Microplastics Experts at the University of Birmingham are investigating the scale and impact of microplastics - and whether their properties could even be harnessed for environmental and human benefit.
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.
Securing rare earths Our most important technologies depend on raw materials that are not evenly distributed around the world. Elements are at risk of supply disruptions, leaving import-dependent countries like the UK vulnerable.
A Global History of Monoculture It is widely accepted that monoculture creates many environmental, social and economic issues, yet the world carries on producing our food in this way, despite a lack of evidence proving its benefit.
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.
Clean cold chains Energy demand for cooling, particularly for food, is projected to nearly triple by 2050 posing a catastrophic threat to our environment.
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.
Understanding heritage Understanding the role of heritage in the intricate relationship between people and places.
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.
Food security Experts at the University are helping to reduce the threat to humanity from food insecurity by safeguarding agrobiodiversity and improving its availability for crop enhancement.
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.
Diagnosing our cities City-regions, much like the human body, are a complex coming together of systems and interdependencies, but we have failed to properly read cities.
Sustainable Livelihoods From illegal poaching to the unsustainable plunder of fisheries, efforts are being made to end these practices - but who is making decisions on how to do that and based on what evidence?
Urban Metabolisms With a growing global population and rapid city expansion, there's increased pressure on 'urban metabolisms'. Professor Peter Kraftl uses the voices of young people to maintain and improve these for future generations.