Meet the team

Mohammad Akrami
Lecturer in Mechanical Engineering (Engineering) (Maths)
Email: M.Akrami@exeter.ac.uk
Dr Mohammad Akrami (PhD), is a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering and a Professional Project Manager (PMP). He has experience of working with universities and institutions on developing sustainable structures and decarbonising cities and societies. UK universities as pioneers of research and development around the world are now investing to be more sustainable institutions and tackling climate change. The University of Exeter as a leading Russell group university also plans to reduce its carbon emissions. Our researchers showed how the late actions against global warming can affect biodiversity, food security, human health and even financial stability. The College of Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences can help the University achieve its goals by developing new technologies, analysing the engineering requirements, and developing plans through the Environment and Climate Emergency group.
We might be the last generations who can act against global warming.

Bill Barnes
Professor of Photonics (Physics and Astronomy)
Email: W.L.Barnes@exeter.ac.uk
Doing something positive about supporting the environment and about climate change is the biggest challenge we face. It is of course important for each of us to do what we can as individuals, but to make a real difference we need to change the way others behave as well. This is my motivation for being part of this group, to help find ways that collectively we can do more about these vital needs.

Rachel Bennett
Executive Assistant (Secretary)
Email: R.Bennett@exeter.ac.uk
I provide administrative support to the CEMPS Environment and Climate Emergency Group. The role of secretary to this group is a fantastic opportunity to support the College’s crucial climate emergency agenda and action plans. It is great to be able to play a small part in the delivery of CEMPS Environment and Climate Emergency Action Plan which is critically important for the University and wider society.

John Bruun
Lecturer in Mathematics
Email: j.bruun@exeter.ac.uk
Dr John T Bruun (CPhys) is a cross-disciplinary physicist committed to developing and building a wide understanding of the climate system including holistic energy and food solutions at global and local levels. I'm a Lecturer in Mathematics and Chair of IOP Physics Communicators Group.

Peter Cox
Professor of Climate System Dynamics (Maths)
Email: P.M.Cox@exeter.ac.uk
I am climate scientist based in Mathematics who is a member of the University's Environment & Climate Emergency board. I feel that our university, and more specifically CEMPS, should lead the way in reducing our carbon footprint. I am especially interested in student engagement and innovation on this vital topic.

Catherine Davies
Executive Officer (Professional Services Representative)
Email: C.Davies6@exeter.ac.uk
I provide business management and project management support to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean and the Director of College Operations. I lead on projects and initiatives across the College and coordinate cross directorate support for the completion of strategic initiatives.
I am pleased to be a member of this group as environment and sustainability are personal interests of mine. I believe everyone has a role to play in reducing negative environmental impact and positive impact can be made in even the smallest of changes.

Cathy Durston
Director of College Operations
Email: C.Durston@exeter.ac.uk
I have always worked in the environment field; for 17 years at an energy and environmental consultancy, for 9 years at the Met Office can now here as the Director of College Operations (DCO) in CEMPS. I am passionate about the subject and hope that in my position as DCO I can help drive some of the new initiatives forward.

Carmen Falagan Rodriguez
ECRN Representative (Penryn)
Email: C.Falagan@exeter.ac.uk
I am a post-doc in the CSM and the ESI as part of the EM3 group (Environment: Metals, Microbes and Minerals group). I am a member of the CEMPS ECRN, which organize events and provide support for post-docs. I joined the CEMPS Environment and Climate Emergency Group to be able to contribute to make the University more environmentally friendly and to minimize our carbon footprint. The University is doing a great job responding to the climate emergency challenges and it is great that I am able to contribute.


Justin Hinshelwood
Senior Lecturer (Engineering)
Email: J.Hinshelwood@exeter.ac.uk
The world has already reached the most ambitious climate international agreement in history. Targets and implementation rules have been agreed. However, anthropogenic climate change is predicted to be a major cause of species extinctions in the next 100 years and global temperatures are likely to warm by 3°C by 2100 on our current trajectory. The University of Exeter’s Environment and Climate Emergency Working Group White Paper identifies that a step change is required. Innovation in engineering, mathematics and physical sciences is vital for effective solutions and CEMPS is ideally placed to engage with these opportunities. I am passionate about these issues and I am keen to encourage the college to pick up and run with the challenge.

Katie Lewis
ECRN Representative (Streatham)
Email: kal213@exeter.ac.uk
As a member of the Early Career Research Network (ECRN) for CEMPS I have been involved with many events providing information and training for career progression. I particularly enjoy the engagement of ECRs to get the most out of their careers here in Exeter. The climate emergency is an issue that causes great concern, and personally I am always looking at ways that I can reduce the negative impact that I cause to the environment. Being a member of this group, I will bring awareness to the ways that we can improve our efforts in Exeter. Creating a more sustainable food culture on campus, with a lower carbon impact, is my main goal as part of this group. I believe that we will only see dramatic improvements when we all work together to combat this emergency so that we can live and work more sustainably.

Wolfram Möbius
Lecturer in Physics and Astronomy
Email: W.Moebius@exeter.ac.uk
It is great to see the University’s Environment and Climate Emergency declaration to turn into action through, amongst many other things, the group in CEMPS. I am glad to being able to connect the group with ongoing efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of the University’s long-distance business travel and actions in the cross-college Living Systems Institute.

Steven Spaull
Technical Services BP (Professional Services Representative)
Email: S.R.Spaull@exeter.ac.uk

Krasimira Tsaneva-Atanasova
Associate Dean for Global (Chair)
Email: K.Tsaneva-Atanasova@exeter.ac.uk
I am the Associate Dean for Global and I Chair the CEMPS Environment and Climate Emergency Group meetings. My role is to ensure that our meetings produce viable actions for the University’s continued work against climate change. It’s exciting to know that the positive outcomes our Committee members deliver will have an impact on how all in the University can make cultural changes to their behaviours, in order to help reduce our carbon footprint.

Clemens Ullmann
CSM Representative
Email: C.Ullmann@exeter.ac.uk
As a palaeoclimate researcher based at the Camborne School of Mines, I work in an environment where understanding and contextualising the severity of anthropogenic climate change as well as research on the options for mitigating human-induced alteration and destruction of the Earth's Surface System are at the core of the research agenda. Signs of accelerating extinction and increasingly severe devastations relating to extreme weather events are amongst the emotive effects of human activity that require an urgent, but scientifically informed response. Within the CEMPS Climate Emergency Action Group I want to ensure that reasonable and effective measures are taken to improve the sustainability of the Exeter campus and society in general.

Johan Wahlstrom
Lecturer in Computer Science (Computer Science)
Email: J.Wahlstrom@exeter.ac.uk
I am the representative for the Computer Science Department in the CEMPS Environment and Climate Emergency Group. By promoting sustainability initiatives across all departments, I hope that we can support the University's ongoing efforts to tackle the declared Environment & Climate Emergency, while also highlighting all the excellent research that is done at the College within climate change and the environment.

