is creating a platform for knowledge-sharing among key air pollution stakeholders, with the aim of building healthier communities through transition from fossil-fuelled transport to electric mobility.
Supported by AstraZeneca.
Dr Qi Song - Climate Risk in Aviation
Dr Qi Song aims to identify and prioritise the most effective short-term policy actions that can accelerate the aviation sector’s transition to net zero by 2030.
supported by Heathrow Airport
Past Fellowships
Caroline Lee – Mitigating food insecurity
Caroline examines how retailers can contribute to community wellbeing. She focuses on building resilience and tackling disadvantages in UK communities within the context of austerity and growing inequalities.
Supported by Sainsbury’s.
Dr Florence Nabwire – Nutrition in the first 1,000 days of life
Florence examines micronutrient deficiencies in the first 1000 days of life in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a particular focus on behavioural factors underlying diets in urban environments, and how businesses and policy makers can drive healthier outcomes.
Supported by Stichting Royal DSM – Brighter Living Foundation.
Dr Livia Ventura – New corporate forms
Livia is researching corporate governance frameworks which allow organisations to embed sustainability into their legal form. She applies a legal lens to business transformation with a view to fostering policy recommendations.
Supported by Anglian Water Services.
Dr Polina Yaseneva – Transforming the pulp and paper industry
Polina explored how the pulp and paper industry can find a feasible path towards sustainability. She concentrated on the development of novel applications in manufacturing polymers and consumer products.
Supported by Sappi.
Dr Anna Barford – Pathways to a just circular economy
Anna mapped pathways to a ‘just circular economy’ by focusing on the living wage. She explored how the 'circular economy’ creates jobs for young people in low-income countries, while dealing with climate change, pollution and resource constraints.
Supported by Unilever.
Dr Elia Apostolopoulou – Infrastructure and sustainable communities
Elia focused on the socio-economic and environmental consequences of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Her research considered how mega-infrastructure projects directly influence the connection between society and nature.
Supported by the Equal Opportunities Foundation.
Dr Emma Garnett – Sustainable consumption
Emma considered the role of retailers in empowering consumers to make sustainable choices. Through direct experimentation, she explored our understanding of how company sourcing and communication affect buying habits.
Supported by Sainsbury’s.
Dr Bojun Wang – Climate risk in aviation
Bojun researched scenarios for transition and physical risk within the aviation industry. He took a systems-level approach to the aviation sector and modelled financial risk with a view to including complex industry stakeholder perspectives.
Supported by Heathrow.
Caroline Lee – Community and well-being
Caroline examines how retailers can contribute to community wellbeing. She focuses on building resilience and tackling disadvantages in UK communities within the context of austerity and growing inequalities.
Supported by ASDA.
Dr Pablo Salas and Ari Ball-Burack – Radical innovation and disruption
Pablo and Ari examined how radical innovation and disruption can catalyse the transition to a sustainable economy. He works to identify the main gaps and opportunities in strategic technological and business sectors.
Supported by Paul and Michelle Gilding.
Dr Dina Khalifa – Luxury and social inclusion
Dina analysed the role of the luxury industry in the development of more equal societies. She asked how luxury brands can establish themselves as potential engines for social good.
Supported by Chanel.