The College has a close working relationship with Cambridge Zero, the University of Cambridge’s response to the climate crisis, whose Director, Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE is a College Fellow.
Sustainability is a global challenge which spans all disciplines. The current Master of the College, Dr Mike Rands, is a conservation biologist, former Chief Executive for BirdLife International and Founding Director of the Cambridge Conservation Initiative. Darwin’s Fellowship also includes leaders in biodiversity conservation, climate science, engineering and public health.
The College has a close working relationship with Cambridge Zero, the University of Cambridge’s response to the climate crisis, whose Director, Professor Emily Shuckburgh OBE is a College Fellow.
Miriam Remshard, PhD student in Psychology at Peterhouse College, is the current Sustainability Project Manager, a two-year part-time role in which she works with students and staff across the College to support sustainable activity and ensure that Darwin’s impact on the environment continues to be considered in every aspect of College life. Miriam took on the role in October 2024, succeeding Meg Groom.
The College is committed to supporting research addressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals at all levels of its public engagement and sharing of research.
In 2021, Cambridge Zero, the Centre for Science and Policy, and Darwin College created the Cambridge Zero Darwin College David Mackay Research Associates, named in memory of Darwin College Smithson Research Fellow and author of Sustainable Energy: Without the Hot Air (2008), Sir David MacKay. Up to three postdoctoral researchers are appointed for one year to pursue research related to climate change. Three cohorts have so far been appointed.
In 2023, Dr Angie Burnett (2021-22) was appointed one of the founding Programme Directors at the UK’s new Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), focusing on future food security. Dr James Smith (2021-22) organised a Planetary Health Series, hosting the final workshop at Darwin, also in 2023.
In the autumn of 2022, the second cohort of David Mackay Research Associates each organised events for the Cambridge Zero Climate Change Festival, exploring ocean-based carbon dioxide removal, climate litigation, and passive cooling strategies in the UK’s built environment.
