NetDRIVE: decarbonising research

Given the urgency of the climate crisis, many funders (including UKRI and Wellcome Trust) and research organisations have committed to Net Zero targets, but in order to meet these commitments we must urgently address the emissions from digital research. That’s where NetDRIVE comes in. 

This UKRI-funded project – the Network for sustainable Digital Research Infrastructure Vision and Expertise – is working across the entire digital research infrastructure (DRI) landscape to connect communities, share expertise, and build a clear pathway to decarbonising research.

NetDRIVE champions

As part of this effort, NetDRIVE will support up to ten community champions who will work across the DRI space to provide leadership, amplify best practice, and act as catalysts for change. The Champions will help to ensure sustainability is embedded in the way DRI is designed, built, and used. They will work alongside the wider NetDRIVE network, to help shape a shared pathway to Net Zero, making sure the transition is ambitious, practical, and inclusive.

EPCC’s green Champions

The first call for Champions took place in May 2025, and we are delighted that the following three EPCC staff members have been chosen – each bringing a distinct but complementary approach to decarbonising research.

Lorna Smith

As a NetDRIVE Champion, Lorna will focus on driving system-level change across the DRI landscape. She will explore the rebound effect - where efficiency improvements can paradoxically lead to increased overall use and therefore higher emissions - and the tension between reducing emissions and maximising the benefits of research, developing actionable advice on a balanced pathway. She will also work on evidence-based recommendations for sustainable procurement, encouraging reuse and recycling when facilities are decommissioned. In addition, Lorna is committed to promoting biodiversity literacy and nature positivity, exploring the wider ecological impacts of DRI on production, consumption, and waste, and shaping recommendations that contribute to halting biodiversity loss. She has already taken a lead in this area, for example with work to improve the biodiversity around the Advanced Computing Facility.

Andy Turner

Andy will build on his experience in training and community building to deliver training on green high performance computing (HPC) and education. He has already developed and delivered open-source training materials to improve carbon awareness in the HPC community, and as a Champion he will expand this work to reach hundreds more researchers, service providers, and funders. Andy's goal is to make emissions awareness a normal part of HPC culture by showing people not just why action matters, but how they can reduce the footprint of their work in practical, measurable ways. For Andy, training is more than a technical fix – it is about motivation, confidence, and collective action. By equipping people with knowledge and practical tools, he hopes to accelerate the cultural shift needed to achieve Net Zero in digital research.

Kirsty Pringle

I will focus on empowering individuals and communities to take action. I am the founder of the Green RSE Special Interest Group, which promotes best practice in sustainable research software, and the Champion role will allow me to build on and extend this work. As a Champion I will run a “Byte-Sized Green RSE” training series which will deliver short, practical sessions to give people the tools and confidence to reduce the environmental impact of their work straight away. I am also committed to building inclusive networks, sharing success stories, and giving people the confidence to advocate for sustainability within their own organisations.

Together, Lorna, Andy and I will work with the other NetDRIVE Champions and the project team to ensure that sustainability is not an afterthought but a guiding principle in the way digital research infrastructure is designed, built, and used. 

Further information

NetDRIVE
"Improving carbon awareness around HPC services" article by Andy Turner.