Abstract

Peter Guthrie is the first Professor in Engineering for Sustainable Development in the UK, having held this post at the University of Cambridge since 2000. He is Head of the Centre for Sustainable Development and a Fellow of St Edmund’s College.

His research is focused on the assessment of large scale projects for sustainability and work has included consideration of mixed developments (Thames Gateway), mining projects, housing, and educational buildings.

He also pursues research in the sustainable development of infrastructure in developing countries, including the challenging the appropriateness of technical standards, waste management, the potential for waste materials to be used as materials in construction, and the engineering of earth roads.

A civil engineer with geotechnical specialisation by background, Peter has worked on roads in countries such as Nigeria, Lesotho, Sudan, Philippines Ethiopia, and Botswana, and on major infrastructure projects such as London 2012, Orange County Great Park, Channel Tunnel Rail Link, CrossRail, West Coast Mainline Route Modernisation and Birmingham, and Manchester Airports, and major building projects such as Eden Project Phase 4, and large scale schemes for the Prison Service and the Ministry of Defence. He has advised on policy matters related to waste and environment in Russia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Romania and Portugal.

He was involved in the founding of RedR, a charity that provides engineers and other personnel to relief agencies in disasters. In recognition of this initiative he was awarded the prestigious Beacon Prize for charitable giving in 2005. He is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council of DEFRA , and is leading the Royal Academy of Engineering initiative on capacity building in Africa. He is a Trustee/Director of Engineers Without Borders (EWB) which is a student inspired organisation which seeks to help students make a contribution to the relief of poverty through improved awareness and field projects linked to research.

He was awarded the OBE in 1994. He was Vice-President of the Institution of Civil Engineers in the late 1990s. He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.