Dr Munira Raji
Profiles

Dr Munira Raji

Sustainable Geoscience and Natural Capital Research Fellow

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Biography

Biography

I am an interdisciplinary Geoscientist at the Sustainable Earth Institute. As a Sustainable Geoscience and Natural Capital Research Fellow, my research focus is on sustainable mining of mineral resources, geological evaluation of floating offshore wind energy, geothermal energy, novel recovery of rare earth minerals from coal and coal fly ash, the geological disposal of radioactive waste, geoscience diplomacy and science communications.
My research interests lie at the intersection of geoscience, diplomacy, energy and climate policy and sustainable development, with a particular focus the Global South. I use my geoscience and science diplomacy expertise to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange among a diverse range of stakeholders, including geoscientists, climate/environmental scientists, policymakers, and multilateral organisations to solve global challenges around climate change, sustainable extraction of critical minerals for renewable energy, the health and environmental impacts of mining activities and resources depletion.
I am a member of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Task Force on Just Energy Transition and the Energy Group of the Geological Society of London. In October 2022, I was awarded the Early Career Energy Geoscientist Medal by the Geological Society of London Energy Group. 

Qualifications

  • PhD Geological Sciences: Durham University (2018)
  • MSc. Global Energy and Climate Policy, SOAS University of London (expected 2025)
  • MSc. Applied Petroleum Geoscience: University of Derby (2013)
  • BSc. Geology: University of Portsmouth (2011)
  • Certificate in Science Diplomacy: Institut Barcelona d'Estudis Internacionals (2022)
  • Certificate in Science Diplomacy: United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (2023)

Professional membership

  • Fellow of the Geological Society of London (GeolSoc)
  • Member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU)
  • Member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)

Roles on external bodies

Research

Research

Research interests

  • Floating Offshore Wind Energy
  • Geothermal Energy
  • Sustainable Extraction of Sands and Rare Earth Minerals 
  • Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for Radioactive Waste
  • Critical Minerals for the Energy Transition
  • Science Policy and Science Communication
  • Geoscience Diplomacy
  • Global Energy and Climate Diplomacy
Publications

Publications

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Zhang A, Lv D, Zhang Z, Raji M, Gao Y, Zhang L, Wang L, Du W & Li Z (2024) 'Coal-derived rates of atmospheric dust deposition during the Jurassic-Cretaceous greenhouse periods' Gondwana Research 125, 168-179 , DOI Open access
Iain S, Maria Angela C, Hassina M, Kombada M, Munira R & Raji M (2023) 'Three Horizons for Future Geoscience' Earth Science, Systems and Society , DOI Open access
Fernando B, Giles S, Jackson C, Lawrence A, Raji M, Williams R, Barclay J, Brotherson L, Childs E & Houghton J (2023) 'Strategies for making geoscience PhD recruitment more equitable' Nature Geoscience 16, (8) 658-660 , DOI
Song C, Lv D, Chang J, Ejembi JI, Tang L, Raji M, Chen W & Zhang Z (2023) 'Astronomically forced saline lake deposition and paleoclimatic response in the Huanggang Basin during the Paleogene, Eastern China' Ore Geology Reviews 158, , DOI Open access
WANG L, LV D, ZHANG Z, HOWER JC, RAJI M, ZHANG Y, SHEN Y & GAO J (2023) 'Geochronology, Mineralogy, and Geochemistry of the Tonsteins from the Permo‐Carboniferous Benxi Formation, Ordos Basin, North China Craton' Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition , DOI Open access
Lv D, Shen Y, Tom van Loon AJ, Raji M, Zhang Z, Song G, Ren Z, Wang Y & Wang D (2023) 'Corrigendum: Sequence stratigraphy of the Middle Jurassic Yan’an formation (NE Ordos Basin, China), relationship with climate conditions and basin evolution, and coal maceral’s characteristics' Frontiers in Earth Science 11, , DOI
Lv D, Shen Y, van Loon AJT, Raji M, Zhang Z, Song G, Ren Z, Wang Y & Wang D (2023) 'Sequence stratigraphy of the Middle Jurassic Yan’an Formation (NE Ordos Basin, China), relationship with climate conditions and basin evolution, and coal maceral’s characteristics' Frontiers in Earth Science 10, , DOI Open access
Gao J, Lv D, Tom van Loon AJ, Hower JC, Raji M, Yang Y, Ren Z, Wang Y & Zhang Z (2022) 'Reconstruction of provenance and tectonic setting of the Middle Jurrasic Yan'an Formation (Ordos Basin, North China) by analysis of major, trace and rare earth elements in the coals' Ore Geology Reviews 151, 105218-105218 , DOI Open access
Wang L, Lv D, Hower JC, Zhang Z, Raji M, Tang J, Liu Y & Gao J (2022) 'Geochemical characteristics and paleoclimate implication of Middle Jurassic coal in the Ordos Basin, China' Ore Geology Reviews 144, , DOI Open access
Zhang Z, Lv D, Wang C, Hower JC, Raji M, Wang T, Zhang J & Yang Y (2022) 'Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of tonsteins from the Middle Jurassic Yan'an Formation, Ordos Basin, North China' International Journal of Coal Geology 253, , DOI Open access
Raji M, Gröcke DR, Greenwell HC, Gluyas JG & Cornford C (2015) 'The effect of interbedding on shale reservoir properties' Marine and Petroleum Geology 67, 154-169 , DOI Open access
Conference Papers
Adedosu T, Adedosu T & Raji M (2021) 'Petroleum Potential of Late Cretaceous Shale of Wadi-1 Well, Chad Basin, Northeastern Nigeria' 82nd EAGE Annual Conference & Exhibition European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers , DOI
Raji M, Gröcke DR, Greenwell C & Cornford C (2015) 'Pyrolysis, Porosity and Productivity in Unconventional Mudstone Reservoirs: ‘Free’ and ‘Adsorbed’ Oil' Unconventional Resources Technology Conference 7-/-0/20157-/-0/2015American Association of Petroleum Geologists , DOI
Raji M, Gröcke DR, Greenwell C & Cornford C (2015) 'Pyrolysis, Porosity and Productivity in Unconventional Mudstone Reservoirs: Free and Adsorbed Oil' Unconventional Resources Technology Conference Society of Petroleum Engineers , DOI
Raji M, Cornford C, Pather A & Satterfield D (2013) 'Unconventional Oil and Gas Potential of the Widmerpool Gulf in the East Midlands Province of England' Unconventional Resources Technology Conference Society of Exploration Geophysicists, American Association of Petroleum Geologists, Society of Petroleum Engineers , DOI
Reports
  • Sustainable Energy Geoscientist reflects on UN’s COP27

Other Publications
Wu D, Wu J, Yousaf B, Sun R & Raji M (2023) Editorial: Advances in geochemistry and macromolecular structure of coal. Frontiers Media SA , DOI
Personal

Personal

Reports & invited lectures

  • UNESCO Chairs Seminar: Large-scale Renewable Energy Deployment for Climate Change Mitigation (Online, July 2023)
  • Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Inter-agency Working Group presentation on SDG 7 (Online, July 2023)
 
  •  The National Science Policy Network Panel Discussion on Science Diplomacy (Online, June 2023)
 
  • Science Policy Panel Discussion, The European Geoscience Union General Assembly, Vienna, April 2023
 
 

Links

BBC Interview
Can these rocks really power light bulbs? No, say the experts
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/64390767