Sustainability-related research and partnerships
UWE Bristol is contributing to a sustainable and healthy future through applied research and collaborations with organisations and communities, encompassing social, economic and environmental sustainability, for example behaviour change, green technologies and product design.
Research and knowledge exchange
UWE Bristol’s research and knowledge exchange activities address many of the urgent challenges relating to sustainability.
Sustainability and climate change resilience is one of our four Research Beacons outlined in our Transforming Futures Research Strategy, highlighting our commitment to world-leading research with real-world impact on this topic.
UWE Bristol was also among the first organisations to sign up to the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. The Concordat is a voluntary agreement to embed environmental sustainability into research and innovation practices.
Examples of our research projects
Reading for the Climate
This project developed and explored how a facilitated climate book club was experienced by undergraduates, and how it affected engagement and understanding of climate crisis.
MAKERS (Making and Knowledge Exchange for Repair and Sustainability)
This project is enhancing belonging among diverse engineering students through sustainability and repair activities.
ECWAL study (Exploring Climate emergency Wellbeing and Awareness in Learning Disability service users)
This study is using art, music and performance to explore learning disability service user emotional experiences of climate change.
MultiCAV Autonomous Bus Services
This project evaluated one of the world’s first autonomous buses running in service.
Freezing Global Warming
This project explores preventing the carbon stored in timber from re-entering the atmosphere by storing it in frozen seawater as an affordable way of reversing climate change.
Science Hunters: Engineering for sustainable societies
This project explores engineering in sustainable development, supporting children to apply knowledge by creating their own model sustainable solutions and communities in Minecraft.
Other research projects
These are just a selection of UWE Bristol research projects related to the areas of sustainability, health and environment.
View our other research projects
You can also visit UWE Bristol's Research Repository to explore our publications and presentations relating to the broad university engagement with sustainability.
Sustainability in our research portfolio
Researchers across UWE Bristol investigate solutions to sustainability challenges.
We have several centres of research excellence and research groups that focus on the topic of sustainability from many different disciplines and perspectives. Examples include:
Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments (SPE)
Exploring how to achieve healthy, resilient, sustainable and smart places, in the context of climate and ecological emergencies.
Centre for Transport and Society (CTS)
Exploring the interactions between mobility, accessibility, lifestyles and society linked to the transport sector, with relevance to climate change and just transition.
Centre for Architecture and Built Environment Research (CABER)
Exploring sustainability and the built environment through the inter-related stages of building design and construction, occupation, and life cycle analysis.
Air Quality Management Resource Centre (AQMRC)
Undertaking research around air quality and carbon management.
Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience (CWCR)
Exploring concerning different aspects of water risk, security and development of resilient communities.
Centre for Research in Biosciences (CRIB)
Exploring emerging technology to solve ecological and environmental issues, as well as studying agricultural food and water systems.
Environmental Law and Sustainability Research Group (ELSRG)
Exploring innovative and practical law and policy solutions relating to environment, sustainability and natural resources.
The above is just a selection of UWE Bristol’s research centres and groups that are exploring topics related to sustainability.
In addition, our Changing Climate Network draws together UWE Bristol staff with interests that converge on the causes and consequences of climate change, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaborations and supports funding bids for related research.
For more information, please email Dr Lindsay Walker, Bid Developer for STEM and Environment), Research, Business and Innovation (RBI): lindsay.walker@uwe.ac.uk.
Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership
The University has made a significant commitment over the years to the Bristol Climate and Nature Partnership, a unique network of over 1,000 organisations united by one vision: a zero-carbon, nature-rich, socially just future for our city.
Formerly known as Bristol Green Capital, we were a strategic partner and strong supporter of the organisation during the European Green Capital year in 2015.
Professor James Longhurst, Emeritus Professor and former Assistant Vice-Chancellor for Environment and Sustainability, and Matthew Jones, Dean and Head of School of Architecture and Environment, are currently board members.
Work with us
Working with business, public bodies and the third sector to support the creation of a sustainable, low carbon and healthy future is core to the ethos of the University. Please contact us if you would like to find out more about research, consultancy or continuing professional development opportunities within the fields of sustainability, health and environment.
If you would like to discuss our research and partnerships, please contact Dr Lindsay Walker, Bid Developer for STEM and Environment, Research, Business and Innovation (RBI): lindsay.walker@uwe.ac.uk.
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Sustainability strategy, leadership and plans
Details of UWE Bristol's commitment to sustainability through our 2030 strategy, leadership and governance, plans and goals.
Education for sustainable development
Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) sits at the heart of UWE Bristol’s institutional strategy and teaching and learning framework.
Education for Sustainable Development: curriculum and pedagogy
We are working to embed sustainability across our curriculum for all our courses, as well as our in our culture.
Research
Discover how research at UWE Bristol is making a real impact.