Gary Kass, Visiting Professor in Sustainability Science, Policy and Practice
Origins
Throughout my forty years working in the environment and sustainability space, I have enjoyed and relished an informal and highly valuable association with CEP. In November 2024, Rob Fish, Jem Woods and I got together to discuss how I could be of further help to CEP since my ‘retirement’ from the UK public sector. After a few further discussions, we formalised my association with CEP and I was formally appointed as a Visiting Professor in March 2025.
So, I’ve now completed my first year in the role and I want to thank Kate Grimwood, as guardian of the excellent CEP blog, for the opportunity to share some thoughts about how this year has gone and set out some ideas for where I hope I can continue to support CEP in future years.
My First Year
When I started, I asked Jem what expectations he had of me…he said, “whatever you want, really…but maybe have some conversations with colleagues, do a bit of teaching and supervise a few projects”. So, I’ve had a pretty free rein – as long as I don’t cause too much damage! As you’d expect, my first year has been spent growing my awareness of the breadth and depth of expertise within CEP, and I’m still learning.
I’ve been meeting colleagues, some of whom I knew already, some I’d admired from afar, and some I didn’t know, but I’m glad I do now! And I look forward to getting to know those I’ve not met yet.
I’ve supported thinking about strategic and cross-cutting issues, such as early preparations for the upcoming Research Excellence Framework exercise and strengthening support for CEP’s research clusters. And I’ve been involved in developing specific research ideas, contributing to funding proposals, and supporting current research projects.
A recent experience was participating in an event at the White City campus focusing on clean air which pulled together a broad range of topics and stakeholders in a really great example of trans-disciplinary sustainability science!
And I‘ve had the truly pleasurable experience of delivering some teaching on sustainability science, competencies and capacities and on the workings of the interfaces between science, policy & practice, commenting on some frankly brilliant group projects and advising Master’s students and PhD candidates on their work.
But beyond our immediate activities, I’ve been flying the flag for CEP elsewhere within Imperial and further afield – always making sure to keep my promise to Jem not to cause too much damage! I’ve held discussions and participated in activities involving other universities, businesses, policy makers, learned societies, professional bodies and civil society groups. I’m particularly proud to be a member of the Climate and Sustainability Community of Interest convened by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s National Engineering Policy Centre. I’ve had a few papers and reports published and given some external presentations and generally been singing the praises of the great work and superb people we have.
Looking ahead
With four years remaining in my current position, the opportunities are still growing. Not a day goes by without a new contact being made, an existing contact being strengthened and an old contact being rekindled.
My main ambition is to help CEP thrive through sustainability science, strengthening links with policy and with practice. This falls into a few core ambitions:
Chiefly, I’m keen to help grow our capabilities to act on sustainability through embedding systems and futures thinking, collaboration, interdisciplinary working and strategic capability. But also helping to strengthen the conditions that enable these ambitions.
More widely, I’m keen to support CEP in enhancing our position within IC and beyond, fostering constructive discussions and working with colleagues on how we imagine and achieve sustainable futures and strengthen the links between science, policy and practice.
So, it has been and remains, an absolute privilege and a real pleasure to be a Visiting Professor in CEP, and I have really enjoyed and valued my first year. I want to say a big thanks to those I’ve already met and worked with and look forward to meeting and working with many others over the next year – and beyond.
Please get in touch: g.kass@imperial.ac.uk