Research and knowledge exchange for sustainable development

In Strategy 2030, we set clear goals for UWE Bristol research to address and tackle the climate and nature emergency.

We’ve set out how we’ll achieve this in our Research and Enterprise Strategy, and the Climate Action and Sustainability Strategy.

Our research is collaborative, agile and student-facing, with local focus and global reach. It addresses intractable problems, enabling a pipeline of research engagement, supported by focused groups, centres and institutes.

All UWE Bristol research builds on our considerable success and further strengthens our support for student enterprise and opportunities, business start-ups, innovation and enterprise, knowledge exchange and collaboration between university researchers, business and other partners.

UWE Bristol research fosters and strengthens real-world action - locally, nationally and internationally. Action that has a tangible, positive impact on developing a sustainable and equitable future.

Research highlights

Research highlights

Research Entities, Bidding, Research Outputs and the SDGs

UWE Bristol maintains a vibrant research ecosystem of groups, centres and institutes. See the full list.

We’ve summarised the impact of our research in a series of case studies, the majority of which address one or more the UN SDGs.

Taken together, you can see the wide range of current and recent work by UWE Bristol staff, clearly addressing environmental, sustainability and ecological challenges.

Changing Climate Network, Local, National and International Activities

To better share understanding, to build capacity and capability for net zero carbon initiatives, we maintain an active Changing Climate Network.

In academic year 2021–22, the network held a number of events to understand the Net Zero Research and Innovation capabilities in the UWE Bristol research ecosystem, conducted a mapping exercise to detail the range and depth of capabilities across the university and ran a number of internal meetings to explore culture change issues foregrounded by changing climate considerations.

The network supported a UWE Bristol presence at the Business of Net Zero, a local COP 26 event, contributed to South Gloucestershire Council’s Business Conference and to EPSRC’s Engineering Net Zero Week. In advance of COP 26 UWE Bristol and WECA hosted the Planet Mark Zero Carbon Tour on the Frenchay Campus in September 2021.

We have supported the Climate Commission for Higher and Further Education, until it concluded its work after COP26 26, promoting the Climate Action Toolkit. Our staff also contributed to UN Race to Zero events and to the Climate Action Network for International Educators. More on this story.

Nationally, UWE Bristol staff contributed net zero presentations to events run by the Institute of Government and Public Policy, Government Events and Westminster Forum as well as UUK’s post COP26 conference.

UWE Bristol research was presented at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow from 31 October – 12 November 2021.

A new planetarium show designed by UWE Bristol's Engineering department showcased low carbon sustainability solutions as part of the Green Zone.

We Make Our Future – as seen at COP26

An interactive, educational and entertaining science show for the next generation of engineers. The We Make Our Future show has been designed with planetarium experts Explorer Dome and is part of the Inspire educational work from the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) team in the School of Engineering at UWE Bristol. It was featured at COP26 and is now touring schools around the west of England thanks to funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

We Make Our Future – as seen as COP26

An interactive, educational and entertaining science show for the next generation of engineers. The We Make Our Future show has been designed with planetarium experts Explorer Dome and is part of the Inspire educational work from the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) team in the School of Engineering at UWE Bristol. It was featured at COP26 and is now touring schools around the West of England thanks to funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

We Make Our Future – as seen as COP26

An interactive, educational and entertaining science show for the next generation of engineers. The We Make Our Future show has been designed with planetarium experts Explorer Dome and is part of the Inspire educational work from the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) team in the School of Engineering at UWE Bristol. It was featured at COP26 and is now touring schools around the West of England thanks to funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Bristol Green Capital Partnership

UWE Bristol is a founding member of the Bristol Green Capital Partnership. We contribute to its Climate Leaders programme and our researchers, through a University Advisory Group, engage locally with net zero carbon initiatives in the west of England. These include South Gloucestershire Council’s Climate Emergency Action Plan and the independent Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change.