An academic at Brunel University London has been announced as a Trilateral Chair for a pioneering research initiative, in Stellenbosch last week.
Dr Fabrizio Ceschin, a Senior Lecturer in Design at Brunel, has been appointed as a Africa-UK Trilateral Research Chair, alongside Prof Josephine Kaviti Musango of Stellenbosch University and Dr Amollo Ambole of the University of Nairobi.
The Trilateral Chair, funded by National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa and the Newton Fund through the British Council, has been officially kicked off with a launch event on the 10 October 2019 at Stellenbosch University.
Over the next five years, the Africa-UK Trilateral Research Chair will build research focusing on Mainstreaming Gender for Energy Security in Poor Urban Environments, in short Gender for Energy Security (GENS).
The three Principal Investigators at the launch event (From left, Dr Fabrizio Ceschin, Dr Amollo Ambole and Prof Josephine Kaviti Musango)
“This Trilateral Research Chair is an immense opportunity to advance knowledge on the area of energy security in informal urban settlements, with a particular focus on gender equity and equality. But not only this. This research is also focused on speeding up innovation and impact," said Dr Ceschin, who is pleased to take on the role.
“We will implement two living labs, in Cape Town and Nairobi townships, where, in collaboration with communities, companies, NGOs and policy makers we will ideate, develop, prototype and test interventions to improve energy security. This will pave the way to the commercialisation of innovative solutions and the implementation of supporting policies. We also see this programme as a strategic platform for building a portfolio of complementary research projects to foster and continue research beyond the five years of the Chair."
Member of the Design for Sustainable Manufacturing research theme and the at Brunel, Dr Ceschin has a track record of research and publications in the area of design for sustainability and circular economy. His previous works on energy access in low-income African contexts will crucial in fostering the GENS Trilateral Chair.
Prof Geoff Rodgers, Vice Provost for Research at Brunel said, “It is brilliant to see Dr Ceschin seize opportunities for international collaboration and be awarded this position as recognition of his research efforts.”
For more information on the GENS Trilateral Chair, visit the .
In the photos above: 1. From left, Dr Fabrizio Ceschin, Dr Amollo Ambole and Prof Josephine Kaviti Musango; 2. The three Principal Investigators at the launch event (Photos by Anton Jordaan).
Reported by:
Simone McNichols-Thomas,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 265219
simone.mcnichols-thomas@brunel.ac.uk