The role of engineering geology in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Jennifer Hambling

Engineering geology has an important role to play in sustainable development. This is due to the unique perspective that engineering geologists have of the interfaces between: science and engineering; the natural and built environments; the past, present and future. Jennifer Hambling will present on research undertaken by Arup and the British Geological Survey in 2021 into the role of engineering geology in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The study, which was published in the Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology in early 2022, examined the links between the knowledge, skills and activities of engineering geologists and the delivery of all 17 goals through a detailed evaluation of all 169 SDG targets. The presentation will highlight the key impact areas where engineering geologists already contribute to sustainable development, as well as identifying opportunities for contributions to be strengthened.

About the speaker

Jennifer Hambling Associate Director Engineering, Sydney Metro

Jennifer is a chartered engineering geologist and civil engineer with twenty years of experience in design and construction of major infrastructure projects in Australia and internationally. This experience includes 18 years in consultancy between London, Hong Kong and Sydney. She joined Sydney Metro in late 2021 as Associate Director Engineering on the Western Sydney Airport project. Prior to this she spent three years leading Arup’s NSW Geotechnical Team and was Australasia regional lead for Engineering Geology. Jennifer’s studies at Cambridge Centre for Sustainability Leadership have led her to co-research, publish and present a number of papers on the assessment of urban resilience and the role of engineering geology in sustainable development. She is a firm believer that ground engineering professionals can step up their efforts to ensure more sustainable outcomes on their projects.

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