Francesca Verones

Francesca Verones is a Professor in the Industrial Ecology Programme at NTNU’s Department of Energy and Process Engineering (Faculty of Engineering). She specializes in advancing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methods to address biodiversity and ecosystem service impacts, particularly focusing on spatially differentiated impact assessment (LC-IMPACT). As ERC Starting Grant recipient (ATLANTIS project), she investigates human impacts on marine ecosystems and trade-related biodiversity loss. She chairs the UN Environment Life Cycle Initiative’s ecosystem quality task force and leads Horizon Europe projects like RAINFOREST and BAMBOO. Her education includes a PhD and MSc from ETH Zurich (Environmental Engineering).

Research interests span biodiversity modeling, LCA method development, and mitigation strategies for energy systems, plastics, and global supply chains. Publications emphasize novel LCIA models for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems, with over 150 peer-reviewed articles. Recent work includes marine plastic impacts, power line biodiversity effects, and hydropower sustainability. Awards include the prestigious ERC Starting Grant and leadership roles in IPBES reports.

Current projects include leading the ATLANTIS initiative (2020–2026) and coordinating transformative biodiversity research (RAINFOREST). She advises 12 PhD candidates across energy, plastics, and biodiversity projects, supported by postdocs like Martin Dorber. Key labs include the Industrial Ecology Programme’s LC-IMPACT initiative and collaborations with institutions globally.