Sean Field

Dr. Sean Field serves as Director of Policy at the Centre for Energy Ethics and Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews' School of Philosophical, Anthropological & Film Studies. His work bridges academic research and policy development through European Research Council and Scottish Funding Council initiatives.

His research explores the intersection of energy, finance, and ethics, with particular focus on how financial professionals evaluate energy resources and integrate ESG factors into investment decisions. Current projects include leading the Financial Pathways branch of the Scottish Research Alliance for Energy, Homes and Livelihoods, examining pathways to achieve Scotland's 2045 net-zero target through engagement with financial institutions, government, and civil society.

Field's recent publications reveal strong trends in climate finance ethics, carbon governance, and the practical implementation challenges of net-zero transitions. His work consistently addresses the tension between financial logics and ecological imperatives, with increasing emphasis on just transition frameworks and subterranean carbon management solutions.

• Golden Dandelion Award for excellence in teaching environmental sustainability (2021)
• Knowledge Exchange & Impact Fund recipient (2021)
• The UK Co-Benefits Atlas Prize (2024)

Field actively supervises graduate students across disciplines including Social Anthropology, Economics, and Statistics, with recent projects examining net-zero finance in Scottish industry, climate finance hurdles, and crude oil price forecasting. His policy engagement includes regular contributions to BBC Radio, The Associated Press, and major international news outlets, alongside leadership of the Energy and Climate Finance Network and the Energy Café initiative. Current research initiatives focus on practical implementation of net-zero pathways through collaborations with local authorities and financial institutions.