New leadership and theme leads at two research platforms
11 Sep 2025
Sustainable Futures announces new co-directors and Digital Futures welcomes new theme leads.
Two of our University’s research platforms – Sustainable Futures and Digital Futures – have announced new appointments.
Our research platforms provide focus and resource to connect, drive and amplify interdisciplinary collaborations between academics, Faculties and institutes. With hundreds of academics affiliated with each platform, they benefit from the sheer size of our University and the breadth of knowledge we cultivate.
Sustainable Futures
Dr Helen Holmes and Professor Alice Larkin have been appointed Co-Directors for the Sustainable Futures research platform.
The platform works to align, connect, celebrate and grow our social, economic and environmental sustainability research across six challenges to explore opportunities, contestations, solutions and unintended consequences across key global issues including climate change, circular economy, food and water security, biodiversity, and future energy systems.
Helen and Alice have jointly taken over the role from Professor Michael Shaver, who has been in post since Sustainable Futures was established in 2021.
Helen, who has been acting as Deputy Director for the platform since January 2023, is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology with expertise in sustainability, the sociology of consumption, materiality and the circular economy. She is a member of the Sustainable Consumption Institute and works across a diverse portfolio of interdisciplinary research projects, including the ESRC funded JUST Centre (Joined Up Sustainability Transformations); an EPSRC Prosperity Partnership with Bupa, exploring plastics circularity in the healthcare sector; and the UKRI funded One Bin to Rule Them All project.
Alice is a Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy and part of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research. Although a physicist by training, her work has an interdisciplinary focus and spans multiple areas of climate change mitigation, particularly energy systems, shipping and aviation. Alice has held a number of leadership roles with the University, including Vice-Dean and Head of School of Engineering from 2019 to 2023. Alice joins the platform from her previous role as Energy Beacon Lead and brings a wealth of experience and expertise of energy research at the University, which she will continue to champion through her Sustainable Futures role.
Helen and Alice will lead the Sustainable Futures Platform as it transitions through the delivery of the M2035 strategy, continuing to strengthen interdisciplinary research through a broader platform remit.
Vice-President for Research, Professor Colette Fagan said: “I am delighted that Alice and Helen have agreed to co-direct Sustainable Futures as we develop the expanded role of our platforms in the M2035 strategy. Alice and Helen bring a track record of successful leadership and complimentary research specialisms. I am pleased that I will be working closely with them for this next exciting chapter of Sustainable Futures’ activity.”
Digital Futures
Digital Futures has welcomed new theme leads, who will focus on real-world economic and societal challenges that have the potential to be transformed by digital technology, building on existing multidisciplinary strengths at the University.
The platform, which has more than 2,000 researchers across 30 disciplines, works towards understanding and driving digital transformation; engaging with citizens, business and government; and providing thought leadership and shaping the future.
Director of Digital Futures, Professor Richard Kingston said: "As we launch the revamped Digital Futures Platform, I am delighted to welcome our five new theme leads to Digital Futures. Their expertise, vision and enthusiasm will be instrumental in advancing our research and innovation agenda, ensuring The University of Manchester continues to lead in shaping the future of digital technologies and their impacts on society."
The new theme leads are:
Digital Cultures – co-leads, Dr Luca Scholz and Dr Łukasz Szulc
This theme advances interdisciplinary research involving the use of digital and computational methods and theoretically informed research across the humanities and social sciences.
Luca is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Humanities and Co-Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media.
Lucasz is a Senior Lecturer in Digital Media and Culture and Co-Director of the Centre for Digital Humanities, Cultures and Media.
Digital Worlds – Professor David Topping
This theme explores how digital technologies, from sensor networks to digital twins, are reshaping both physical and digital worlds.
David is Professor of The Digital Environment.
Digital Economy – Dr Mabel Sanchez Barrioluengo
This theme explores how digital technologies are reshaping economies, sectors, and employment.
Mabel is a Senior Lecturer in Science Policy and Innovation and Deputy Director of the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research.
Digital Society – Professor Rachel Gibson
This theme brings together disciplines to critique digital society and design more equitable, resilient, and secure futures.
Rachel is Professor of Politics.
Digital Health – Professor Sabine Van Der Veer
This theme focuses on leveraging digital technologies to improve health and social care services and outcomes.
Sabine is Professor of Health Informatics.
Digital Skills – co-leads, Professor Steve Pettifer and Professor Angela Davies
This theme focuses on how our University will work with students, colleagues, employers and other education providers to identify and deliver the digital skills needed to support and responsibly transform the global workplace.
Steve is Professor of Computer Science.
Angela is Professor of Clinical Bioinformatics and Healthcare Science Education.