Tag: UWE Bristol Research

Securing a green, resilient future: UWE Bristol research driving Net Zero transformation in the UK’s agri-food system

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

“We have to work together to create and deliver a healthy and sustainable food system that’s accessible to all.”  

Professor Angelina Sanderson Bellamy, Professor of Food Systems    

The UK’s journey to Net Zero won’t be won through technology alone. It demands a fundamental transformation in the way we produce food, use land, support farmers, and nourish communities. At UWE Bristol, Professor Angelina Sanderson –Bellamy and colleagues are leading national efforts to rebuild the agri-food system so it is resilient, equitable and sustainable for decades to come. Through bold research, cross-sector partnerships and deep engagement with government and industry, UWE Bristol is helping shape the UK’s path to a greener future. 

A national network transforming food systems for 2050

Since 2021, UWE Bristol has played a central role in the Agri-Food for Net Zero (AFN) network, an initiative bringing together researchers, farmers, industry bodies, policy officials and civil society. The network is co-designing solutions that can meaningfully reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire food system. 

Over three years, AFN convened more than 150 contributors to interrogate the UK’s biggest Net Zero challenges and define the priorities that will matter most by 2050. UWE Bristol’s influence runs throughout this work. The University has provided leadership on food systems research, contributed deep expertise on sustainable diets and land-use change, and championed an approach grounded in social and environmental justice. Alongside this, researchers have pushed the sector to take equity, diversity and inclusion seriously, particularly within agriculture, while strengthening stakeholder engagement and knowledge exchange across the network. 

By uniting people and organisations who would not normally sit around the same table, UWE Bristol is helping shape a future food system that’s driven by evidence, low-carbon and more resilient. 

Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050

In October 2024, the AFN network launched its flagship output: Roadmap for Resilience: A UK Food Plan for 2050 (PDF) – a landmark report co-developed with farmers, food businesses, researchers, policymakers and campaign groups. 

The roadmap identifies three critical transformations required for a resilient Net Zero food system: 

  1. Transforming UK diets – supporting healthier, more sustainable eating patterns. 
  1. Transforming land use – balancing food production, biodiversity and carbon storage. 
  1. Transforming agriculture – supporting farmers through the transition to low-carbon practices. 

The roadmap was launched at a major policy event in London attended by 200 stakeholders, including MPs, policymakers, and the former Minister of Environment and Rural Affairs. The work has been shared with the current Minister and is informing ongoing conversations with Defra, signalling major potential for future policy impact. 

This national visibility reinforces UWE Bristol’s position as a trusted research leader, shaping strategic decisions at the highest levels of government. 

Championing equity and anti-racism in food and farming

A distinctive strength of UWE Bristol’s work is its focus on equity, diversity and inclusion within the food and farming sector. Professor Sanderson Bellamy leads national efforts to address racial inequality, improve representation and ensure marginalised communities are part of shaping the UK’s future food system. 

This has included the launch of the Culture Roots Collective, developed in partnership with Sustained, Eating Better, Black veterinary organisations and launched with support from The National Farmers Union. 

This initiative creates space for under-represented voices in farming and food policy and has rapidly become a recognised platform for sector change.  

Building resilient food futures through research and partnership

UWE Bristol researchers are tackling the broader risks facing the UK’s food system, from climate-driven shocks to vulnerabilities in supply chains. Their current projects examine how the system can respond effectively to crises, how interventions can better support communities most at risk, and what it will take to guarantee fair access to healthy diets for all. 

Together, this portfolio highlights UWE Bristol’s distinctive strength: an ability to fuse environmental science with social justice, policy insight and practical innovation. It is this combination that enables the University to deliver research with real-world impact and help reshape the future of food in the UK. 

With AFN’s initial funding cycle ending, Professor Sanderson Bellamy and colleagues are now securing philanthropic and charitable investment to establish AFN as an independent institute and think tank. This will ensure the work continues beyond research cycles, driving long-term change for farmers, policymakers and the public that accelerates the transition to a resilient, low-carbon food system. 

Research with purpose. 
Innovation with impact. 
Skills that empower. 
Enterprise that fuels progress. 

RISE with us. 

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:

Case Study: Safety and Health of Construction Workers

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

“I work with partners and stakeholders to co-develop insights which lead to new tools which protect and save the lives of construction workers.”   

Patrick Manu, Professor of Innovative Construction and Project Management  

I am interested in all things construction but my main area of research is safety and health within construction. I am passionate about looking at all the issues and factors that affect the occupational safety and health of workers in this global industry.   

 It’s fair to say that the construction industry as a whole has a bad reputation when it comes to the safety and health of workers. Compared to other industrial sectors, construction is more dangerous to work in. Also, there is a knock-on effect on the economy. An accident happens, a contractor may close or face prosecution. There’s the impact on the healthcare system too. In the UK alone, it’s estimated that health and safety issues cost the economy £1 billion every year. That’s huge. In developing countries, it’s much worse.   

 Co-creating safety from the ground up    

 Now, I know that I cannot change everything, but I am here to try and make things better through my research. We must keep people safe. But the industry is organised in a very fragmented way. You have architects, builders, project managers, subcontractors, clients and more. So, to be able to deliver change, you need to really work with the stakeholders. All the stakeholders. I’m passionate about engaging every stakeholder possible to co-create research.   

 I do a lot of research with these stakeholders, including very large contractors, designers, and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). I work with these partners to develop insights which lead to new tools that the industry is willing to implement to bring about the change we need.   

For example, with partners from the UK, US and Malaysia, I have been looking at how we can design safety into a project from the very start. Can we influence the design to make buildings safe and easy for people to build?  Hopefully leading to fewer accidents. Through my research, I’ve been able to understand the capabilities of designers – designers with different levels of experience and maturity. We then developed a toolkit to help them design safety into every project they work on.   

Practical tools make a practical difference   

 For me, this is how I can influence practice. I can’t physically bring about change myself on site. My work, the work I do with stakeholders, is to provide the evidence, the insights, and tools to be able to influence change.   

 I believe in co-producing everything. With partners, stakeholders and regulators. So, I’ve done a lot of collaborative research work that has been funded by several funders e.g., Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, HSE, Lloyd’s Register, and British Council.    

Industry 4.0   

What’s next? We’ve all heard a lot about artificial intelligence, immersive technology, and more broadly  Industry 4.0, where production processes are automated and digitalized. This is exciting but also comes with challenges. Safety and health is one of them.   

 For example, how do drones fit in with health and safety? Recently,  I co-led a comprehensive piece of review work and, from that, we identified some potential areas for future research. One of which,  I’m very keen to explore, is how we can leverage AI, robotics, and VR to improve safety and health practices in construction. Hopefully, my next exciting and impact-laden research project will be on this.   

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:

Case study: The power of a hug

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

“As a product designer, I’m really interested in how sensory objects, like the HUG™, can offer people the comfort and connection they need, when they need it most.”    

Dr Jac Fennell, Senior Lecturer in Product Design   

I’m Jac, a lecturer in product design at UWE Bristol. I’d love to share the story of HUG™ with you.   

 HUG™ came from my previous role at Cardiff Metropolitan University. There, I worked on an AHRC-funded international research project – LAUGH – which was led by Cathy Treadaway, Professor of Creative Practice at Cardiff School of Art and Design. Through LAUGH, we explored playful handheld objects for people living with advanced dementia, those who are at end-of-life.   

 The comfort of a hug  

 HUG™ was one of six things that we designed, and it was developed specifically for one special lady. We spent a lot of time with her, listening to her story, hearing what she needed at that stage of her life. Her carers told us that all she really wanted was a hug. With those words, the idea for HUG™ was born.   

 HUG™ by LAUGH is a sensory product. It’s designed to be cuddled and to feel like it’s cuddling you back. It’s tactile, comforting, reassuring. It has long weighted limbs, and a beating heart inside a super soft body. There’s also a music player inside it so that it can play a person’s favourite music. They’re both important. Creating a sensory connection as well as a personal, emotional one through the music. It makes it feel like a proper hug and it feels like someone’s hugging you back. It’s a two-way thing.  

 Picked up by care professionals globally   

 HUG™ had an incredible effect on that lady. We saw a huge difference in her. She was much more alert, more connected to her surroundings.  Her eyes were more open, she was eating and drinking more too. Really significant, important changes.    

 At that point, we developed a larger evaluation project with the NHS and a care home in Cardiff. It backed up what we saw with the lady. We quickly gained more interest from care professionals who wanted HUG™ for their patients. So, we launched a spin-out company, HUG by LAUGH (www.HUG.world) and collaborated with the Alzheimer’s Society as an Accelerator Partner. Today, HUG™ is being sold all over the world.   

  
A real –life-changing toy      

 We’re now looking at how HUG™ could help other people too. School children with learning disabilities, autism or anxiety, for example. Last year Gwent Regional Partnership Board carried out a trial with schools in the Gwent region, with each school getting a HUG™. They quickly found a home in a school’s quiet room, so children could use them when they were having some time away.   

 That’s where my research is going now. HUG™ has been incredible and transformative. It’s gone far beyond what we ever expected. So, who else could benefit? As a product designer, I’m interested in what other sensory objects we can develop that will practically and emotionally help people.   

 Yes, there’s a whole huge body of research behind HUG™ but it started with that really simple idea: the power of comfort and connection to change 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:

The use of TV drama ‘Adolescence’ in schools: why simple solutions to complex problems don’t work

Author katcorbett2 | Posted on

A guest blog post by Kieran McCartan, Professor of Criminology, University of the West of England, Bristol and Dr Sophie King-Hill, Associate Professor in the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham

Recently there has been a lot of debate about the Netflix show Adolescence. It tells a fictional story of a 13-year-old boy who is rejected by a female classmate and because of the influence of incel counterculture goes on to stab and kill her. The narrative of the four-episode story is that children and young people are being influenced by harmful online social media, which is radicalising them in to accepting extreme misogynistic beliefs which they then unwittingly internalise and act on. The drama touches upon how exposure to unfiltered, problematic social media may change children and young people’s perceptions of, and engagement, with each other.

The drama skirts many issues about misogyny that involve hate crime, violence against women and girls, gender-based violence and Incel culture, mental health, wellbeing, radicalisation, risk management, education, radicalisation, knife crime, counterculture, the collapse of parental engagement, issues with family systems, and growing societal disengagement.

This is where the drama falls short as an educational resource. Four hours over the episodes is not enough time to unpack these issues in any meaningful way. The programme signals the need for an informed debate and conversations about all these issues yet does not cover these in any great depth. Adolescence is not the answer to the issues posed and it is dangerous to think of it as such, for it offers no solutions. The show has sparked a national debate in the UK, with the Prime Minister stepping in to say that adolescence should be screened in schools to educate, and awareness raise with children and young people about the realities of harmful online social media and misogynistic hate crime. This sensationalist, knee jerk reaction to a range of complex and endemic problems and issues that are faced by children and young people in society is problematic. Although, across the political spectrum in the UK there is not a considered, evidence-based response to this with Kemi Badenoch, leader of the opposition, although not having seen Adolescence believes that removing phones from children and young people in schools is one of the most effective responses. It is important to remember that under the last Conversative government the issue of Relationships and Sex Education in schools was a challenging issue and unresolved debate.

The show, given its short run time and structure which includes an episode about a different aspect of the story – the arrest, the school based follow up, the risk assessment, and the consequence, delves into parts of this story but does not offer a rounded in-depth perspective. No understanding of how and why the young boy was “radicalised” into accepting Incel culture as is implied. The complex social interactions between the boy, his friends, his family, his community or the victim are not explored. This is problematic, especially if the show is to be used as a teaching and critical reflection tool in schools.

No points of intervention and what those interventions look like are offered, as this was not designed as an educational resource. What is implied is that there is a problematic online community that are out there influencing children and young people, but no explanation is given as to how or why. Additionally, the show indicates that online misogyny, Incel culture and violence against women and girls is omnipresent in the lives of children and young people and that children and young people are accepting of this. This approach takes away the autonomy and agency of children and young people. This is problematic and works against the prevention of sexual abuse and violent behaviour. A multi-level approach is needed to tackle social issues being targeted at individuals and the community and society in which they sit. In preventing radicalisation, how the individual is affected needs exploring, which cannot be done with ‘Adolescence’.

Wanting to introduce this into schools is naïve. Adolescence is a fictional story, designed for TV/streaming and therefore its content, although based in real world issues, is fictionalised. Its aim, although to raise awareness of social issues, is to increase viewership and ratings. It is important to state that teen murders are rare and that most online hate crimes and misogyny do not result in fatalities. TV shows are not always realistic and can often adapt knowledge and practice to fit the needs to the story. Which means that the evidence based, research informed and even practice consultation which may be part of the development and writing of the screenplay can get lost of the needs of the story as they can get in the get in the way of the drama.

The best example of this flaw in Adolescence is the admission in episode four that the main character is going to change their plea from not guilty to guilty. Which goes against the narrative of episode one and three, and there is no real discussion of change of heart in episode four. It seems out of place, but it wraps the story up nicely in the last episode. Which means that the psychological or behavioural change in the character is not seen and therefore learning cannot take place from their experience. The arc of the story and the story telling approach do not allow a nuanced debate about the reality of the offence committed, the thinking and motivation behind it or the best way to understand it.

‘Adolescence’ does not help understanding of Incel culture or online hate crime better. It does not help understanding knife crime and harmful behaviour between children and young people better. It sets out that children and young people are at risk but does not offer any solutions to the problem.

The UK government want to screen it in schools as a prevention and desistence tool to educate children and young people about the issues of radicalisation, online hate and synonym. Which is problematic, as this is not what it was designed to do and does not offer those insights. What does is say then? The main discussion piece from the show detracts from the main narrative, that understanding and engagement with young people is needed to better understand these issues. In episode four where the parents recognise that they could have done, and maybe should have done more, is where the real message is. The showing of adolescence in schools to GCSE and A-Level students (as its rated 15) will not help pre-teens and younger teenagers understanding and engage with these issues better and it will not help their parents understand the issues or how to engage with them better on it. In the UK it would be better to have a conversation about the reality of growing up online, the intersection between the online and offline worlds and how they impact the mental health and wellbeing og children and young people and how we as adults, and parents, can better support them in this transition. There are pockets of work being carried out that do this with young men and boys that are evidence based and well evaluated. Why is the upscaling of these not the focus.

The period of adolescence is a point of transition and liminality in the lives of children and young people how can we support them in becoming well rounded, thoughtful and critically engaged adults. By engaging with children and young people, talking and communicating directly and thoughtfully we can learn how to best fit their individual needs. This cannot be done by simply showing them a fictionalised TV show.

Motivating change through Natural History Documentaries

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

UWE Bristol PhD research exploring how we can engage audiences in climate action

Guest blog by Jelena Krivosic, PhD Research Student – Natural History Documentaries and Climate Communication

Two years into my PhD at UWE, I sometimes joke that I have learnt more about myself than I have my research topic. I have learnt so much from my research so far, but what continues to surprise me is how much I have been able to learn from the opportunities I have had at UWE, as part of the School of Arts at CATE and involved in the Screen Research Group, DCRC and the Science Communication Unit.

My PhD project explores how Natural History Documentaries communicate climate change, ecological crises and social justice. I have spent my first two years developing understanding of the Bristol-based natural history filmmaking industry, also known as ‘Green Hollywood’, attending conferences and interviewing filmmakers. This has helped me build upon my own experiences, as someone who used to work in the production of science and wildlife documentary series and learn more about the rise in sustainable filmmaking practices.

Participating in an Impact Production workshop at Wildscreen Festival 2024

A key focus of my research focuses on how these documentaries (and David Attenborough!) engage audiences with these global crises and motivate them to participate in climate action. To support this and to develop my skills in facilitating group discussions and working with different audience groups, in my first year I decided to set up an environmental film club at UWE with the support of The Green Team in the SU. Yes, this has been a challenge, but wow has it been humbling! I have learnt so much from the community of students and staff who join monthly and share their emotions and responses to the films.

So far this year I have screened a brilliant variety of films that capture stories related to activism, climate solutions and consumerism. Films such as 2040 and Buy Now! prompted a fantastic response with audiences sharing their own personal experiences and their desires to change their behaviours and engage in wider community climate initiatives. This helped to focus discussions on exploring “what can we do next”, encouraging everyone to act with the information they have gained and the support of the film club community.

Illustrations from flim club activity titled “what does your 2040 look like?”

Last month, the film club worked together with the other groups in UWE to run events as part of the Future Citizen Sustainable Fashion week as part of the Future Citizens Project. I decided to screen ‘Fashion ReImagined’, an inspiring  film that follows the journey of Amy Powney, on her mission to challenge the exploitative, wasteful and extractive practices of the fashion industry.

Just like in most of the film club, the discussions afterwards helped provide a safe space for us to talk about difficult emotions such as guilt, grief and anxiety. In doing so, it created an opportunity to share tips, initiatives and events we can all get involved in to help us make more ethical decisions. More so, it allowed us to question how we can engage beyond our everyday individual decisions, in contributing to a larger systems change.

The next environmental film club will be a special one. We will be hosting One Kai in screening their documentary “Fighting for the Underdog” that raises awareness about the spurdog shark and the practices of the fishing industries on British coasts. Together with some of the filmmakers we will be discussing the issues at the core of the film and the films impactful mission in the Q&A and workshop after the screening. We would love for you to join us on Monday 24th March from 5:30-8pm in 2D007 on Frenchay Campus. For more information, please visit the UWE SU website events page.

Poster for upcoming film club screening “Fighting for the Underdog”

I have learnt so much from hosting this film club and have really enjoyed doing it. It has shaped my research and having the extended film club community has shaped my relationship with the wider global crises. To follow my work and find out more about the film club and my research please take a look at my blog. Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions – jelena2.krivosic@live.uwe.ac.uk.

UWE Bristol academic awarded Rai UK Enterprise Fellowship to realise a new cloud-based software-as-a-service

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

Professor Lars Kunze, Professor in Safety for Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory at UWE Bristol, has been awarded an Enterprise Fellowship by Responsible Ai UK (RAi UK).

The funding will accelerate the transformation of cutting-edge research into real-world solutions that embed responsibility and trustworthiness in AI deployment. This initiative is a key component of RAi UK’s mission to maximize the impact of responsible AI research across the economy, society, culture, policy, health, the environment, and quality of life.

Lars’ project, PACER (ProActive Causal ExplaineR), aims to realise a new cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS), which will leverage and analyse recorded event-data logs to anticipate safety issues, provide causal explanations, improve safety, and enhance the understanding and trust of developers, operators, and/or other stakeholders.

Lars commented:

“Unlocking the full potential of AI-enabled systems in society requires more than just data and compute. PACER will make these systems explainable, accountable, and safe – and it will do this at scale.”

With a £35 million UKRI investment, RAi UK is a program dedicated to delivering interdisciplinary research and fostering an international ecosystem for Responsible AI research and innovation. Through extensive consultations across the UK, RAi UK has identified emerging challenges in responsible AI and has deployed over £17 million into projects aimed at accelerating the adoption of responsible AI practices and technologies. RAi UK brings research-based expertise that is connective, adaptive, and world-leading through field-building, and engagement with communities, publics, industries, and governments. RAi UK is led from the University of Southampton and backed by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), through the UKRI Technology Missions Fund and EPSRC. 

Professor Gopal Ramchurn, RAi UK CEO, Professor of Artificial Intelligence from the University of Southampton said:

“The RAi UK Enterprise Fellowships represent our commitment to transforming groundbreaking research into tangible solutions that address real-world challenges while demonstrating a responsible approach to deploying AI. Researchers are rarely encouraged to become entrepreneurs, and this is our first step in changing that mindset.

By supporting these visionary researchers, we’re not just funding projects, but fostering an AI ecosystem that prioritizes ethics, accountability, and societal impact. We are extremely grateful to the Royal Academy of Engineering for supporting this initiative.”

Learn about the other Enterprise Fellows:

Responsible Ai UK Awards over £300,000 to Enterprise Fellows to Advance Responsible AI Innovation – Responsible AI

Case Study: Dr. Lotta Takala-Greenish – Understanding Food Security and Vulnerability in Bristol

Author ripleywk | Posted on

“Food access is a human right. And it’s universal. Everybody needs access to food. We want to make that food available and accessible in ways that are not shaped solely around prices or money.”

Dr. Lotta Takala-Greenish

Rethinking Food Security: Building Systematic Support Beyond Charity

I’m a development and political economist at UWE Bristol, my research looks into a critical gap in the UK’s social infrastructure: how we support people facing food insecurity. Focusing on Bristol as a case study, and asking what a systematic, government-backed response to food vulnerability could look like, especially in times of crisis.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, charities and NGOs in Bristol mobilized quickly to feed those most at risk, from homeless individuals to those leaving care or unable to shop due to clinical vulnerability. But the response, while heroic, was ad hoc. and grass roots. The thing is, there isn’t a systematic support structure, if someone leaves an organisation, we risk losing institutional memory.

Realising this need I have worked to co-create a Disaster Recovery Management Plan with organisations like Feeding Bristol and Bristol Food Network. We’ve built the plan with the intention that this will be able to be used as a replicable model to ensure no one falls through the gaps again.

Beyond Economics: Recognising the Value of Volunteer Infrastructure

Societies don’t just run on money. These services are being delivered on shoestring budgets by volunteers and they’re central to how our economy actually works. One of the most surprising findings in my research is that even in one of the world’s wealthiest economies, access to food isn’t guaranteed. It took something like COVID to reveal a need that was always there, but we don’t have a national system in place to ensure food access nationally let alone highlighting need for those outside the typical market system.

The thing I like about the work I do is that it challenges traditional economic thinking. My work shows that essential services like food access can’t rely solely on price-based systems. Vulnerable groups often sit outside these systems entirely and unless their needs are built into infrastructure, their support remains uncertain and fragile. I get to do something about that, and change the way society views these essential systems.

A Pluralist, Scalable Model for Crisis Resilience

This is just the beginning, we’re starting with food, but the same questions apply to energy, water, and other essential services. By working directly with frontline charities, my research takes a collaborative, pluralist approach, centring the experience of those already doing the work, learning from them, what works, what needs changing. We’re not just collecting data, we’re co-creating the plan with them. That’s critical to building something useful.

The ultimate goal is to test and refine the food disaster recovery plan in Bristol and then scale it both to other regions and to other essential services. The model will also explore how to address ongoing vulnerabilities, not just those triggered by a crisis.

This work doesn’t just expose systemic gaps, it offers a practical blueprint to fix them. By recognising food as a right and embedding it into a planned, national system of support, this research stands to reshape how we think about resilience, inequality, and care.

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 Bristol Part of an Innovative Spinout Pilot Supporting Creative and Social Ventures – STAGE

Author katcorbett2 | Posted on

UWE Bristol has been selected as part of a pioneering initiative to support the growth of self-funded spinouts in the creative and social sciences sectors. The university was successful in securing funding from Research England Development (RED) fund’s Connecting Capability Fund (CCF) as part of a new consortium led by the University of the Arts London (UAL).

The funding will support the ‘Shared Technology Transfer Office to Accelerate the Growth of Self-Funded Spinouts (STAGE)’ pilot, a groundbreaking project designed to accelerate the development of spinouts, particularly within universities that currently lack infrastructure for early-stage spinout development. By focusing on commercialising ventures in SHAPE disciplines (Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy) and social enterprises across all research fields, STAGE provides a much-needed framework to help bring innovative research to market.

This initiative offers a new pathway for researchers to explore commercial opportunities in fields that have traditionally struggled to access conventional spinout support, ensuring that groundbreaking ideas are given the resources needed to thrive. As part of this programme, UWE Bristol academics are receiving dedicated support from an external Technology Transfer Officer to help advance their projects. The academics and their projects include:

  • Tavs Jorgensen – Advanced Clay Tooling
    Tavs Jorgensen’s research explores innovative manufacturing techniques for sustainable construction. His project, Advanced Clay Tooling, introduces novel low-carbon brick manufacturing methods, utilising robotic and digital fabrication processes to create highly efficient and sustainable construction materials. These techniques have the potential to revolutionise traditional building practices by significantly reducing carbon footprints. Read more
  • Tom Abba – Ambient Literature
    Tom Abba’s Ambient Literature project reimagines storytelling by blending digital technology with physical spaces. His research examines how literature can be experienced through location-based narratives, creating immersive reading experiences that bridge the gap between fiction and reality. This project is a unique exploration of how storytelling can evolve in the digital age. Learn more
  • IIIhem Berrou – Mintroot
    IIIhem Berrou leads Mintroot, a platform that fosters sustainable social enterprises by connecting innovators with resources and networks to drive social change. The project focuses on impact-driven solutions, supporting businesses that prioritise ethical, environmental, and social responsibility. Mintroot aims to empower entrepreneurs to create lasting change in their communities. Explore more
  • Rob Wilkes – Deaf Legal Theory
    Rob Wilks’ research addresses the critical intersection of law with deaf individuals globally utilising Deaf Legal Theory. His project seeks to bridge gaps in legal understanding and advocacy for the deaf community, developing frameworks that promote greater inclusion and accessibility in legal systems. This work has the potential to influence policies and practices worldwide. Find out more
  • Sofie Boons – Laboratory-Grown Ruby in Platinum Rings
    Sofie Boons’ project explores the intersection of science, sustainability, and jewellery design. Her research focuses on growing laboratory-created rubies directly within platinum settings, an innovative process that challenges conventional gemstone manufacturing while offering a sustainable alternative to traditional mining practices. Read more

Through the STAGE pilot, UWE Bristol continues to drive forward pioneering research with real-world impact, supporting academics in transforming their ideas into viable commercial ventures. By fostering innovation in creative and social sciences, this initiative is set to redefine the landscape of spinout development and create new opportunities for researchers in traditionally underrepresented fields.

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:

New £6.2 million programme to build and test new capabilities for sensitive data research

Author Anna Jones | Posted on

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has awarded £4.94 million towards a £6.20 million programme, TREvolution, to advance the development of key technical requirements and capabilities for UK Trusted Research Environments (TREs) as part of DARE UK.

Awarded under the DARE UK (Phase 2) Transformational Programme, TREvolution will be jointly led by five leading research institutions in the UK: the Universities of Dundee, Manchester, Nottingham, Swansea and West of England.

UWE Bristol will lead on enhancing the disclosure control processes that ensure research outputs (especially AI) protect private data and keep it secure.  UWE researchers  will also play a significant role in ensuring the exciting new capabilities offered to researchers, and how these changes are managed, are acceptable to three key groups: data owners, stakeholders such as TRE staff and researchers, and mostly importantly, the public, whose data it is.. This work builds on a series of collaborations between the Computer Science Research Centre and the DRAGoN at the interface where AI meets Privacy Preservation to enable research for the public good. 

The programme of work will be delivered in collaboration with NHS Scotland, Lancashire Teaching Hospital, Durham University, Lancaster University, University College London, University of Queensland, University of Basel and University of Cape Town.

TREvolution will address challenges associated with enhancing data access and analysis within TREs – secure environments where approved researchers can access sensitive data for research to benefit the public, such as national public health and population-level surveys.

TREs in the UK are internationally renowned for establishing the Five Safes framework, but they have some limitations for researchers. The manual application processes and disclosure checks make it challenging to keep up with today’s scientific needs, like federated learning, analysis across sectors and research domains, and large-scale correlation studies.

TREvolution will address these challenges to evolve UK TRE capabilities across three themes:

  • TRE reference architecture and implementations: Standardising UK TRE architectures to enable seamless interoperability.
  • AI and semi-automated output checking: Enhancing research output review processes to ensure non-disclosure of personal information.
  • Federated analysis: Enabling secure analysis of datasets stored in multiple TREs located across the UK.

This project builds on existing work done by the delivery partners, with experience across the themes, as well as the DARE UK (Phase 1) Driver Projects, which developed initial versions of some of the key components of TREvolution.

The funding call leading up to the award invited teams that delivered specific DARE UK Driver Projects to take the projects to the next stage of maturity. A single joint bid was submitted by TREvolution, a collaboration that builds on synergies between the Driver Projects teams to enhance the components, make them fully interoperable, and transition them into capabilities ready for use in UK TREs.

After an independent panel review process involving key experts and the public, £4,940,092 was awarded, being 80% of the full economic cost (£6,150,739) to support TREvolution from March 2025 to March 2027, ensuring that the outputs developed can be tested, refined, and adopted in real-world research settings.

TREvolution is the first of three initiatives under the DARE UK (Phase 2) Transformational Programme, advancing the further development and testing of core TRE components and capabilities developed in the first phase of the DARE UK programme.

Alongside TREvolution, further funding will be provided to support the early adoption of these capabilities by UK TREs and data services and to demonstrate their application through real-world research exemplars. The goal is to showcase the potential for a connected and efficient national network of secure data infrastructures.

DARE UK Interim Director, Professor Emily Jefferson, said:

TREvolution marks a step change in our efforts to transform the UK’s secure data research ecosystem. This important work will ensure that key capabilities—such as federated analysis and enhanced output checking supporting the training of AI models—are not just theoretical advancements but practical, real-world solutions that enhance the UK’s ability to do impactful research. We look forward to working closely with the TREvolution team to advance these innovations and drive meaningful progress in how sensitive data is accessed and used for the public good.

UWE Bristol lead Professor Jim Smith commented:

At UWE Bristol, we are committed to advancing privacy-preserving AI and robust governance frameworks to ensure that the next generation of Trusted Research Environments can empower researchers while maintaining public trust. TREvolution is a crucial step towards a more secure, interoperable, and future-proof data ecosystem for research that truly benefits society. and we are excited about continuing to be a part of this vital work.

The TREvolution team will work closely with the DARE UK Delivery Team and early adopter TREs, fostering stronger collaboration and synergy as these critical capabilities are integrated into the UK’s secure data research infrastructure ecosystem.

Follow DARE UK on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), and subscribe to our newsletter to follow TREvolution’s progress.

DARE UK is a data research infrastructure programme empowering data custodians, scientists, and technology experts working alongside the public to deliver a national network of secure data infrastructures for better research outcomes in the UK. DARE UK is funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the Digital Research Infrastructure Programme and led by Health Data Research (HDR UK) and ADR UK (Administrative Data Research UK).

Case study: Exposing the hidden labour of motherhood

Author ripleywk | Posted on

“There needs to be a societal shift in the way mothers are viewed and supported,” says Dr Jenna Pandeli. “These issues didn’t start with the pandemic- the pandemic simply intensified them.”

Isolated, overwhelmed and unheard

Maternity leave is often misrepresented as a time of rest. In reality, it is labour – unpaid, unacknowledged and uncompensated labour. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this invisible labour intensified, leaving new mothers isolated, overwhelmed and unheard. 

Dr Jenna Pandeli (Associate Professor in Organisation Studies), Dr Chloe Tarrabain (Senior Lecturer, Organisation Studies) and Dr Mahwish Khan (Associate Director, Organisation Studies) at UWE Bristol- all of whom became mothers during the pandemic – decided to turn their personal journeys into a powerful research project: The invisible labour of new mothers on maternity leave in a global pandemic. Shining a light on the unseen burdens of motherhood, this research from UWE Bristol challenges organisations, policymakers and society to do better for new mothers and working parents. 

The study: A personal and collective lens

A personal project from the beginning, the team combined auto-ethnographic accounts of their own experiences with interviews from 13 women who had babies in 2020. What they found was striking: the pandemic did not create these challenges, it magnified them. Exposing the structural inequalities that have long shaped maternity leave. 

The concept of “invisible work,” first coined by sociologist Arlene Kaplan Daniels, became central. Invisible work refers to the hidden, unpaid labour that sustains families and communities but is rarely recognised. For new mothers during the pandemic, this work fell into three interconnected areas: 

Emotional and mental work: Coping with grief over “stolen moments” missed family visits, cancelled celebrations and absent support networks – while carrying the mental load of constant planning and worry about health and safety. 

Physical work and self-advocacy: With professional and social support networks severed, mothers shouldered all physical labour alone. They also had to fight to be heard in healthcare settings, often facing dismissal or ‘gaslighting’ when raising concerns. 

Managing societal expectations: Isolation amplified the pressure to be the ‘perfect mother.’ Conflicting messages about breastfeeding, screen time and returning to work left many women feeling guilt, shame and burnout. 

Knowledge exchange in action

Findings from the project were shared widely, so far they have featured in: 

A dedicated conference stream at the 17th Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference in Seville, chaired by UWE Bristol academics; a book chapter, Navigating Vulnerability and Resilience, documenting pregnant women’s experiences during COVID-19; and a podcast episode in UWE Bristol’s Future Impact series, amplifying the voices of mothers and connecting research to practice. 

This visibility has led to invitations into international networks, including the Council for the Advancement of Career-Parental Care Integration, where UWE Bristol researchers collaborate with academics worldwide on motherhood and work. 

Shifting the burden

The research makes one point clear: the responsibility for change should not fall on mothers alone. Instead, organisations, governments and society must act. 

For organisations, employers must recognise that returning to work after maternity leave is not a simple reset. Tailored, flexible return-to-work plans, mental health support and mindful language are essential. Phrases like “enjoy your holiday” trivialise the reality of maternity leave and must be avoided. 

In society, a broader cultural shift is needed to validate women’s experiences and confront systemic issues, particularly in healthcare where women’s concerns are too often dismissed. 

For the mothers themselves. the research offers solidarity. It encourages mothers to be less self-critical, to trust their choices and to support one another. Motherhood is not about perfection – it is about resilience, community and care. 

Driving change through research

Through innovative platforms such as podcasts and digital storytelling, UWE Bristol researchers validated and amplified the experiences of mothers to inspire change. This important work challenges entrenched social norms and inequalities in our society, helping to shape inclusive workplaces and more resilient and sustainable communities for all. 

Research with purpose. 
Innovation with impact. 
Skills that empower. 
Enterprise that fuels progress. 

RISE with us. 

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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