Department professor named Cambridge Zero co-director

Professor Sam Stranks has been appointed co-director of Cambridge Zero, the University’s flagship climate initiative, working alongside Professor Ronita Bardhan to help drive the University’s research, innovation and policy engagement on climate change.

The appointment marks a new chapter for Cambridge Zero as it continues its mission to connect expertise from across the University to accelerate solutions for a resilient, equitable and zero-carbon future. Together, Professors Stranks and Bardhan bring complementary strengths spanning clean energy, technological innovation, climate adaptation, public health and the built environment.

Professor Stranks, Professor of Energy Materials and Optoelectronics in the Department (of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology), is internationally recognised for his research on emerging semiconductors and next-generation solar energy technologies. His work combines fundamental scientific discovery with real-world impact, translating research breakthroughs into innovation, entrepreneurship and climate solutions.

“I am inspired to take on this role at a pivotal time in the push to a zero-carbon future, with the rise of many competing pressures making the challenge even greater. Cambridge Zero is key to unlocking the University’s full potential across all disciplines,” said Professor Stranks.

As co-director, Professor Stranks will help strengthen connections across disciplines, support ambitious climate research and innovation, and expand the translation of Cambridge knowledge into practical action. His appointment reflects Cambridge Zero’s commitment to bringing together expertise from across the sciences, engineering, social sciences and humanities to address the climate and biodiversity crises.

Professor Stranks is a Fellow of Clare College and an elected Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Physics. His research focuses on the optical and electronic properties of emerging semiconductors and their applications in photovoltaics, lighting and detectors.

Beyond academia, he has translated his research into entrepreneurial ventures including Swift Solar and Clarity Sensors, and is also involved in Sustain/Ed, a not-for-profit organisation developing climate solutions education for school-age children. His contributions to the field have been recognised through numerous honours, including the 2021 Leverhulme Prize in Physics and the 2025 Nevill Mott Award and Medal from the Institute of Physics.

Professor Bardhan, Professor of Sustainable Built Environment & Health in the Department of Architecture, joins Professor Stranks as co-director. Her research explores the intersection of climate change, health and the built environment, with a particular focus on how climate adaptation and design can improve resilience and wellbeing.

“Climate change is already affecting our everyday lives, reshaping our health, well-being and the environments we inhabit. The time for bolder, collective action is now. We have a unique opportunity to connect ideas across disciplines and turn Cambridge’s extraordinary knowledge and innovation into action that matters, for people, for places and for our shared future,” Professor Bardhan said.

Professor Stranks and Professor Bardhan succeed Cambridge Zero’s founding director, Professor Emily Shuckburgh CBE, who has taken up the role of Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).