Living sustainably to be theme for new Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science, Mark Miodownik

Transforming our understanding of how we make, use, reuse and recycle products will be the mission for Professor Mark Miodownik, who has been appointed the new Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement in Science.

Material scientist, engineer, broadcaster and award-winning author, Professor Miodownik will use his expertise, along with his talent for making complex ideas clear and relevant, to explore how we can live more sustainably, both as individuals and as a society.

The production and use of materials accounts for more than 40% of global warming emissions. Transforming how we make, use, and recycle the materials and products that are central to modern life will be vital to achieving our Net Zero targets and reducing the risk of dangerous climate change.

Over five years, he will lead a range of public events, schools’ engagement, digital content and partnerships that will connect the products of everyday life, from phones and clothing to food and housing, with the materials that make them possible.

Professor Mark Miodownik says:

“Materials have always shaped the course of history, so much so that we even named entire eras of history after them, from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age. But in today’s consumer-driven world, where materials are everywhere and easily taken for granted, their importance is easily overlooked.

“This isn’t about taking away products we rely on; it’s about rethinking how we make and use them. By changing our relationship with materials, we can drive a greener economy, create new jobs and improve lives across communities.

“Researching how to achieve this needs to be done with the public in collaboration with the scientific community, policy makers, economists and more, and with a sense of optimism and creativity.

“Science isn’t done in a bubble. Research shapes the world we live in, and is shaped by the people in it. I’m excited to open up that process, inviting the public in from day one to work together on solutions that will drive a sustainable future.”

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, says:

“Our throw-away culture ignores the fact that resources are finite and we have to get smarter about how we consume things. More sustainable products are already a growing part of the economy and I am sure Mark will get people thinking about how we can all leave less of a harmful footprint on the earth.”

Through his Royal Society Professorship, Professor Miodownik will lead a new national conversation on materials, sustainability and innovation. By combining science, creativity and public participation, his work will help shape practical solutions for a more sustainable future.

Professor Mark Miodownik is currently the UCL Professor of Materials and Society. He has championed materials research for over 20 years, drawing links between the arts and humanities to medicine, engineering and materials science. His TV programmes, including ‘How it Works’ have reached millions of viewers, and his book ‘Stuff Matters’ won the 2014 Royal Society Science Book Prize. He was awarded the Royal Society Faraday Prize in 2017 for excellence in communication.

Professor Miodownik is the second Royal Society Professor for Public Engagement. Professor Brian Cox held the post from 2015 to 2025.