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Summary

I am a Senior Lecturer in sustainability and the built environment at the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú teaching on several modules within Civil Engineering & Surveying. Within this role I also support research and business engagment with the  Innovation hub to help move businesses towards .

I work within the Innovate UK funded SHAPE UK and SEA CHANGE projects. These projects aim to decarbonise shipping by engaging directly with technology specialists and end users. 

Within the University Revolution Plastics institute, I have coordinated a think piece for the and  , and the UN's first Compass Report on . Outputs from this work have been reported in multiple Conversation pieces and articles.

Ideas from this work and the impacts that COVID-19 are having on waste were published in , with another recent piece on the scale and impacts of  leading to a Nature article on .

Biography

I graduated from the University of Southampton in 2011 with a MSci (Hons) degree in Oceanography. After which I completed a in Civil Engineering within the , Southampton, where I grew and converted this into  using wastewater technology. During the completion of my PhD I undertook a fully funded PGCE from the in secondary and tertiary physics at Southampton, whilst working part-time for the OU on the project.

My Research career continued at Southampton, developing a of the waste management infrastructure of the UK, with the outputs used to direct the . Alongside this, I worked on projects utilising the for a large wastewater company. I also lectured on numerous civil engineering, environmental science and earth and ocean modules, as well as supporting tutees and project students.

In 2018, I joined the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú's , with the main goal of supporting SMEs and industry in reaching Net Zero. Within this role, I have worked on a large project on .

Within the University's Revolution Plastics initiative I am currently coordinating a research project for the G20 and the UNEP on reducing the flow of plastics into the ocean.

Research interests

As a researcher with a degree in ocean sciences, a PhD in civil engineering and a PGCE in physics, I have a broad interest in all physical sciences.

I have 4 main research and innovation areas:

1. Plastic policy analysis,
2. Waste management,
3. Energy Systems Management,
4. Business engagement and innovation.

I particularly focus on producing actionable solutions through research. Through the University's Revolution Plastics Institute I have completed multiple policy reports for UNEP, the G20, Japanese Government, IRP and Defra.

I have a strong background in , having helped develop a modelling tool for the entire UK infrastruture within the EPSRC funded project. This project modelled the key infrastructure of the UK and was used to inform the Government several times within their  of future infrastructure needs. Recently, alongside colleagues at the University of Southampton, I published an article in The Conversation on the impacts of on waste managment, which went international, and helped persuade councils to re-open Household Waste Recycling Centres safely to the public.

Through my PhD work and first postdoc, I have a keen interest in wastewater engineering and management. During my PhD, I developed methods to treat marine algae for biofuel production, producing multiple publications in the area. Within my postdoc, I took this further in developing how the  could be applied to all wastewater operations, with the outputs incorporated into Southern Water's business plan.

As sectors become interconnected, I have branched my interest into . Working on the Innovate UK  Isle of Wight Energy Autonomous Community project, I lead the economic assessment of how disruptive energy technologies and systems could be utilised by all members of society. Recently I have co lead two large Innovate UK projects into decarbonising shipping, SHAPE UK and SEA CHANGE. 

Through my work with on the Connecting Capabilities Research Fund () I engage with SMEs and industry to support them with their move to . This involves bid writing, research and development, and research consulting among other things.

Media availability

I am happy to take calls and emails from the media on my research, and am aware of the need to respond to journalists in a timely manner. Please email keiron.roberts@port.ac.uk

Interested journalists can also contact the University's Media and Communications team for support and advice on all media engagement, including out of hours.