Catalina Spataru

Catalina Spataru is Professor of Global Energy and Resources and Director of UCL Energy Institute at University College London's Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources. She founded and leads the Islands and Coastal Research (ICR) Lab, driving interdisciplinary research across 27 countries with funding from UKRI, NSF, and international bodies.

Her research spans the energy-resource nexus with focus on decarbonization, climate resilience, and sustainable island/coastal systems. Key methodologies include the ISLA model (applied to 300+ islands), RADaR disaster allocation framework, and IDA3/5 resource trade-off analyzer. She explores interconnected energy-water-land-material systems through complex modeling and stakeholder co-design.

Publications reveal strong focus on maritime decarbonization (SOFC/GT systems), island vulnerability (Mauritius, Greece), African climate adaptation (Ghana case studies), and sustainable business frameworks. Recent work emphasizes community-led governance, challenging vulnerability narratives while developing practical tools for energy transition.

• Award Trevithick from Institution of Civil Engineers
• Socrates-Erasmus Fellowship recipient
• Advisory roles: IGNITE Network+, WEC Scenarios Study Group

As an active supervisor, she mentors students applying her models (DEAM, IDA3, ISLA) to energy systems worldwide. She directs major initiatives like the Mobile Education Hub for Climate Resilience and collaborates with institutions including MIT, Stanford, and Princeton through her Nexus Dialogues work.