Saska Petrova

Dr. Saska Petrova is a Professor in the School of Environment, Education and Development at the University of Manchester. She holds a PhD in Applied Ecology from Charles University (Prague) and has held academic roles from Lecturer (2013) to her current position since 2024. Her research focuses on energy poverty, gender dynamics, and low-carbon transitions in regions like Eastern Europe, Southern Africa, and China. She has led or co-investigated over 20 projects funded by the EU, UK research councils, and international organizations. Key initiatives include the £1.8m ERC-funded Gender and Precarity at the Energy Frontier (2024-2029) and a Horizon 2020 project tackling energy poverty through renewable energy solutions.

Her expertise spans political ecology, feminist geographies, and energy governance. Notable contributions include a monograph Communities in Transition (Routledge, 2014) and impactful policy engagement with the EU Parliament and Jacques Delors Institute. Awards include the Jim Lewis Prize (2020) and an Outstanding Contribution Award (2022). Her work addresses systemic inequalities in energy access, climate resilience, and the intersection of austerity and environmental justice.

Recent research highlights include analyzing gendered energy consumption patterns in Shanghai, exploring community-based energy governance in Japan, and critiquing EU energy efficiency policies for gender biases. She collaborates globally, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to climate action, gender equality, and sustainable cities.