Tag: UWE Bristol Research

A freight future that delivers for everyone

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

“I want a freight future that delivers for everyone, and is economically, environmentally and socially sustainable.”

Dr Daniela Paddeu, Associate Professor of Sustainable Freight Futures  

Working closely with academic, government and industry partners and stakeholders, my research explores how we can co-design a more innovative, sustainable freight future. A freight future that’s responsive to the needs and expectations of all partners and stakeholders.   

As the freight specialist for the Centre for Transport and Society (CTS) at UWE Bristol, I provide a strong link between research and practice. For example, I work on projects with strong policy impact, especially related to strategic thinking on decarbonisation and innovation plans for the future of transport. I’m looking at the environmental impacts of freight, as well as its social and economic impacts. I see things from both an industry and stakeholder perspective, as well as a public one. That’s important to me. It’s important to all our futures too.   

Balancing efficiency and sustainability

I work to better understand how we move freight, especially in busy urban areas. Because the way we buy things has changed a lot. We buy things and want them to be delivered to our doorstep the same day or the next day. That’s very convenient for us but what does it mean in terms of environmental and social impact? What is the bigger cost of this? Through my work, I want to better understand how to design appropriate policies and plans that address freight issues from both an efficiency and sustainability perspective.   

Another big question for me is how we build freight systems that are resilient to uncertainty. In the last few years, we have had very disruptive events. I want to try to help the industry and its many stakeholders to make better decisions today but also take into consideration the uncertainties we might be facing in the next 10 or 15 years.  

The freight future we want – and need   

What does the future of freight look like? It’s a good question but, in many ways, the wrong question. For me, it’s more about what is the future we want? Where do we want to get to? We all want a future that is more sustainable, more inclusive, more economically prosperous for everyone. That’s where I’m heading. That’s where I want my research work to take this very important industry.   

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

  

Putting robots in real life

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

“I’m excited by putting robots into real life. Already we have seen some amazing results. With children, for example. Social care is also an area where we believe robotics can play an important role.”

Dr Marcela Munera, Associate Professor in Assistive Robotics 

I am a bioengineer by background. My PhD is in biomechanics – how the human body moves and performs. Then, seven or so years ago, I became interested in robotics and humanoids, and how they can help real people in their daily lives.   

Now my work is centred on developing robots and robotics that can help people with disabilities or any other kind of condition or frailty. We are looking at how we can use robotics for assistance and rehabilitation. To help people get back to doing what they used to be able to do.   

Simple beats complex every time   

I am passionate about making things simple. Not over-complicated or over-engineered. Because the simpler we can make these robotic applications, the faster we can get them into real world clinical use.   

That means we can start helping people sooner rather than later. That’s important to me. It’s not about doing things for us, as researchers or academics. It’s about helping individuals to do things for themselves. Say you are getting older, you’ve had a stroke, or you’ve lost a limb, how can robotics help you to regain and restore your independence and confidence?   

Your friendly robot reminder

We’re exploring many kinds of robotics too. For example, how we can use robotics in therapy, for a physical or mental condition. Yes, social robots. Humanoid robots that can give feedback. Say you’re doing rehab exercises, your robot can tell you if you’re doing them well or “Hey, you didn’t exercise today”. Things like that.    

That means AI and robotics that can take information from the environment around them and make decisions based on that information.   

Helping humans, not replacing them

I’m excited by putting robots into real life. Already we have seen some amazing results. With children, for example. Social care is also an area where we believe robotics can play an important role. We don’t have enough carers right now. And many of them are experiencing fatigue and burnout. Or they are moving to other, better paid sectors.   

We will never replace our carers with robots, but they could help them to do their job better and help people who need care to stay in their own homes for longer, and live more independent lives.   

This is why I have a user centred approach. We start with what the user needs, not what we want to do. We begin every project we do with something called contextual inquiry. That’s basically go and see. Find out. Discover. Only then can we develop the robotics to aid people. And that’s always our goal.  

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

Bringing patients, partners and families together, so no one has to go through dementia alone

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

“No one has to go through dementia alone. Through Living Well with Dementia, we’re bringing patients, partners and families together, so that they can all live fuller, happier lives.”

Dr Emily Dodd, Senior Research Fellow   

Dr Natasha Woodstoke, Research Fellow     

Professor Richard Cheston, Professor of Dementia Research   

While we each have our own specialisms and our different areas of research, we came together through LivDem, which stands for Living Well with Dementia.   

Through LivDem, we want to make sure that people can access and take up the services and support that they – and their partners and families – need.   

Caring and sharing

Rightly, there’s a lot of focus on people getting an early dementia diagnosis. It’s important, so a lot of services are set up around that. But actually, that time after you’re diagnosed can be really scary, upsetting and lonely.

We believe it’s important for people living with dementia to come together and talk. Sharing what it’s like to live with dementia helps people to adjust. By helping people to feel more comfortable having open conversations about this dreadful illness we can challenge the stigma that surrounds it.  Our LivDem group intervention offers this. 

We have also been developing a new LivDem Families intervention. The aim is to help couples and families to be able to talk together about how the illness is affecting them. This helps them to have the best life that they can, together after a diagnosis. 

Reaching everyone affected 

As well as the group sessions themselves, we’re interested in how LivDem is delivered. Historically, it’s been delivered within the NHS by NHS professionals. But we’re looking at how it can be adapted so that, for example, it could be run by voluntary or community organisations. We believe that this would improve access. Because we know that there are certain groups of people that are more likely to engage and take up services that are provided by these types of organisations.   
  
We’re also taking LivDem global. We’ve had a lot of interest from overseas, including Italy, Ireland and Japan. It’s quite exciting to be doing something that people seem to get a lot out of. A lot of the feedback is really encouraging.   

Opening up the conversation   

We’re all very proud that we’re changing real lives through LivDem. We had an email from one of the course facilitators the other day. He was so pleased with how LivDem had facilitated some really good conversation with the people in the room. They were really opening up. He said there was laughter, there were tears. And he finished the email by saying how we’ve created something really special. For the three of us, it really doesn’t get better than that. Knowing that LivDem is making a genuine difference to real lives.   

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

Health research for the benefit of as many people as possible

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

“We want to make a positive difference that matters. We’re all about health research that can be actively put into practice for the benefit of as many people as possible.”

Fiona Cramp, Director of the Centre for Health and Clinical Research, and Professor of Long Term Conditions  

Here in the Centre for Health and Clinical Research, we carry out world-class research in neurology and musculoskeletal management, emergency care, supportive and palliative care, and end-of-life care. As a centre, we have cross-cutting themes of Children, Young People and Families, as well as Knowledge Mobilisation  and Evaluation.   

In everything we do, in all our health research activities, we embed patient and public involvement. Simply because the work we do is to help them. We’re here to improve real lives, to improve people’s quality of life.   

Quality of living   

My personal research is in physical activity and the role it can play in helping people with long term conditions. For example, we know that if people can keep physically active, it can help with management of a range of symptoms such as pain and fatigue. And the better that individuals can manage their symptoms, the better their quality of life, particularly for those who are living with long-term conditions.   

Our research is about actually making a difference; doing research that can be actively put into practice.   

Addressing health inequalities   

Right from the word go, when we design any research, we’re thinking about how it will make a difference. Does it have the potential to improve the care of people? Can it help people to better help themselves in relation to their specific health condition?   

As a centre, we’re looking closely at health inequalities too. There’s lots of things we know that work when it comes to helping people manage their own conditions. But we need to do more to make sure that this knowledge, this awareness, is accessible to everybody. Because right now, it isn’t.   

Maybe because you can’t access a physical activity programme because you’re from an ethnic minority background where women wouldn’t traditionally participate in physical activity alongside men. Or maybe it’s because you’re from a socioeconomically deprived background where you maybe don’t have the technology that you need to help you.  Whatever the reason it’s important that we design interventions that meet people’s needs. 

Access for all   

For me, it’s vital that we focus our research efforts on making sure that whatever we’re developing is accessible to everybody – or, at the very least, that it can be adapted to benefit as many people as possible.   

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

We’re on a mission to shatter appearance ideals and stereotypes so young people are not held back by low body confidence

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

“As leaders in the psychology of appearance and body image research, we’re on a mission to shatter appearance ideals and stereotypes so young people are not held back by low body confidence.”

Dr Heidi Williamson, Associate Professor  

Dr Phillippa Diedrichs, Professor of Psychology   

We’ve both been at the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR) for over a decade. Together, we co-lead a team of researchers, focusing on the co-creation and testing of body image tools for young people. 

We work alongside the Dove Self-Esteem Project, which is the community impact and social purpose programme for Unilever’s largest brand, Dove.  

Since 2012, we’ve developed and tested tools, policies and strategies that have reached over 100 million young people around the world with partners at UNICEF, Nike, and the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts.

Low body confidence

The majority of young people do not have body confidence. It affects all genders and cultures, with girls, gender diverse people and LGBTIA+ communities being disproportionality affected. Appearance-based stereotypes in relation to skin colour, body size, aging, physical disabilities are also widely prevalent. This has wide-ranging impacts for people’s health and  well-being. For example, 8 in 10 girls opt out of important life activities, like putting their hand up in the classroom, going to the doctor, trying out for a team or club, due to low body confidence.  

See the impact, feel the impact    

For several decades, researchers have been developing programmes to improve body confidence among young people. However, we’ve really struggled to get effective evidence-based interventions out to lots of people in a sustainable way due to a lack of resource and expertise in marketing.  

When we started working with Dove, our goal was to harness the reach and popularity of their brand and work together to deliver evidence-based body confidence education on a global scale.  

Creativity you can measure

We’re now 10 years into our partnership. Over those 10 years we’ve developed more than 20 different body confidence tools. Including the Girls Room, a five-part film series crafted by Emmy Award-winning producer and writer Lena Waithe, Dove, the Centre for Appearance Research and Attn:. 

We’ve also worked with UNICEF, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Cartoon Network and a range of creative and tech agencies to co-create animations, e-books, school lessons, digital games, social media marketing campaigns, and chatbots. Our most recent project included a world-first collaboration between Nike and Dove to deliver body confidence education to coaches in sporting settings.  

But it’s not just about the creative concepts and wide-reaching platforms we’re using to reach young girls. We rigorously evaluate everything we do through randomised control trials and qualitative research, so that we can be sure of the impact that the these tools are having on young people’s well-being.

Positively improving real lives, over 100 million and counting 

  We’re very proud of our work with Dove. Dove is now the world’s largest provider of evidence-based self-esteem education and the tools we’ve created together have reached over 100 million young people around the world.

We’re always exploring new ways to reach more young people and look forward to continuing our partnership together.

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

Benefiting the collective, not just the individual

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

“For community psychologists, our work should benefit the collective, not just the individual. So we’re always looking to make broader changes at community and structural levels to have the greatest impact on society.”

Dr Miles Thompson, Associate Professor in Psychology, Lead of the Psychological Sciences Research Group  

By background, I’m a clinical psychologist, with expertise in chronic pain. I also lead the Psychological Sciences Research Group (PSRG) here at UWE Bristol.  

Through our applied research, PSRG has a positive influence on people and places – at home, in the workplace, and in the wider social environment. We do this through our three themes.

Three in one: PSRG

Firstly, there’s ACN, which is Applied Cognition and Neuroscience. Here, we’re interested in the workings of the mind and brain, but in a very applied way. Understanding what’s going on internally, and how we can use that knowledge to make people’s lives better. 

Next up, is OPE, Optimising Performance and Engagement. Here, we have our sport, exercise and work psychologists. They’re working with top tier businesses, elite athletes and sports teams, looking at everything from athlete wellbeing, to ageism in the workplace, to career development of expatriates and high-skilled immigrants. It is anything but traditional research here. It’s applied all the way.  

Finally, there’s PPH – Promoting Psychological Health. This is home for many of our health and counselling psychologists. There’s obviously key elements of traditional psychology here, where we’re helping individuals to make a difference to their own lives.  

But also, we think more broadly too. More critically. Exploring big themes like capitalism, inequality, poverty, social justice. How those forces impact individuals and communities. And this is the area that really interests me.  

Community psychology and social change 

So, I research within an area called community psychology. And community psychology kind of does what it says on the tin. Instead of just focusing on the individual, we’re also interested in the wider structures that impact an individual’s life. Like the big themes I mentioned above. Because if you’re not actually influencing things at a community or societal level, then you potentially just end up with more and more people coming to see you individually. And you don’t actually get to make those individuals better, you just try and help them cope with bad situations. 

Context is everything 

I think one of the great things about psychology at UWE Bristol is that we have a lot of people who love psychology, who also love working in more applied, more broad and more critical ways. For some, elsewhere, psychology can be purely about the individual. Working with individuals in isolation. But it is important to see individuals in context. Which is what lots of us do here. 

All our work is applied. We are working to make real differences in the real world. In health, in workplaces, in sports teams and in the community. For me, what we do has to benefit the collective. That means looking to make broader changes at community and structural levels. Because that’s how we’re going to make the biggest difference. 

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

Giving nurses and midwives the practical genomics knowledge they need to positively impact patient care

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

Professor Aniko Varadi, Director for the Centre for Research in Biosciences

I lead the Generation Genome education team here at UWE Bristol. But my interest in genomics education goes back to 2012, to the launch of the 100,000 Genomes Project.   

The 100,000 Genomes Project was an English initiative to sequence and study the role our genes play in health and disease. Even now, even when you see how far the science has come, there is still untapped potential in genomics.

For example, if you know the changes in the DNA sequence in a cancer, say breast cancer, you can identify its subtype. You can then look at how that subtype responds to different drugs. And, providing the drugs exist, you can select the best possible drug for an individual patient.  

Mainstreaming genomics  

But genomics isn’t just about identifying treatment options; you can predict what’s going to happen in a family too. If one family member has, for example, colorectal cancer, and it turns out to be an inherited form, then we can do surveillance for the family members who have the same DNA variants.

But all this depends on our NHS professionals having the genomics knowledge in the first place. At the moment, we have a knowledge gap; our nurses and midwives don’t have genomics training. If they have training, when they gain genomics knowledge, they can use it to make a real difference to patients.  

This is what excites us. Upskilling our health professionals with the genomic know-how they need to positively impact patient health.

Workforce training  for our healthcare professionals 

So, in collaboration with NHS England, Macmillan Cancer Support, the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Genomics England and the South West Genomic Laboratory Hub, we have created a competency framework for healthcare practitioners.  

Based on this competency framework, we have developed a totally new education programme. It’s the only fully validated PgCert in Genomics for nurses, midwifes and allied health professionals in England – and UWE Bristol is currently the only HE provider of genomic CPD aimed specifically for nurses and fully funded by NHS England. 

Better access to genomics for more patients  

For all of us in the team, it’s about practically improving the knowledge of frontline NHS professionals. Helping them so they help more patients. As a result of training, many more patients are being tested. I’ll give you a specific example. Lynch Syndrome (LS) is a condition that can run in families and can increase the risk of developing some cancers. So, it’s an inherited type. In one region one of our course participants led an LS clinic. In the past in that region 35-40% patients with LS were missed but with this new clinic in place all those eligible for LS genomic testing were referred for testing. So, we know that what we are doing has a huge impact. For patients, for services, for our nurses. 

Changing lives in many ways  

We know we have changed lives. And, at a time when the NHS is so strapped for cash, if you can provide a better test quicker, then surely that’s only a good thing. For everyone.  

So far, we’ve educated over 200 nurses, midwives, allied healthcare professionals, physios, even some GPs. My ambition is to increase that number tenfold. That’s the ambition – and we always have very big ambitions here. 

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

UWE researchers launch futuristic hydroponics installation at Triennale di Milano

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

SPIKA challenges inequality and urban food futures through microbial innovation.

UWE has been a key part of a development that has taken centre stage at one of the world’s biggest design exhibitions – the Triennale di Milano – with a striking new installation exploring nature, inequality and the future of food.

Launched on 13 May, SPIKA is part of the 24th International Exhibition at the Triennale di Milano. The installation features a hydroponic tower powered by microbial fuel cells – a sustainable system developed at UWE Bristol with Dr Mukesh Sharma and Prof Neil Willey. It invites audiences to consider our relationship with nature and how we might produce nutritious food in future urban settings.

Watch the SPIKA build come to life and hear from the researchers involved:
Video: Building SPIKA

SPIKA is an output of the Microbial Hydroponics (Mi-Hy) project – a €6.5 million EU/UKRI-funded effort to create sustainable urban hydroponic systems. The team at UWE is working in partnership with KU Leuven, University of Southampton, CSIC Madrid, University of Novi Sad, Biofaction Vienna and SONY Computer Science Labs Paris.

Innovation at UWE: The MI-Hy System

The Mi-Hy system – short for Microbial Hydroponics – is being developed in the Envirotron at UWE Bristol, a specialist facility for environmental and agricultural innovation. It reintroduces beneficial microbes into hydroponic systems and uses smart technology to manage these microbial communities.

Why? Because microbes are key to turning common urban waste streams into a nutrient source for food production. This makes Mi-Hy a bold response to urban sustainability, food security, and climate change – using waste to grow nutritious crops, closer to where people live.

Mi-Hy is part of the European Innovation Commission’s CO₂ and Nitrogen Valorisation Portfolio – a €30 million programme aimed at reducing emissions and creating circular solutions across Europe. The system will be demonstrated at key events and forums across the continent over the next two years.

See SPIKA in action

SPIKA is on display at the Triennale di Milano until November 2025

sage growing in the hydroponic tower powered by microbial fuel cells

SPIKA and Mi-Hy are just one part of a bigger picture – showing how UWE researchers are using science, design and collaboration to shape sustainable futures.

Visit the live exhibit website to explore the exhibit in real-time

You can see updates by following on Instagram: @spika.mi_hy, @triennale

Developing useful, affordable and practical robotics that make a difference in the home or at work

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

Professor Carlos Cifuentes, Associate Professor in Human-Robot Interaction   

I am interested in solving real problems. In doing more meaningful work for the benefit of people.   

Take ageing. We know that the UK has an ageing population. Fewer people are now economically active. We also tend to write people off quite early. When you get to a certain age, it can feel like your contribution to society is over. That doesn’t seem right to me. So, we want to explore how we can develop and provide new tools and technologies that will enable people to do more for longer.   

Independent living through assistive tech   

We are also looking at technologies that can support people to live independently. Technologies that can help caregivers and clinicians in their important work. I have already done some work around dementia. Exploring how social robots can help dementia patients to live more independently.   

For example, sometimes dementia sufferers have memory issues.  They still retain a lot of information, but they started forgetting things. Where the toilet is, for example. We can create an application or piece of technology that can remind them and give practical advice. Like a co-pilot to help them get around their home. We never want technology to replace humans but to help them. And also, the feeling when you can do something for yourself rather than someone else doing it for you – that is really exciting to me.   

Breaking the falls    

Here is another example of where technology can help. Older people and people with dementia sometimes fall over. They lose their balance. And if they fall, it can take a long time to recover and they may have to go back into hospital, taking up hospital beds.  Can we develop technology to stop these falls? Or detect when someone is about to fall?   
  
If we go back to workers again. People in warehouses who are lifting heavy things a lot of the time. That creates strain on the body and can lead to back problems. So, we are looking at exosuits, for example, where we can transfer the pressure to the suit and enable people to go about their jobs without placing additional strain and stress on their bodies.   

Ultimately, my work is to develop useful, affordable and practical robotics that can make a difference to people in the home or at work.    

Contribution to the UN 2030 sustainable development goals

UWE Bristol is proud to align our research to the UN sustainable development goals. The above research aligns with the following goals:

Knowledge Transfer Partnership Associate Spotlight: Abdulrazaq Sanni

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Abdulrazaq is a Software Engineer as part of our Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with WASE and UWE Bristol. A KTP is a UK-wide, 3-way partnership between a business, a university and talented graduate, and aims to help businesses improve competitiveness and productivity, whilst also boosting the career prospects of the graduate.   

WASE and the College of Arts, Technology and Environment (CATE) at UWE Bristol began their KTP together in April 2025. The KTP will create a machine learning-based soft sensing platform. This platform will be integrated within WASE’s Electro-Methanogenesis Reactor (EMR) to remotely optimise system performance. The system will help expand EMR technology, allowing customers to treat wastewater on-site while generating energy, reducing carbon emissions, and producing cleaner water and nutrients for use as fertilizers.

The project aim is to develop game-changing improvements to the EMR technology by enhancing the system’s monitoring and adaptability. This will ensure minimal downtime and maximum value from the waste. The improvements will involve optimizing WASE’s industrial-scale system and improving predictive analytics in anaerobic digestion (AD). We will use feedback from microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) modules to enhance sensor accuracy.

The KTP team caught up with Abdulrazaq to hear about their experience of the KTP so far:

What attracted you to the position?

I’m drawn to the role for several reasons. Primarily, it’s the excitement around the project’s potential — what we can achieve and the path to getting there. I enjoy challenges and solving problems, and this feels like the perfect project for someone like me. I’m especially excited about helping position WASE at the forefront of innovation in the anaerobic digestion (AD) sector through the application of AI and operational automation.

Another reason is the role’s position at the intersection of academia and industry. Having previously worked in academia, I’ve been considering a transition into the industry. This opportunity allows me to bridge both worlds. Finally, the sustainability aspect is very important to me. I’ve worked on a project that was somewhat related to sustainability, and being part of an initiative that contributes to a healthier climate is truly rewarding.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m most looking forward to realising the project’s objectives. I say “realising” because I genuinely believe they’re achievable, even though the journey might be challenging. Reaching those goals will be a testament to the work, support, and growth that come along the way. It will also reflect the level WASE will have reached — and I’m excited to be a key contributor to that progress.

How is the partnership between UWE Bristol and the company working?

It’s only my third week so far, but the partnership has been fantastic. Everyone at both the company and the university has been incredibly supportive and engaged, which is great because it shows that everyone is equally invested in the project. One thing that stands out to me is how they’ve managed to involve the right people — experts who understand exactly what we need to do. That alignment is crucial to the project’s success, and I think they’ve nailed it.

What are the major benefits/support available from UWE Bristol?

The major sources of support from UWE have been the academic team and the KTP team. The KTP team has been actively involved from the start, guiding me through key steps and helping me understand the important elements of the partnership. The academic team has also been very supportive and clearly committed to mentoring and guiding me throughout the project.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Although it’s only my third week, it already feels like an environment where I’ll get to learn a lot — especially about anaerobic digestion, a field I hadn’t worked in before. The learning curve is steep, but that only makes it more exciting. The people here have also been amazing. They could probably list “Family” as one of their core values, because that’s exactly how they operate — with a strong sense of unity and belonging. That culture really helps drive a shared sense of purpose.

Find out more about KTPs at UWE Bristol. 

Back to top