The School of Architecture, Design and Planning is pleased to welcome Emeritus Professor Susan Roaf and Professor Ayyoob Sharifi as Honorary Professors. Both are leading global scholars focused on sustainability, climate resilience, climate-sensitive architectural design, and urban resilience education and research. Their appointments further strengthen the School’s research and innovation ties with international partners and leading institutes, paving the way for ongoing collaboration.
Susan Roaf is an award-winning architect, author and educator. She is an Emeritus Professor of Architectural Engineering at Heriot-Watt University and renowned for her groundbreaking contributions to solar energy and eco-design. Her PhD focused on the Windcatchers of Yazd, and she has since authored 22 influential books, covering topics that include Ecohouse design, adapting buildings and cities for climate change, and adaptive thermal comfort. More recently, she co-edited a book with Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi, titled Persian Vernacular Architecture: Lessons
from Master Builders of Iran on Climate Resilient Design (forthcoming, February 2025). Professor Roaf has chaired numerous international conferences, including the 2022 CATE Conference, “Resilient Comfort: Climate Change, COVID and Ventilation,” and the 2023 ICARB Conference, “Measuring Net Zero: Carbon Accounting for Buildings and Communities.” Currently, her work explores extreme design for cold climates in Antarctica.
In April 2024, Professor Roaf delivered an invited talk as part of the School’s ADP Talks program, titled “Architecture for a More Extreme Future – Learning from the Vernacular.” Through case studies from Australia, Antarctica, the Middle East, Mongolia, and Himalayan Nepal, Professor Roaf examined how lessons from traditional climatic design can inform modern architecture for extreme climates. As climate change intensifies, reliance on mechanical heating and cooling systems becomes unsustainable, particularly during extreme weather events such as heatwaves and storms. Professor Roaf advocates for a 21st-century vernacular rooted in the principles of past architectural wisdom to ensure thermal safety and sustainability.
Ayyoob Sharifi is a Professor at the IDEC Institute, Hiroshima University, and has cross-appointments at Hiroshima University’s Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering. He also serves as a core member of the Network for Education and Research on Peace and Sustainability (NERPS). His research focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptation, with a particular emphasis on urban sustainability and resilience.
A globally recognised scholar, Professor Sharifi has contributed significantly to leading research programs, including Future Earth, and he served as a lead author for the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6). He has authored a number of books, including a co-authored book with Professor Ali Cheshmehzangi and Ayotunde Dawodu, titled Sustainable Urbanism in China (2021).
Professor Sharifi’s work aims to inform actions that build sustainable and peaceful communities, addressing critical challenges posed by climate change and urbanisation. His appointment with the School will further enhance the University’s reputation for research excellence in urban sustainability. His leadership and innovative teaching methods will empower students to address global challenges, while his extensive collaborations with international organisations will open new avenues for research partnerships and funding opportunities.
The addition of Professors Roaf and Sharifi as Honorary Professors marks an exciting chapter for the School of Architecture, Design and Planning, reinforcing our commitment to cutting-edge research, sustainability and global impact. We are pleased to welcome them on board as we prepare to close the successful year of 2024.
