Image credit: Carey Marks
If you would like your sustainability research project included on our page, please contact us at sei@plymouth.ac.uk
Sustainability research cuts across all faculties and disciplines, from natural and social sciences to engineering, arts, humanities, health and business. Our researchers take a solutions-oriented, systems-thinking approach to solving complex sustainability challenges, addressing both local and global issues through environmental, societal and/or economic lenses. The scope of sustainability research at the University spans all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
The Sustainable Earth Institute is currently focusing on select sustainability challenge themes that transcend disciplinary research and bring together a critical mass of interdisciplinary expertise to look at the issue holistically rather than in isolation. These themes are Healthy Landscapes (SDG 15 Life on Land), Natural Resources and Energy (SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy), and Net Zero Carbon (SDG 13 Climate Action), with environmental intelligence and sensors providing expertise and tools integral across themes.   

2024 Small Collaborative Research Awards 

Are you a University of Plymouth researcher interested in seed funding to carry out a small piece of interdisciplinary research that will support a larger funding bid?
Funding is available for research collaborations that align to one or more of the Sustainable Earth Institute’s 2024 challenge themes.
  • Healthy Landscapes (SDG15-Life on Land
  • Net Zero Carbon (SDG13-Climate Action)
  • Natural Resources (SDG7-Affordable and Clean Energy)
  • Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11)
Deadline for applications: 17:00, 21 January 2024.  
credit John Kilburn
credit John Kilburn

Read more

Explore a range of research and knowledge exchange stories in our Sphere publications.

ELLIE the Robot Dog - Sphere Cover

Sphere 2023
Read stories about the research taking place across the SEI having real-life impact.

Tom planting trees

Sphere November 2021
Read stories about our race to net zero and how our research and partnerships align with the key themes addressed at COP26.

Sphere February 2021, Sustainable Earth Institute. House with plant walls

Sphere February 2021
Read stories on our work aligned to the Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF) with project partnerships that engage, and benefit, the wider world.