Lara Hopkinson

Senior Lecturer
Lara Hopkinson Headshot

Background

With over 25 years of academic experience, I’ve built a career rooted in research, teaching, and student support. My journey began at Cardiff University, where I led research projects, before joining UWTSD in 2015. 

I’m Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead for our undergraduate Environment degree. My teaching spans across disciplines— environment, architecture and postgraduate —reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of our school. I’m Admissions Tutor, actively developing outreach initiatives to inspire future students in environmental studies. If you’re a school / college interested in collaboration, I’d love to hear from you!  

As School Liaison Tutor, I champion inclusive education. I’m trained in Mental Health First Aid, and I’m deeply committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive, regardless of background. 

In my role as Assistant Academic Director for Quality, I help shape and uphold the academic standards that define our school’s excellence.

Specialist Subjects

  • Sustainability
  • Low Carbon Technologies and the need for decarbonisation
  • Environmental law
  • Academic practice
  • Dissertation supervision (UG and PG)

Professional and/or Research Experience

I bring extensive research expertise from Cardiff University, where I spent over 18 years driving intervention-based projects funded by EU Structural Funds. Progressing from research support to project lead, I played a pivotal role in securing a £9 million grant to enhance professional learning in the built environment. Now a PhD candidate at UWTSD, my research explores innovative approaches to managing construction waste more sustainably. I’m a committed educator and a Fellow of the HEA, working toward Senior Fellowship to further champion excellence in teaching and learning.

Qualifications

  • BSc Applied Sciences (Biological and Environmental Pollution Sciences), University of Glamorgan
  • PGDip Environmental Risk Management, UWIC
  • Current PhD candidate, UWTSD

Languages Spoken

English, Basic Welsh, Conversational Italian

Professional Membership or Roles

Fellow (HEA)

Academic Teaching