SRI Research Affiliates programme enters its 2nd successful year and welcomes a its new Research Affiliates

Research Affiliate Lunch: Karina Townsend Presenting

The 2025-26 academic year has brought with it a new cohort of Research Affiliates to grow the sustainability research environment at UEL. Following a highly successful first year of collaboration, networking, and support, the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) is delighted to announce the continuation and expansion of the SRI Research Affiliates Programme as it enters its second year.

Launched in 2024 as part of the UEL Affiliates Programme, the initiative was established to strengthen collaboration between academics in UEL's Schools and those in the Research Institutes, to foster an inclusive and vibrant research culture, and to enhance knowledge exchange and collaboration. Since its inception, the programme has provided valuable opportunities for researchers to build interdisciplinary connections. This has included developing collaborative projects, co-authoring research outputs, developing research-informed taught courses, delivering collaborative events, and increasing the visibility and impact of Affiliates’ research.

Photo by Karina Corada-Perez

The success of the programme over the first twelve months demonstrated the value of connecting researchers with shared interests and ambitions. Research Affiliates have benefited from access to SRI's interdisciplinary networks, opportunities to participate in research seminars and events, support for collaborative external funding bids, and mentoring opportunities designed to encourage professional growth and research excellence.

Aligned with SRI's core themes of Blue-Green Infrastructure, Sustainable Materials and Resources, Sustainable Society, and Clean and Renewable Energy the programme continues to provide a framework for meaningful collaboration both within the University and with external partners.

As we embark on our second year, we are pleased that our existing Affiliates (Anna Caffrey, Alan Chandler, Clare Qualmann, Clare Penny, Christian T Groothuizen, Carl Hayden Smith, Elizabeth Westhead, James Beale, and Teresa Serrano) are joined by our newest Affiliates in the SRI community:

Hasan Baig, Claudia Brazzale, Arman Hashemi, Ravindra Jayaratne, Richard Matthews, Charlotte Harris, Claudia Da Palma Romao, Julie Botticello, Keita Tajima, Maryam (Sajedeh) Mollasalehi, Yang Li, Catalina Pollak, Andrew Branch, Lee Brown and Karina Townsend. 

Photo by Teresa Serrano

Bringing this diverse expertise and research interests together will further strengthen UEL's commitment to delivering impactful, interdisciplinary research that addresses some of society's most pressing sustainability challenges.

We extend a warm welcome to all our new Affiliates and look forward to another successful year of collaboration, innovation, and impactful research.

Photo by Mehri Khosravi

Photo by Georgemma Hunt