Topics: Environment, Energy

An image showing the process of ice flowing into the ocean and forming an ice shelf in Antarctica

Major Antarctic glacier passed a tipping point in the last 80 years, research reveals

Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica has gone through an irreversible retreat, passing a tipping point within the last 80 years, researchers have found. The findings, which are published in the influential journal Nature Climate Change, have emerged when world leaders gather in Dubai to debate the impacts of climate change at the COP28 conference.

Northumbria University has been named as the first academic institution to host the prestigious International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations (IVCO) conference.

First university hosting of international volunteering conference highlights value of collaboration

Northumbria University has been confirmed as the first academic institution to host the prestigious International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations (IVCO) conference organised annually by the International Forum for Volunteering in Development, known as Forum, in 2024.

L-R: Saman Haque, Becca Hawkins and Ellie Belton from ACCESS: Policy, Professor Matthew Johnson from Northumbria University and Director of ACCESS: Policy, Piotr Mahey, are pictured with Northumbria University students taking part in the programme.

Northumbria partners with ACCESS: Policy to give students unique access to the world of policy making

Ten students from Northumbria University are the first to take part in a new intensive programme providing an insight into addressing emerging global challenges through policy.

Northumbria University Autumn 2023 Newspaper.

Read the latest issue of Northumbria University News: Autumn 2023 edition

The Autumn 2023 edition of Northumbria University’s newspaper is available to collect on campus or read online now.

Pictured back row l-r: Kayleigh Ransome, Julia Bourne and Chelsea Baxter, of New York Primary School; Alan Ramsay, of Roots and Wings; Joe Shimwell, of NUSTEM, with Dr Emma Hocking (front)

Climate change is ‘in our hands’

Pupils from a North East Primary School have collaborated with scientists to design a board game which allows young people to explore the issue of climate change and discuss the actions that can be taken in response to this global challenge.

Study author Dr Andy Suggitt surveying habitat at Creag Meagaidh NNR, Scotland (Credit: NERC refugia project team).

EXPERT COMMENT: Our new map reveals the effects of 20th century land-use and climate change on Britain’s wild species

In an article written for The Conversation*, Andrew Suggitt, Assistant Professor in Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University, and Alistair Auffret, Senior Lecturer in Landscape Ecology at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, discuss how making a new map of land-use change for Great Britain helped their research into the extinction crisis.

Meltwater drips from winter sea ice grounded as the tide drops. Photo from British Antarctic Survey

EXPERT COMMENT: Increasing melting of West Antarctic ice shelves may be unavoidable – new research

In an article written for the Conversation, Jan De Rydt, Associate Professor of Polar Glaciology and Oceanography at Northumbria University, along with Ocean-Ice Modeller Kaitlin Naughten and Ocean and Ice Scientist Paul Holland, both from the British Antarctic Survey, discuss their recent research findings on the warming of the West Antarctic ice sheet.

Life on Our Planet premieres on Netflix on Wednesday 25 October. Image courtesy of Silverback Films/Netflix

Researcher’s knowledge called upon for new Netflix series, Life on Our Planet

Insights from an expert in past climates at Northumbria University have been used to help inform the science and technology behind a much-anticipated new Netflix series which promises to bring the Earth’s oldest creatures back to life.

Sea ice reflections around Rothera Point, home to a research station and British Antarctic Survey (BAS) base on the Antarctic Peninsula. Photo by Steve Gibbs.

Increased West Antarctic ice sheet melting is ‘unavoidable’, say scientists

The West Antarctic ice sheet will continue to increase its rate of melting over the rest of the century, no matter how much we reduce fossil fuel use, according to British Antarctic Survey (BAS) research, supported by Northumbria University, and published in the journal Nature Climate Change.

Finding a solution to the housing crisis by building on the greenbelt

EXPERT COMMENT: Building on the greenbelt is central to solving the housing crisis – just look at how the edges of cities have changed

In an article written for The Conversation, Cameron McEwan, Associate Professor in Architecture at Northumbria University and Andreas Lechner, Associate Professor at Graz University of Technology, focus their research on the urban-nature divide, providing a solution of building on the greenbelt to solve the housing crisis.

New research centre driving economic growth and sustainability

New research centre driving economic growth and sustainability

Northumbria University is one of six northern institutions driving a new £5m research initiative to help boost UK economic growth and address regional needs.

Dr Mark Goddard believes the importance of gardens for protecting wildlife and connecting people to nature is too often overlooked. Photo by Ellen Moran, Getty Images.

Humanity for Habitat – saving nature at home

The important role of managing residential gardens and yards to promote biodiversity is the focus of a new study led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and co-authored by an academic from Northumbria University.

Early morning sun shines down on Sycamore Gap, one of the iconic sites of Hadrian's Wall (and also famous from its starring role in the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). Photography by Simon Bradfield.

EXPERT COMMENT Sycamore Gap: what the long life of a single tree can tell us about centuries of change

Only a few individual trees could be rightly labelled as world famous, but the tree at Sycamore Gap along Hadrian’s Wall in northern England was one of them. No wonder its recent felling provoked public outcry and collective mourning.

Northumbria Professors named Academy of Social Sciences Fellows

Northumbria Professors named Academy of Social Sciences Fellows

Two environmental experts from Northumbria University are among 47 leading social scientists to be elected to the Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences.

Medicane storms happen in this part of the world every few years, but Daniel has proved to be the deadliest.

EXPERT COMMENT: Was the freak ‘medicane’ storm that devastated Libya a glimpse of North Africa’s future?

Mike Rogerson, Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria university, Dr Mahjoor Lone, Research Fellow in the department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University, and Belkasem Alkaryani, Lecturer in Geology at the University of Tobruk, discuss the environmental situation facing North Africa.

Monsoon rainfall in Malaysia

New research brings greater understanding of Asian winter monsoon

Scientists have discovered a new technique which will shed light on the phenomena of winter monsoons – the heavy autumn and winter rainfalls which can cause floods and landslides across southeast Asia.

Dr Alana James in the School of Design at Northumbria University.

EXPERT COMMENT: Fashion industry’s environmental impact is largely unknown – here’s why

Dr Alana James, Assistant Professor in Fashion at Northumbria University, discusses the environmental uncertainty facing the fashion industry.

The North East Region Analytical Science Community working together to inspire the public on the role of plant poisons as part of an RSC Outreach project.

Poison project wins Northumbria University Chemistry and Forensic Science team an award

An innovative project led by Northumbria University’s Applied Sciences Department has won a Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Inspirational Committee Award 2023.

Pictured from l-r are members of the project team – Dr Tom Stanton, of Loughborough University; and Dr Kelly Sheridan, Professor Anne Peirson-Smith, Dr Miranda Prendergast-Miller, and Dr Alana James of Northumbria University

Environmental impact of fashion industry under scrutiny

It is often described as fashion’s dirty secret, and in recent years there has been increasing recognition of the global environmental impact of the textile industry – however, the true scale of the problem is still not fully understood.

Fred Dunbar was recognised with the Tom Faulkner Award for Best Furniture Design and the London Design Fair Emerging Talent Award. Photography by Mark Cocksedge.

Students and graduates shine in national design competition

Northumbria School of Design excelled once again in London at New Designers 2023, which recognises rising stars whose unique work highlights key themes such as sustainability, mental health, diversity and other vital areas of responsible design.

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