Technology and sustainability

Technology and sustainability research

Animal health

AI at Surrey is researching animal health in AI. This project is gathering data and mobilising infrastructure across a wide, sometimes disparate region, implementing a sustainable disease diagnostics infrastructure which will bring together veterinary laboratory hubs and outreach services incorporated into small business hubs, and enhancing small-holder farming productivity by reducing livestock disease and increasing the availability of veterinary medicines and services.

Climate change

Stephen Morse is researching metrology to establish an SI traceable climate observing system in the hope of contributing to the establishment of the necessary metrology infrastructure, tailored to climate needs in readiness for its use in climate observing systems.

The implementation of an MRV system to manage the delivery of nature based/natural climate solutions project by Walter Wehrmeyer looked at how installing solar PV arrays onto multiple land uses opens the possibility for a much more beneficial returns of the land.

Food systems

The innovative solutions for a resilient and sustainable local/regional food system project funding will facilitate the creation of a network of local/regional food system partners and development of a new, collaborative research initiative on resilient and sustainable food system, with an initial focus on food waste led by Stephen Morse.

Multimedia

Itziar Castello is researching using emotion-symbolic work for social change. Itziar’s research has recently looked at how social entrepreneurs use images to convince people to enact drastic change. Through a longitudinal study based on interviews, observational, archival and social media data, Itziar analysed how anti-plastic pollution social entrepreneurs use multimodal (visual and verbal) interactions to influence their targets and promote their cause.

The role that Instagram posts play in enabling/constraining transitions to more sustainable ways of living is being researched by Anastasia Loukianov in her project, Instagram posts as symbolic resources for understandings of the good life. Images of good and/or sustainable lives, particularly in mundane media such as films, photographs, and Instagram posts is a focus of Anastasia’s research.

Serious games

'Serious games for serious energy solutions' is a pilot project designed to better understand how collective decision making over resource allocation happens; how people work together and potential areas where conflict arises using a serious game called 'New Shores.' This is being researched by Dr Zoe M Harris.

Sustainable homes

MyGlobalHome is a project which investigates new technologies that provide carefully managed data analysis across every stage of a home’s life and every aspect of home, MyGlobalHome provides richer insights that inform the creation of more resilient, cost-efficient, responsive and individualised homes.

Tourism

European tourism indicators system for sustainable destination management. Tourist destinations are increasingly being called upon to tackle social, cultural, economic, and environmental challenges. To help them measure their performance in relation to sustainability, the European Commission has developed a ‘European Tourism Indicators System’ (ETIS).

A project, the research for which formed part of Dr Pablo Pereira-Doel's PhD, explores whether persuasive communication encourages hotel guests to behave more responsibly during their stay by reducing their shower usage. Xavier Font and Pablo Pereira-Doel are researching showering smartly – market acceptance of sustainability-led technology to reduce water, energy, carbon emissions and cost savings in tourism accommodations.