Two School of Geosciences researchers elected to RSE Young Academy of Scotland

The group represents some of the nation’s most innovative young professionals from business, the public sector, the charity sector, the arts, and research and academia. They will join the academy’s existing members in realising its vision of achieving transformative societal change through citizenship, innovation, collaboration, evidence, and leadership. 

Dr Karen Lythgoe

Dr Karen Lythgoe is a seismologist and geophysicist whose research uses seismic imaging to understand the structure and behaviour of the Earth's crust, from fault zones to volcanic systems. Her recent work includes imaging the crustal structure across New Zealand's Alpine Fault and contributing to plans for a UK and Ireland-wide seismological array (UKI-Array) that would pool geophysical monitoring equipment to better understand natural hazards and subsurface resources.

Dr Ian Molnar

Dr Ian Molnar is a Lecturer in Hydrogeology whose research focuses on the fate and transport of contaminants and engineered materials in the subsurface, as well as the geological controls on hydrogen and CO2 storage. His work spans groundwater contamination from industrial chemicals and nanoparticles to the long-term security of underground energy and carbon storage, helping to inform both environmental protection and Scotland's transition to net zero. 

They are among ten colleagues from the University of Edinburgh to be elected.