Categories: sustainability

Professor Alister Scott

Geography Professor appointed as special adviser to Select Committee

One of the UK’s leading experts on nature and sustainable land use has been appointed as the sole special adviser to the House of Lords Select Committee investigating land use in England. Professor Alister Scott of Northumbria University will provide the Select Committee with specialist advice over the structure and content of the inquiry, which is due to report at the end of this year.

Inside the latest issue, you’ll find comprehensive coverage of the day Princess Anne visited Northumbria to hear about the vital research the Northern Veteran Hub team are doing to support members of military veteran community across the UK.

Northumbria’s Spring 2022 Newspaper is out now

Packed full of the latest news, features and interviews, Northumbria University News is the perfect way to keep up to date with the exciting developments taking place across the University. The Spring edition is available to read online now.

Dr Kelly Sheridan and PhD student Chimdia Kechi Okafor with a test load in a tumble dryer

Thousands of tonnes of air pollution could be reduced by changing the way we dry our laundry

Tumble drying a load of laundry releases almost the same amount of potentially harmful microfibres into the air as those released down the drain during machine washing of the same load, finds new research from Northumbria University and Procter & Gamble.

Thanks to a grant from UK Aid, academics from Northumbria University have spent time working with environmentalists and the local community close to the northern coast of Kenya, to help establish a new Heritage Boat Building Training Centre.

Heritage boat building will support mission to reduce plastic pollution

Academics from Northumbria University have travelled to Kenya to help establish a new Heritage Boat Building Training Centre which will use indigenous knowledge and skills to transform single use plastics into traditional sailing vessels.

Designing homes that are fit for the future

Designing homes that are fit for the future

A team of Northumbria University academics has been awarded funding to design and develop a purpose-built home office within a prototype home, that will allow people to age in place and work effectively from home.

The research outcomes support work already taking place in Newcastle involving schools, the city council and other organisations to encourage and promote more sustainable and active travel on the school run. Graphic: Newcastle City Council

Air quality research supports calls to clean up the school run

Research involving experts at Northumbria University outlines the health risks caused by harmful pollution from vehicles measured outside schools in Newcastle.

EXPERT COMMENT: We reconstructed Britain of millions of years ago to see what climate breakdown will involve

EXPERT COMMENT: We reconstructed Britain of millions of years ago to see what climate breakdown will involve

Dr Matthew Pound, Associate Professor in Physical Geography, and Dr Martha Gibson, Research Fellow in Paleoclimatology at Northumbria University, explore how the climate crisis will affect the UK in an article originally written for The Conversation.

EXPERT COMMENT: NFTs: WWF tried raising money with digital art but backtracked – environmental charities should follow suit

EXPERT COMMENT: NFTs: WWF tried raising money with digital art but backtracked – environmental charities should follow suit

Dr Peter Howson, Senior Lecturer in International Development at Northumbria University, explores the environmental issues surrounding non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in an article originally published on The Conversation.

Heavy rainfall and degrading peatland are putting archaeological artefacts at increased risk of decay.

EXPERT COMMENT: How climate change is washing away precious evidence of our distant past

Dr Rosie Everett, Lecturer in Forensic Science at Northumbria University, and Dr Gillian Taylor, Associate Professor in Archaeology at Teesside University, explore how climate change is damaging ancient artefacts and how they can be preserved for future generations in an article orginally written for The Conversation.

Dr Kate Winter undertaking a radar survey to identify subglacial lakes in Antarctica in 2020

Almost 800 subglacial lakes catalogued for first time in new global inventory

The world’s first inventory of subglacial lakes has been compiled, providing researchers with a comprehensive directory of where the lakes are and how they are changing in a warming climate.

EXPERT COMMENT: Is Santa’s sleigh zero carbon? The answer lies in reindeer poo

EXPERT COMMENT: Is Santa’s sleigh zero carbon? The answer lies in reindeer poo

In an article originally published for The Conversation, Dr Mike Jeffries, Associate Professor in Geography and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University, explores whether reindeer are an environmentally friendly form of transport in the lead up to Christmas.

The People & Planet University League is the only comprehensive and independent league table of universities ranked against sustainability and ethics criteria.

Northumbria rated as top university in the North East for sustainability

Northumbria University has been rated as ‘first class’ for sustainability and is the highest ranked university in the North East in the latest People & Planet University league table.

Dr Julie Trueman from Northumbria University, Becky Gordon from Interface and design expert, Oliver Heath.

Interior Design students work with global design expert

Final year Interior Design students at Northumbria University have been working on a live brief with global expert in biophilic design, Oliver Heath.

Aerial view of the Chaihuín tidal marsh – site of the discovery of new geological evidence for a previously unreported historical tsunami.

Previously unrecorded Chilean tsunami identified

A large earthquake off the coast of south-central Chile in 1737 may have caused a substantial tsunami that was absent from historical records, according to new research published in the Nature journal, Communications Earth & Environment today (Thursday 9 December).

Professor Andrew Wathey signing the partnership agreement with Professor Saleemul Huq

New partnership places increased focus on climate change research

Northumbria University is set to advance its world-leading research in issues relating to climate change, adaptation, loss and damage after forming a new strategic partnership with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development.

The Bridport Cohousing Community (credit Bridport Cohousing CLT)

Innovative housing can help tackle loneliness

People involved in community-led housing are significantly less likely to feel lonely than people living in more conventional homes and neighbourhoods, according to a new report.

Artists' impression of the laser-based satellite communications system

UK Space Agency funds further research into new laser-based satellite communications system

The UK Space Agency has awarded almost £650,000 to Northumbria University to continue world-leading work to develop the first commercially available laser-based inter-satellite communications system.

A woman transporting wood by boat in the Sundarbans, West Bengal. Increasingly violent weather events and rising sea levels are increasing pressure on natural resources, undermining ecosystems and livelihoods and forcing populations out of the deltas

International research focuses on uniting minds and voices

As the spotlight on the landmark COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow continues into a second week, Professor of International Development at Northumbria University, Matt Baillie Smith, reflects on the importance of taking a collaborative approach to finding solutions which protect the future of the planet.

EXPERT COMMENT: Six lessons to change the climate of climate change narratives

EXPERT COMMENT: Six lessons to change the climate of climate change narratives

One of the key topics of discussion at COP26 is on how we can work with nature to improve our responses to the climate emergency.  As part of our coverage of climate related research undertaken by Northumbria University, we asked Alister Scott, Professor in Environmental Geography, to share his views on the six lessons that governments and decision makers can take from his research.

Dr Lucy Whalley, Vice Chancellor’s Fellow from Northumbria's Department of Mathematics, Physics and Electrical Engineering

Dr Lucy Whalley: “Batteries are a critical piece of the jigsaw in our journey towards net zero.”

The world is facing an unprecedented energy challenge. While many countries around the world have committed to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, we expect global energy for demand to double from today’s requirements within the same timescale. There is, therefore, an urgent need for sustainable solutions and technologies.

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