Research in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management

We are committed to providing a stimulating learning environment for students by underpinning their teaching with personal research. Our research activity focuses on strategically important and timely environmental, resource, transport and societal issues.

Reflecting its global prominence, the Department hosts the International Water Security Network. Staff across the Department also contribute to the Centre for Architecture and Build Environment Research.

View our latest publications

Research centres

Air Quality Management Resource Centre

Widely recognised by air quality and carbon management practitioners, nationally and internationally, as a leading provider of information, advice, research and consultancy.

Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments

The Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments (SPE) aims to develop understanding of how to achieve places that are environmentally sustainable, socially just and economically competitive.

Centre for Transport and Society

Our aim is to improve and promote understanding of the inherent links between lifestyles and personal travel in the context of continuing social and technological change.

Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience

The Centre for Water, Communities and Resilience (CWCR) brings together established inter-disciplinary teams working on different national and international water security initiatives at UWE Bristol.

WHO Collaborating Centre for Healthy Urban Environments

Promoting sustainable settlements through research, teaching, consultancy, knowledge exchange and publications. We work closely with external organisations including the WHO European Healthy Cities network.

Research with impact

View all impact stories

Learn more about the real-world impact of our research.

Flood

Flood resilient communities

UWE Bristol researchers co-work with communities and agencies to transform thinking on resilience to floods/extreme weather.
Air quality research

Improving air quality

UWE Bristol research findings on the management of air quality have informed policy and guidance of governments worldwide.
Overfishing

Closing the net on overfishing

Research at UWE Bristol has been instrumental in establishing marine reserves, including the world’s largest.
Connecting people to places

Connecting people to places

UWE Bristol’s expertise in understanding travellers was central to the design for planning millions of journeys across the UK.
Green infrastructure

Delivering high quality green infrastructure

Research conducted by UWE Bristol is being used to develop a framework for high quality green infrastructure.
Terraced housing in Bristol

Shaping sustainable suburbs

A research team at UWE Bristol have taken an in-depth look at the risks suburbs face, joining forces with residents to test ideas and create change.

Department research areas

Environment, Sustainability and Resource Management

  • Impact of floods and drought on communities 
  • Water and resource security
  • Air quality and carbon management 
  • Fluvial geomorphology and catchment management
  • Quaternary environmental change
  • Biogeography and conservation
  • Environmental applications of remote sensing and GIS
  • Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure

Societies, Cultures and Communities

  • Sacred and secular mobilities
  • Retirement, migration and social capital
  • Urban and rural planning and regeneration
  • Gendered spaces and gendered knowledge
  • Sustainable and responsible tourism

Sustainable Mobilities and Transport

  • Sustainable transport policy
  • Promoting inclusive, low carbon, active travel
  • Interactions between people and autonomous
  • Mobility and ageing

DRY project

Droughts and water shortage pose a significant threat to the environment, agriculture, infrastructure, society and culture in the UK, affecting the lives of all of us. The purpose of this project is to develop an innovative, evidence-based resource, which can be used for decision-making in drought risk management.

Learn more about DRY including information on the project team and the case study catchment areas.

Making research links

Research is often undertaken with external agencies to ensure that it is relevant to local communities and industries. Work has been undertaken, for example, with the Environment Agency, Consumer Council for Water, UK Water Companies, Severn Estuary Research Group and Charity Retain Association and DEMOS. 

The Department, in line with the University’s vision for ‘research with impact’, is committed to examining real world problems that affect people in order to inform sustainable livelihoods and practices.

Postgraduate research

We welcome enquires from those interested in postgraduate research study with us. With state-of-the-art facilities and experienced academic staff, we are perfectly equipped to carry out some of the most unique and exciting research in our subject areas.

Postgraduate research study

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