Dr. Erika Alexandra Palfi is a University Teacher in the School of Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, affiliated with the Energy Systems Research Institute. Her research focuses on energy and climate change, energy storage, and carbon capture, with expertise in carbon capture and storage, thermodynamics, and power plant engineering. She holds a PhD in Energy Systems (2019) from the University of Edinburgh, an MSc in Chemical and Biological Engineering (2014), and a BSc in Life Science Engineering (2012) from Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg. Dr. Palfi's professional affiliations include UKCCSRC, SCCS, DECHEMA, and MHN. She teaches various engineering courses, including Thermodynamics 4 for Mechanical Engineers and Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers, and has extensive experience as a tutor and demonstrator in thermodynamics and energy systems. Her research interests include exhaust gas recycling, thermal power generation, carbon capture integration in power cycles, and mass and heat transfer technologies, with additional skills in power plant process simulations and software such as gCCS, gPROMS, and Automation Studio 4.

Mark Wilkinson, a Personal Chair of GeoEnergy at the School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, focuses on pivotal research topics such as underground hydrogen storage, geological CO2 storage, diagenesis, and clay mineralogy. His work on underground hydrogen storage addresses its role in bridging intermittent renewable energy sources and fluctuating consumer demands, exploring chemical reactions during storage, potential impurities, site development, and required storage capacities. In geological CO2 storage, he investigates natural analogues to predict long-term behavior of CO2 in rock formations, safe disposal of byproducts, and potential leak mitigation strategies. His diagenesis studies examine interactions between sandstones and shales during burial, with implications for hydrogen and CO2 storage reservoirs. Additionally, he researches clay minerals, their crystal size limitations, and their critical role in soil properties. His diverse interests extend to reconstructing prehistoric environments on the Isle of Skye through sedimentary analysis of dinosaur footprints and fossils. With substantial contributions to scientific literature and projects such as PilotSTRATEGY and HyUsPRe, Wilkinson's work plays a significant role in advancing sustainable energy solutions and geological sciences.