Extreme Climates and Sports Science Increasing global temperatures and water shortages are two of the biggest climate change challenges facing the world, but the potentially deadly impact of extreme heat on human health are already being felt.
COVID-19 and air pollution Researchers at the University of Birmingham are contributing to a developing global conversation about how the pandemic will impact on societies over short, medium and long time frames in both the global south and north.
Atmospheric Pollution and Human Health Airborne pollution particles have a major impact on our planet's atmosphere, nowhere more so than the megacities of China – vast swathes of humanity living, working and breathing together in cities of up to 26m people.
Decarbonising heat Reducing carbon dioxide emissions is, undoubtedly, the key element in our global drive to tackle climate change. How can we use innovative technology to help decarbonise heat?
Decarbonising railways Researchers at the University of Birmingham are working to integrate hydrogen and battery power to the country's rolling stock to meet the government's ambitious decarbonisation targets.
Forests of the future Mature oak trees will increase their rate of photosynthesis by up to a third in response to the raised CO2 levels expected to be the world average by about 2050, new research shows.
Resilience to drought As water shortages come more into the spotlight, researchers in the field have reached something of a watershed moment and have been challenged. How do you reduce the impact of human activity on hydrological cycles?
Sustainable Polymers With the environmental impact of single-use plastics recognised as a major global challenge, Andrew Dove, Professor of Sustainable Polymer Chemistry at the University of Birmingham, has a clear vision of the future.
Urban air pollution Researchers are looking at new ways of approaching health, social and economic problems associated with air pollution in the cities of India and other similarly polluted regions across the Global South.