My academic background is in Human Geography, focusing on immigrant life dynamics in London and the UK, particularly within the Brazilian community. This research, spanning about two decades, explored various aspects of Brazilian migration, including social differentiation, cultural identity, and migrant challenges.

In recent years, my research interests has shifted towards biofuels, bioproducts, and the broader bioeconomy. I have ve been involved in EU-funded research projects under Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe frameworks, which have developed innovative bio-refinery technologies and processes. My work centers on examining social sustainability aspects and policy analysis.

This research has deepened my understanding of sustainability's complex nature. I've found that the environmental sustainability of biofuels is not straightforward and requires comprehensive assessment. While biofuels can potentially reduce GHG emissions compared to fossil fuels, their production and use can lead to other environmental concerns such as land use change, impacts on biodiversity, and water resource degradation, and attendant social impacts (e.g. loss of access to resources, damaged resources).

My research has emphasised the crucial importance of considering socio-economic factors in sustainability assessments. A significant insight is the interconnected nature of sustainability issues, highlighting that biofuels are part of wider socio-economic systems (energy, agriculture, forestry). Furthermore, sustainability aspects of biofuels change across different scales and over time, adding to the complexity of assessment. Also, my work has underscored the critical role of policy in promoting sustainable technologies and practices, re-affirming the need for policymakers and key stakeholders to consider and address trade-offs between environmental, economic, and social sustainability aspects.

Overall, my research has reinforced the need for a holistic approach to examining the sustainability in the bioeconomy. This requires understanding social, economic, and policy challenges, not just environmental and technological dimensions. Considering equity and justice regarding local community involvement and distributional effects is integral to this approach.

Publications

Evans, Y and Diaz-Chavez, R (2025) D5.3 Report on Integrating Gender Perspectives into EUA recommendations for Energy Research, Innovation and Education, gEneSys, https://zenodo.org/records/18935557

Diaz-Chavez, R, Evans, Y and Pollitzer, E (2025) D5.4 Co-creation of pathways and analysis of scenarios with a backcasting methodology, gEneSys, https://zenodo.org/records/17722539

Evans, Y and Diaz-Chavez, R (2024) Report: D5.2 Social and Policy Assessment of CooCE, CooCE: Harnessing the potential of biological CO2 capture for the Circular Economy, ACT3 - Accelerating CCS Technologies/EU Horizon; https://cooce.eu/deliverables/

Evans, Y and Diaz-Chavez, R (2024) Report: D5.3 Policy Recommendations for CooCE/CCUS, CooCE: Harnessing the potential of biological CO2 capture for the Circular Economy, ACT3 - Accelerating CCS Technologies/EU Horizon; https://cooce.eu/deliverables/

Evans, R, Diaz-Chavez, Giarola, S and Basterrechea-Roca, P (2024) Report: Integrated Sustainability Assessment of CooCE, CooCE: Harnessing the potential of biological CO2 capture for the Circular Economy, ACT3 - Accelerating CCS Technologies/EU Horizon; https://cooce.eu/deliverables/

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2024) D5.2 Report on Gender Perspectives into Energy-SHIFTS, gEneSys, https://zenodo.org/records/10664606

Evans, Y and Diaz-Chavez, R (2023) D5.4 Report on CooCE Stakeholders’ Workshop, CooCE: Harnessing the potential of biological CO2 capture for the Circular Economy, ACT3 - Accelerating CCS Technologies/EU Horizon; https://cooce.eu/deliverables/

McIlwaine, C, Evans, Y, Heritage, P, Krezinger, M, Ansaria, MR and Silva, E S (2024) Gendered urban violence among Brazilians: Painful truths from Rio de Janeiro and London, Manchester University Press, Manchester University, DOI: 10.7765/9781526175663

McIlwaine, C and Evans, Y (2023) Navigating migrant infrastructure and gendered infrastructural violence: reflections from Brazilian women in London, Gender, Place & Culture, 30:3, 395-417, DOI: 10.1080/0966369X.2022.2073335.

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2022a) Policy Recommendations – BioMates (EU Horizon 2020), available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388986584_Policy_Recommendations_-_BioMates.

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2022b) Public Perception, Market and Regulatory Barriers – BioMates, (EU Horizon 2020), available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388985081_Public_Perception_Market_and_Regulatory_Barriers_-_BioMates.

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2021a) Stakeholders' Workshop – BioMates (EU Horizon 2020), available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388989855_Stakeholders'_Workshop_-_BioMates.

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2021b) Risks of Social Acceptance – BioMates, (EU Horizon 2020), available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388984369_Risks_of_Social_Acceptance_-_BioMates.

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2021c) Social Sustainability Assessment - BioMates BioMates (EU Horizon 2020), available at:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388989855_Stakeholders'_Workshop_-_BioMates.

McIlwaine, C and Evans, Y (2020) Urban Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in transnational perspective: reflections from Brazilian women in London, IDPR, 42(1): 93-112. DOI: 10.3828/idpr.2018.31.

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2019a) Social Assessment of Underutilised Feedstocks – BioRescue (EU BBJU-Horizon 2020), available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388989779_Social_Assessment_of_Underutilised_Feedstocks_-_BioRescue.

Diaz-Chavez, R and Evans, Y (2019b) Social and Policy Assessment – COSMOS (EU Horizon 2020): https://www.researchgate.net/publication/388923409_Social_and_Policy_Assessment_-_COSMOS).

Evans, Y (2018) Book Review: Migration, Ethics and Power: Spaces of Hospitality, Ethics and Power (Bulley, D, 2017, London: Sage), Hospitality and Society, 8(2): 195 -199, DOI: 10.1386/hosp.8.2.195_5.

McIlwaine, C and Evans, Y (2018) ‘We Can’t Fight in the Dark: Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) among Brazilians in London, London: QMUL/King’s College London/ CASA/ESRC/LAWRS/PPP/QMUL/Redes/UFRJ/UT.

Evans, Y (2018) Book review: Urban transformations: centres, peripheries, and systems (ed O’Donoghue. DP, Ashgate, 2014), Urban Research & Practice, published online: 18 Jan 2016, DOI:10.1080/17535069.2016.1138681.

Evans, Y (2013) Book review: Cents and Sustainability: securing out common future by decoupling economic growth from environmental pressures (Smith, M, Hargroves C K, and Desha, C, Earthscan, Oxford 2010), Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 2013, 15: 3, 3 pages.

Evans, Y (2013) Book review: Negotiating Climate Change: Radical Democracy and the Illusion of Consensus’ (Machin, A, Zed Books, London 2013), Journal of Environmental Assessment Policy and Management, 2013, 15: 4,3 pages.

Evans, Y, Tonhati, T, Dias, G, Brightwell, M, Sheringham, O, Souza, A, and Souza, C (2011) Brazilians in London: a report, Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, 36:71, 235–248.

Datta, K, McIlwaine, C, Evans, Y, Herbert, J, May, J, and Wills, J (2010) A migrant ethic of care?Negotiating care and caring among migrant workers in London's low pay economy, Feminist Review 94: 93–116.

Wills, J, May, J, Datta, K, Evans, Y, Herbert, J,and McIlwaine, C (2009) London’s Migrant Division of Labour, European Urban and Regional Studies, 3: 257–271.

Evans, Y, Wills, J, Datta, K, Herbert, J, McIlwaine, C, and May, J (2007) Subcontracting by stealth’ in London’s hotels: impacts and implications for labour organising, Just Labour: a Canadian journal of work and society, 10: 85-97, published online: http://www.justlabour.yorku.ca/.

Evans, Y (2006) Book review: On the margins of exclusion: changing labour markets and social exclusion in London (Smith, D, Policy Press 2005), London Journal, 2006, 31:1, 119-121.

Evans, Y and Smith, A (2006) Surviving at the margins? De-industrialisation, the creative industries, and upgrading in London’s garment sector, Environment and Planning A, 28:12, 2253-2269.

Evans, Y (2006) Book review: Parks in Transition: biodiversity, rural development and the bottom line (ed Child, B, Earthscan 2004), Progress in Development Studies, 2006, 6:3, 251-274.

Evans, Y (2005) Book review: Latin America Transformed: globalization and modernity (eds Gwynne, R and Kay, C, Edward Arnold 2004), Progress in Development Studies, 2005, 5:4, 343-353.

Evans, Y (2004) Book review: Power, Community and the State: the political anthropology of organisation in Mexico (Nuijten, M, Pluto 2003), Progress in Development Studies, 2004, 4: 4, 355-370.