Research in Life and Environmental Sciences

Across the breadth of life and environmental sciences we discover, apply and translate science, forging advances in human and environmental health.

Climate Change Research

Discover how we are taking academic work into the real world to help policymakers and business leaders make informed decisions now for a better future tomorrow.

Find out abut the Centre for Urban Wellbeing

Discover the Institute for Mental Health

Find out about our world class research facilities

Explore the Inaugural Lecture Programme

Events

Inaugural Lecture of Professor Luisa Orsini

13Dec

The neurocognitive mechanisms underlying dissociative amnesia

22Jan

Prof Lucia Melloni | Using Adversarial Collaboration to Harness Collective Intelligence

25Jan

Prof Usha Goswami CBE | Dyslexia, Rhythm, Language and the Developing Brain

22Feb

Our world-leading collaborative research areas and facilities include:

Environmental Sciences

We focus on the major environmental science challenges such as air pollution and health, climate change, extreme weather events, and the safety of chemicals and nanomaterials.
Microbiology and Infection

With one of the largest groupings of microbiologists in the world, we are at the vanguard of innovative research into combatting antimicrobial and antibiotic resistance.
Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain

We use cutting edge technology and expertise to collectively advance the assessment of patients with spinal pain through the development of new assessment tools.
Centre for Human Brain Health

We are an interdisciplinary brain research facility established with the mission of understanding what makes a brain healthy, how to maintain it, and how to prevent and reverse damage.
Institute for Mental Health

We are ensuring a sustained impact on public policy and practice, translating research in neuroscience to improvements in treatment, and improving the care and outcomes of those suffering from problems in their mental health.
Water Sciences

Our research is essential to sustainably manage the supply and use of water, provide a healthy environment and enhance resilience of ecosystems and people to water-related risks in a changing world.
The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR)

Providing fundamental science, social science and cultural research of direct relevance to forested landscapes anywhere in the world. We make the evidence-based case for forests as part of one-planet living.
Enabling Technologies

These research areas are all underpinned by our Enabling Technologies. We continually invest in resources so our researchers are able to pursue their ideas, undertake research and transfer their knowledge to create global impact.

Research in our four schools

Research Highlights from the College of Life and Environmental Sciences

Addressing Youth Homelessness through Mental Skills Training

My Strengths Training for Life™ (MST4Life™), has improved well-being and increased employability outcomes for young people who are homeless or at risk for homelessness.
Improving Great Ape Conservation

Interventions so zoos and sanctuaries can ensure their chimpanzees and orangutans have to solve similar physical and mental problems to their wild cousins on a daily basis.
Changing public understanding, learning and education in Earth Sciences

Using research to inspire the next generation of scientists, and change public understanding of Earth Sciences.
Using the internet of things to help keep transport moving

Improving decision making in Winter Road Maintenance through networks of low-cost sensors.
Food Security

Helping to reduce the threat to humanity from food insecurity by safeguarding agrobiodiversity and improving its availability for crop enhancement.
Transforming Management of Psychosis

Our research has informed national and international bodies on the need for early treatment and on recognition of depression in early psychosis and schizophrenia.

Life and Environmental Sciences news

Mississippi mud reveals secrets of Antarctica’s ancient expansion

21 August 2023

Small ice formations off the coast of Antarctica

Study of microscopic fossils taken from Mississippi sediment cores reveals climate feedback that acted as temporary brake on an ancient cooling event

Massive pre-Jurassic reptile had weaker bite than modern crocs

17 August 2023

Four diagrams of the process of recreating in a computer model of the ancient reptile Saurosuchus' skull

Computer recreation of apex predator suggests different feeding habits to dinosaurs as they couldn’t crunch bones

Hundreds more harvested mollusc species around the world identified

15 August 2023

A large cooking pot filled with clams and stock

Caution needed in sustainably harvesting varieties of oysters and scallops for future generations

Diamond domino effect explains eruption spot secrets

26 July 2023

A large cut diamond set on a large number of pieces of glass

Tectonic plate breakup discovery could spark future discoveries of precious gems

Good for soil, grim for the air: more than third of fertiliser use breaking emissions thresholds

20 July 2023

Blue tractor towing a tank spreading fertilizer on a green grass field

Study found that in some cases up to 77% of fertiliser spread on UK soil went into atmosphere

Successful cooperation depends on good mindreading abilities - study

13 July 2023

Group of People in White Clothes facing each other

A person’s ‘mindreading ability’ can predict how well they are able to cooperate, even with people they have never met before.

Geology that created the arena for most celebrated bicycling race

13 July 2023

400 million years of tectonic developments to make 2023 Tour de France thrilling contest

SMART Schools Study Protocol

10 July 2023

Two young women looking at smartphones and laughing

The SMART Schools Study protocol is now published in BMJ Open.

Man-made materials in nests can bring both risks and benefit for birds

10 July 2023

Two white stocks lying on a nest made partly of man-made materials above an urban environment

176 bird species found to include man-made materials including plastics in their nests

Students with low vision may feel more socially excluded than blind or sighted peers

07 July 2023

Photo of Man Using Headphones While Learning Braille

Students with low vision feel more socially excluded at school than their peers with blindness or their sighted peers