Tag: UWE Bristol Research

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. 

Levelling up the playing field by confronting and challenging inequalities in education

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

Dr Richard Waller, Professor of Education and Social Justice  

I’m a sociologist of education. My research, which tends to be qualitative in nature, focuses on education and social justice. I’m especially interested in how educational systems, processes and experiences can either challenge, reproduce or reinforce existing social inequalities, particularly those involving social class and gender.   

We often hear people talking about how education can lead to social mobility and that going to university puts everyone on a level playing field. It’s often assumed that if you go to university and get a degree, then you’re then starting your career on the same equal footing as every other graduate. That, whatever your socioeconomic background, you can go and compete for the same jobs. Fairly, equally. But that’s just not true. You can’t. As our recent Paired Peers longitudinal research study showed.   

Capitals and gains   

This particular study was submitted to the REF and highlighted by the British Education Research Association as being particularly impactful and able to change people’s lives. The study followed 88 young people over 10 years. We interviewed them repeatedly and gathered lots of other data from them. We looked at what they brought with them into university, in terms of their personal resources and what we call ‘capitals’. That’s their social capital, economic capital, and cultural capital.   

We followed these 88 young people as they moved through university and into the workplace. We looked at the subjects they chose, the activities they were involved in, the skills and knowledge they gained – within and beyond the university environment – and the careers they aspired to.   

Breaking down barriers

Now, many of these people already knew that, for them, a degree wouldn’t be enough to land the job they wanted. They needed a really ‘shiny’, stand-out CV, with loads of experiences and transferable skills on it. But that’s easier for some than others. For example, if you’re from a wealthier background, you don’t necessarily need to think about part-time work. You immediately have more time to focus on other things. But that’s much harder to do if you’re working in a shop or a bar for 20+ hours a week to pay your bills. Then you can’t afford to spend your time on things that will enhance your CV.  
  
We also found real barriers to doing things like internships or work experience, which often aren’t particularly well paid. Say you’re well-connected and have family or friends in London or another big city. If you take up a work placement, for example, you can go stay with them. Many people can’t. They simply can’t afford to go and do these things. Or they don’t have contacts who can get them into graduate internship schemes or offer other similar opportunities.  

Widening participation

So, my research really highlighted the inequalities that exist before young people even get to university and that grow while they’re there. How some groups of people start with a stronger hand which only reinforces the gap when they graduate.   

To help all students make the most of their university experience, to get the most out of it, we must find ways to help them actively participate. To properly widen participation, if you like. Because true participation is much more than just access to university.   

If you want people to truly participate at university, you need to be able to somehow level the playing field. Bursaries can really help. If you’re from a low-income background, a bursary doesn’t just help financially but it somehow validates your place at university too. And it may allow you to work fewer hours in your part-time job. So, you can spend a bit more time studying or doing other things. Like joining a sports team, for example.   

We can help with internships too. For example, here at UWE Bristol we had a subsidised internship scheme whereby we paid a certain amount of an undergraduate’s salary for a short period.  

Everyone benefits

And all this doesn’t just benefit the individual; it benefits society. It helps people from different backgrounds consider careers or roles that they couldn’t previously. We all know the importance of diversity and representation. We need more of that, for example, in many of the boardrooms of our top companies.  Because from businesses to public services, it’s vital that we see people from a diverse range of backgrounds. Better for individuals, better for business, better for society.    

So yes, I guess I’m ultimately driven by social justice. I try to make a real difference to individual lives, whether it’s through the classes I teach, the events I speak at, or the research I carry out.    

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:

The Sibling Sexual Behaviour & Abuse (SSB-A) Practice Outcomes Framework for services and organisations supporting and responding to sibling sexual behaviour and abuse.

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Guest blog by Amy Adams & Kieran McCartan.

Sibling sexual behaviour and abuse (SSB-A) is an emerging research area in the field of preventing and responding to harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) in children and young people (CYP). Over the last five years the authors have been involved in several research projects (including the first government commissioned national sibling sexual abuse project for the Home Office with SARSAS, Purple Leaf and Dr Sophie King-Hill from the University of Birmingham)have worked with a number of national and international organisations (#SiblingsToo and Thriving Survivors) and have published with others on SSB-A (including but not limited to Dr Sophie King-Hill, David Russell, Dr Peter Yates and Stuart Allardyce –  for a list of relevant publications please see the resource and the UWE repository). Over this period, it has occurred to the authors that while the research and evidence base on SSB-A is emerging and has long been central to the work of many professional organisations and frontline services, these services rarely carry out research or collate an evidence base on their practices and outcomes relating to SSB-A. This is mainly because frontline services lack time, resources, funding and research experience to carry out this work alongside their practice. To support services/organisations/professionals who want to become more outcomes focussed and evaluate their work regarding SSB-A, the authors using internal impact related funding from UWE, have developed a research and evaluation framework for SSB-A.

The research and evaluation framework has been developed and is underpinned by the authors’ research experience and knowledge of the area of SSB-A, as well as the extensive research and evaluation carried out by them in the field of sexual abuse. The framework provides the current research context of SSB-A and states why we need a better practice-based evidence base, before highlighting the most effective methodologies for doing this and how they can be best understood, interpreted and evidenced by practitioners. The framework is underpinned by a wellbeing and trauma-informed approach and a public health and development perspective.  Moreover, as SSB-A is a family systems issue it needs a family systems response, especially if uncovered or disclosed in childhood, as such the framework addresses and centralises a ‘whole family’ perspective.

Given the complicated nature of reporting and recording data on SSB-A, whether the behaviour and abuse was disclosed and reported in childhood (therefore framed as harmful sexual behaviour (HSB) and an ongoing child protection issue) or in adulthood (as a victim services issue as well as potentially a criminal justice issue), evaluating the topic can be challenging. The framework offers insights to collecting and evidencing outcomes for five distinct but interrelated populations:

  • Children and young people (CYP) who has been harmed
  • CYP responsible for the harm
  • Parent and carers of CYP impacted by SSB-A
  • Adults who as children were responsible for harm
  • Adult victim-survivors of SSB-A

The framework also provides examples of the research questions, data that needs to be collected for each of these groups, providing worked examples and data collection tools and analysis guidelines. It is hoped that this framework will be of use to practitioners in developing their own evidence base in SSB-A and that this in turn will feed into academic research as well as improving commission, evidence-based practice and improve outcomes for everyone impacted by SSB-A.

The framework is a free resource and can be found on the UWE website.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact the research team (Kieran.mccartan@uwe.ac.uk or axa1895@student.bham.ac.uk).

Amy and Kieran would like to thank New Wave , especially Jessica Jolliffe and Kaela Earl-Tester, for all their work on the production of the final document.

Developing a non-invasive electronic nose to detect diseases quickly and save lives

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

Dr Saliha Saad, Associate Professor in Biomedical Sciences

I have a medical background with expertise in oral microbiology. 

My work is mainly around oral biofilms. Biofilms are layers of bacterial communities that accumulate on many surfaces including the teeth, gums, and the tongue. 

We know that the biofilm on the tongue can cause oral malodour also called bad breath. This condition which is of microbial aetiology is not life-threatening however, people who suffer from it can have, a complicated life. They can get isolated. It really affects their quality of life.    

Tackling bad breath, increasing confidence     

Bad breath is a very complex issue; however, it is well accepted that the volatile compounds produced by bacterial metabolism on the tongue are responsible for oral malodour.  

I have been collaborating with many large companies in this area, including GSK, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Philips, Colgate-Palmolive to develop and test antimicrobial formulations and tools that can control this condition by reducing the number of microbes and the volatile compounds they produce.    

Sniffing out disease

My work in this area also led to something very important. I am now exploring the link between the oral microbiome and systemic diseases, like diabetes. We know that there is a strong link between gum disease and diabetic foot ulcers. In collaboration with Aryballe, we want to be able to detect early stage of diabetic foot ulcers using electronic nose NeOse that ‘sniffs’ the mouth and the foot.  

This means that we don’t have to swab the infected area. Taking a swab can be intrusive and labour intensive. It takes time to get results back too. So, we can speed this up and act to help the patient quicker and prevent severe complications like gangrene which often requires toe or limb amputation.  

Early detection saves lives 

The mouth is accessible and sampling mouth air is non-invasive. If we can detect disease early, we can reduce the burden on the NHS. We can save time, money and, importantly, save 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:

Project Zulu Choir returns to Bristol for the biennial tour – book your tickets

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

The incredible Project Zulu Choir returns to the region in May for their biennial tour.

Project Zulu is a suite of educational development projects run by UWE Bristol to promote lifelong learning opportunities across township schools in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The Project involves a choir of 20 children aged 11 to 14, from two of the township schools.

Over three weeks the choir will tour the South West, showcasing their traditional Zulu song and dance in concert halls, schools, and busking in busy city centres.

Every penny raised during the tour goes back into the project to help improve their educational facilities including helping to develop digital classrooms.

The tour will close with a gala concert at Bristol Beacon, marking 10 years since the choir’s last visit to the renowned venue. The performance features Britain’s Got Talent finalist and opera sensation, Innocent Masuku, who became a household name in 2024 after his performance on the ITV show. He will host the gala concert, perform solo and sing with the choir in what promises to be a truly unique collaboration.

View the 2023 finale concert for a taste of what to expect:

The tour dates are:
  • Saturday 24 May: Central Bath busking day*
  • FREE EVENT, public spaces all day (location to be confirmed)
  • Thursday 29 May: Central Bristol busking day*
  • FREE EVENT, public spaces all day (location to be confirmed)
  • Friday 30 May: Central Bristol busking day*
  • FREE EVENT, public spaces all day (location to be confirmed)
  • Plus, a performance at Bristol Old Vic Family Day
  • Saturday 31 May: Bristol Bears Game
  • Pre-game performance in the fan village and a half-time pitch-side performance.
  • Ashton Gate Stadium, 2pm. Buy Tickets
  • Thursday 5th June: Gala Concert featuring Britain’s Got Talent Finalist, Innocent Masuku.
  • Bristol Beacon, 7pm. Buy Tickets

*Busking days are weather permitting. Exact busking locations will be released on Project Zulu social media closer to the day.

When they’re not performing, the choir will visit primary and secondary schools across Bristol, offering cultural workshops and exchange opportunities. Generous hosts in Bristol will open their homes to the choir members, providing a reciprocal hosting experience.

Dr Benjamin Knight, Project Zulu Director, said: “The choir will bring boundless energy and charisma during their tour, projecting their incredible sound and thrilling audiences. But this tour isn’t just a must-see event – it plays a crucial role in supporting the children’s schools and education. Every ticket bought and every donation made will directly impact young people’s futures.”

For more information, visit the Project Zulu website.

Case study: For the big questions of today, communities are at the heart of tackling climate change and sustainability

Author bethjohnson | Posted on

Dr Laura Fogg-Rogers, Associate Professor for Engineering in Society 

While you’ll find me in the School of Engineering, I’m a social psychologist and science communicator. I study people and their engagement with technology.   

That means that most of my work is done with groups and communities. Because we humans are social creatures. We want to live and thrive together. And I believe that communities are the answer to the big questions of today. I’m really focused on how we can make sure that communities stay together, stay connected and stay resilient, so that we can live with our changing times.   

Communities drive change

I encourage communities to tell us what their problems are and what they need us to work on. Naturally, this has taken me a lot into the area of sustainability and climate change – and how we can work together, solve problems and make a real world, on-the-ground difference.   


Because yes, I’m driven to make a difference. Action is everything right now. And action happens within our communities. But we have to inspire action and show that it’s possible for communities to affect change.   

Be what you can see

For instance, some of my work has been about minority and underrepresented groups working in technology and engineering. So, there’s this classic phrase: you can’t be what you can’t see. And that’s really important. Representation matters. We need to show that different people, diverse people, are working in this area and making a real difference. Seeing that there are role models doing this right now is so important. It’s inspiring. And we want to excite the next generation and show them that they can too.   

We’re also active in policy development. We’re working with local councils to show them how they can embed citizen-led climate ideas and action into policy. How we can connect awesome community projects with the policies that are going through right now. Again, a lot of this comes back to getting community voices heard, and making sure that there’s diversity and representation at all levels.  

We are all the difference

As a social psychologist, I’m all about groups. As I said at the start, we’re social creatures. We want to look out for each other. My passion, my work, is to support communities to come together and make a difference to each other – and the environment we all live in.    

  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:

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