Callum Ward

Callum achieved his Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering with Energy Engineering in 2021 from Heriot-Watt University with first class honours. His masters projects were focused on the chemical recycling of waste plastics and the sustainability of palm oil, the 2 projects encompassing sustainability from varying perspectives  (design / research).  

Beginning in September 2021, he then transitioned to a position in industry where he worked in project management for a startup known as The Future Forest Company, which focused on combating climate change via various reforestation/carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches. Initially undertaking some base research on enhanced weathering experiments/trials, Callum then developed and managed the core processes for operational data management, life cycle assessment and quality control for the scaling of enhanced weathering from pilot to commercial scale. As the business grow rapidly the enhanced weathering area of the business became UNDO and he worked with teams across the business to ensure all aspects of scaling were covered, from data capture during spreading of crushed rock on farmland to the generation of carbon credits backed by the captured operational data.  

Leaving the company after 2 years to pursue a new challenge, Callum is now a full time PhD researcher working within the Research Centre for Carbon Solutions at Heriot-Watt University. His research is focused on strategies for the evaluation and assessment of ocean based carbon dioxide removal approaches namely using techno-economic assessment (TEA) and uncertainty analysis to enhance strategic decision making for early stage marine CDR technologies. His project will involve close work with the EU funded SEAO2-CDR project which is aimed at more widely assessing the technical potential of ocean based CDR methods, encompassing topics such as monitoring reporting and verification, life cycle assessment and integrated assessment models, among many others.

Callum’s main research areas are Chemical/process Engineering, Strategic decision making, Techno-economic analysis, Uncertainty analysis, Circular processes/sustainability.