Keiron Roberts

Dr. Keiron Roberts is a Senior Lecturer in Sustainability and the Built Environment at the University of Portsmouth, affiliated with the School of Civil Engineering & Surveying within the Faculty of Technology. He also contributes to the Revolution Plastics Institute and the Centre for Environmental and Renewable Energy Solutions. His research focuses on plastic policy analysis, waste management, energy systems, and circular economy principles. Roberts has led projects funded by Innovate UK (e.g., SHAPE UK and SEA CHANGE) aimed at decarbonizing shipping and supporting SMEs in achieving Net Zero. He co-authored policy reports for UNEP, G20, and Defra, including the UN’s first Compass Report on plastic pollution policies. His work includes coordinating global initiatives like the G20 marine plastic litter think piece and analyzing the environmental impact of PPE during the pandemic. Roberts holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Southampton and has conducted postdoctoral research on wastewater management and biofuel production from marine algae.

Education

• MSci (Hons) Oceanography, University of Southampton (2007–2011)
• PhD in Civil Engineering (Anaerobic digestion of marine microalgae), University of Southampton (2011–2015)
• PGCE in Secondary and Tertiary Physics, University of Southampton (2015–2016)

Research Interests

Roberts’ work spans plastic policy, waste management systems, energy transition, and circular economy applications. He emphasizes actionable solutions, such as developing tools like SWIMS for UK waste infrastructure modeling and advising on PPE litter impacts post-COVID-19. His interdisciplinary approach integrates environmental science, engineering, and policy to address global sustainability challenges.

Grants & Awards

• Recipient of the 2023 Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence (University of Portsmouth)
• Principal Investigator on Innovate UK projects (SHAPE UK, SEA CHANGE, Isle of Wight Energy Autonomous Community)

Labs & Collaborations

Active in the Revolution Plastics Institute and GreenTech South, collaborating with organizations like Southern Water and UN agencies to advance Net Zero goals and plastic policy frameworks.