Institute for Sustainability Solutions Research

ISSR

Institute for Sustainability Solutions ResearchResearch excellence for environmental, social and economic impact

ISSR

SUSTAINABILITY WITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY

WelcomeThe Institute for Sustainability Solutions Research (ISSR) was launched in April 2012 and brings together the world-class sustainability research underway at Plymouth University. The Institute has over 380 members, including over 300 researchers investigating sustainability from a variety of different disciplines and perspectives including Science, Business, Arts, Humanities, and Health.

The ISSR connects individuals with specialist expertise, promotes dynamic cutting-edge collaboration and encourages students to engage with relevant researchers and stakeholders. Within its first year it has contributed to the University’s award winning tri-cameral approach to sustainability, held numerous events, developed a series of innovative publications, supported a significant number of research bids and the delivery of a number of successful projects.

The ISSR is the single point of contact for organisations wanting to collaborate with Plymouth University on sustainability. We provide an incubator for developing multidisciplinary research projects, helping to find solutions to world’s most pressing environmental, economic and social challenges.

Tim Daley Director of ISSR

If you are interested in collaboration, our team are here to help. Please contact us at:

Tel: +44 (0)1752 585816 Fax: +44 (0)1752 585714 email: issr@plymouth.ac.uk

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“creating solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental, economic and social challenges through multi-disciplinary research.”

ISSR WITHPLYMOUTHUNIVERSITY

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The Institute has over 300 researchers investigating sustainability from a variety of different disciplines. These are clustered into the following research centres, groups and specialities.

3D DeSIgNDesign Knowledge promotes the progressive practice of applied design, the application of design thinking and the multidisciplinary diversity of design innovation. Our research areas can be grouped into several sections: human centred design; environmentally and sustainably aware design; design and artefact manufacture; and spatial architecture. Our enterprise links with industry and regional makers ensure the relevance and direction of our research. The equipment and facilities that support our research, in the wider University setting are among the finest in our region.

Design Knowledge has established a series of enterprise initiatives providing industry with creative talent and world renowned design processes and know-how. This cluster also produces advanced inter-disciplinary research and it operates at the levels of post-doctoral research, doctoral study (MPhil/PhD), and post-graduate study (MA, MRes).

eNVIRoNmeNTAl ScIeNce/TeRReSTRIAl ecoSySTem SeRVIceSThrough well-established expertise in Environmental Science, Physical Geography, Human Geography, Ecology, Soil Science, Geospatial Information, Earth System Science, and Agricultural/Rural Management, Plymouth University offers broad, independent and rigorous support to organisations looking to investigate terrestrial ecosystem services. Plymouth University is able to draw together this expertise to offer complete solutions through the ISSR.

PlymouTh SuSTAINAbIlITy AND SuRFINg ReSeARch gRouPThis is an inter-disciplinary, international research group aimed at exploring the key challenges relating to sustainable development and surfing. The group has developed through a recognition that the surfing world has a significant impact globally and locally. Whilst evidence of the impacts have increased in recent years very little research has been conducted in this area. This group adopts a sustainable development perspective that explores the interconnections between the economic, social and environmental dimensions of surfing.

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SPEcIALIST SUSTAINABILITY RESEARcH ExPERTISE

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PlymouTh uNIVeRSITy PeNINSulA SchoolS oF meDIcINe AND DeNTISTRy (PuPSmD)Research with the Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry brings together expert clinicians and scientists from the University’s medical, dental, bioscience and healthcare areas, plus work-based practice at its medical and dental schools and Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, to lead ground-breaking studies with global impact.

SeRVIce eNTeRPRISe ReSeARch ceNTRe (SeRc)SERC carries out world leading research in the fields of services and enterprise, and their applications across a range of public, private, voluntary and community sectors. The aim of SERC is to provide research, consultancy and advice regarding a wide range of service operations, marketing, enterprise, innovation, and impact issues affecting small, medium and large businesses, organisations and agencies. Within the Centre, there exists a number of distinct research areas, these being: small business and enterprise; service management; consequences of tourism and events; economic and social spatial analysis and entrepreneurship education within Africa.

ARchITecTuRe AND culTuRe TheoRy SPAce ReSeARch gRouPThis cluster produces advanced inter-disciplinary research in two, linked and overlapping areas: theories and histories of culture and society in the modern and post-modern periods; and critical cultural practices in changing urban situations. It operates at the levels of post-doctoral research, doctoral study (Mphil/PhD), and post-graduate study (MA, Mres).

ceNTRe FoR AgRIculTuRe AND RuRAl SuSTAINAbIlITy (cARS)Plymouth University has a large rural hinterland and a long tradition of research into rural issues across a broad spectrum of academic disciplines. This includes agriculture, aquaculture and food research and utilises the disciplines of biological science, environmental science, business management, economics, geography, sociology and technology.

The overall aim of CARS is to bring together researchers to develop sustainable solutions which address issues of food security, food safety, environmental protection and national and international policy. The four groups associated with CARS are: Plant Sciences; Food and Nutrition; Ecosystem Management; and Policy and Business Management. CARS is the articulation point for the University for Peninsula Partnership for the Rural Economy (PPRE).

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ceNTRe FoR culTuRe, commuNITy AND SocIeTy (cccS)This is an interdisciplinary research centre concerned with exploring and addressing key challenges facing culture and community in the 21st century. Within the group research clusters are organised around sustainability, learning communities, difference and diversity, travel and tourism, the cultural economy and globalisation.

This cross-faculty network brings together researchers from the fields of: education; arts and media; sociology; social policy; human geography; business; and science and technology.

Postgraduate students who are at the early stages of their career are encouraged to become fully involved in the activities of the research centre.

ceNTRe FoR mARINe AND coASTAl PolIcy ReSeARch (marcoPol)The aim of the Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research (MarCoPol) is to provide a sound scientific, social, legal and economic basis for improved policy and management for the sustainable use and protection of the marine and coastal environment. MarCoPol brings together academics from the fields of policy, sociology, economics, law, business and ecology, making it a truly interdisciplinary research centre.

We have four research themes: Marine & Coastal Governance; Marine Conservation; Marine Ecosystem Services and Economics ; and Society and the Sea.

ceNTRe FoR ReSeARch IN eNVIRoNmeNT AND SocIeTy (ceReS) One of the most active Research Centres within the University, much of the work CeRES does is interdisciplinary. Individual staff engage with a wide range of other departments in universities and research institutes around the world. The Centre is focused on three linked fundamental elements, namely environment-society interactions, environmental processes and change, and their governance through regulation, management policies and stakeholder involvement. The Centre is methodologically innovative and interdisciplinary by transcending and blending the traditions of the Natural Sciences (Physical Geography) and Social Sciences and Humanities (Human Geography, Politics).

ceNTRe FoR SuSTAINAble FuTuReS (cSF)Sustainability Teaching and Learning across the university is supported by the work of the CSF. We provide curriculum and pedagogic support and coordinate cross-institutional research related to education for sustainable development (ESD), in association with the pedagogical institute Pedagogic Research Institute and Observatory (PedRIO).

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ceNTRe FoR SuSTAINAble leADeRShIP, goVeRNANce AND PolIcy (SlgP)SLGP provides research, consultancy and advice regarding a wide range of sustainable, leadership, governance and policy issues. SLGP closely identifies with the objectives of the Plymouth University strategy in terms of sustainability, enterprise, governance and leadership as well as the impact these areas have on the economy, community and organisational activity. The Centre exemplifies strong interdisciplinary links within the social sciences (public administration, sociology, psychology, politics, economics, organisational theory, HRM, international relations and linguistics).

ceNTRe FoR SuSTAINAble TRANSPoRT (cST)The CST brings together academics, researchers and practitioners from across Plymouth University with expertise in various aspects of transport sustainability. We come from a range of disciplinary backgrounds and offer a wealth of perspectives on transport’s relationship with environmental, economic and social issues. Our work with the ISSR has supported the creation of South West Smart Applications Limited (SWSAL), a not for profit company delvering multi-operator ticketing in South West England. Since its inception SWSAL has been successful in delivering over £11m in grants.

ecoToxIcology ReSeARch AND INNoVATIoN ceNTRe (eRIc)ERIC conducts innovative, world-class studies in ecotoxicology and aims to: maintain and develop the University’s international reputation in ecotoxicology; provide a natural home for a range of enterprise/innovation activities related to this field; and provide a network of linkages with other research centres both within the University and internationally.

The team has extensive interactions with other research groups in the region including the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the Centre for Environment, Fisheries, and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Weymouth Laboratory as well as many others both nationally and internationally.

eNVIRoNmeNTAl buIlDINgS gRouP (ebg)The main research concentrations of this group are in the fields of building science and technology and construction management. Individual researchers also provide excellent contributions in fields like construction law and sustainability literacy. Projects deal with a breadth of sub-topics such as thermography, laboratory and in-situ measurements of thermal and humidity properties of building materials, building performance simulation, off-site construction, low and zero carbon technologies, Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE), building operational conditions and control (including occupant behaviour and climate change), values and attitudes regarding sustainability, and many others.

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INTeRAcTIVe SySTemS STuDIoInteractive Systems Studio is a group of multi-disciplinary professionals whose ambition is to provide outstanding creative prototypes utilising a diverse range of technologies. We offer a transparent six-step development cycle working in tandem with our clients to take an idea from its initial inception through to a desired end goal with additional consultation on where to take the project forward.

The studio was created to act as an intermediary partner for enabling enterprising students, staff, research groups and SMEs to leverage funding, consortium bids and deliver investable prototypes which otherwise might never have been realised. We understand the challenges involved in turning a great idea into a successful product and have the expertise to add value to your projects to enhance the engagement with potential partners, convince investors and facilitate the unlocking of the next level of funding. The studio is hosted by the School of Computing and Mathematics and sponsored by the Faculty of Science and Environment, as featured in the launch edition of Connect (Plymouth University’s magazine). We are members of The Independent Game Developers’ Association (TIGA) for the UK games industry.

SuSTAINAbIlITy AND PSychology gRouPWe investigate how humans affect the environment and how the environment can affect us, using a range of research methods. Currently, our two main research interests are ways to increase sustainable behaviour in individuals and the influence the environment, in particular the marine environment, has on our health and well-being.

Our group has a very interdisciplinary approach, with members from various areas of psychology as well as members from other fields and institutions.

SuSTAINAbIlITy, SocIeTy AND heAlTh gRouP (SShg)This is a cross-faculty multi-disciplinary group that explores issues and seeks solutions to the challenges that climate change, fossil fuel dependency, food security and other threats to sustainability present to society and health. We view our colleagues and students as agents of change, and, drawing on our diverse experiences and disciplines we approach these challenges through research, education, information and action. Some of this work has been supported through fellowships with the Centre for Sustainable Futures and links with the Institute for Sustainability Solutions Research.

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INSTITuTe FoR SuSTAINAbIlITy SoluTIoNS ReSeARch (ISSR)

Drake circus Plymouth Pl4 8AA united Kingdom

Tel: +44 (0)1752 585816 Fax: +44 (0)1752 585714

email: issr@plymouth.ac.uk www.plymouth.ac.uk/research/issr

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