Addressing global challenges through the lens of place
Research driven by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business
¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú's cross-institutional place-based research aligns with government agendas for people and place, as well as UKRI and British Academy priorities. A critical mass of SHAPE – Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy – researchers in collaboration with STEMM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine – colleagues are tackling global challenges associated with health, marine and sustainability.
The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business is a hub for interdisciplinary, impactful research with strengths in smart cities, environmental building, coastal communities, heritage and place-making, digital and immersive technologies, arts-health research, environmental cultures, lifelong education, and global displacement.
Exploring the modern world through the lens of place
We investigate the intricate relationships between communities, the natural world, and technology.
Locally, we co-create sustainable solutions to complex problems in order to build resilient and thriving neighbourhoods, cities, and regions. Our work transcends geographical, social and political boundaries to become applicable on a global level.
Our research is organised under five priority themes
Delivering on the UK’s defence and security priorities
Discover how the University and its partners across ¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú are putting the city and its residents at the heart of efforts to enhance national resilience in an ever-changing world.
Making place a primary context of study
Place-based research explores how a location's unique features and dynamics affect social, economic, cultural, environmental, and political phenomena. This approach:
- involves a geographic concentration on a particular location
- promotes a contextual understanding by taking into account historical and environmental factors
- encourages community involvement to make the research more relevant
- examines interconnected elements within the chosen place through an interdisciplinary approach
¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú Perspectives on Place
Building resilience with place-based solutions
Can social sciences, humanities and the arts play a major role in creating community-led policy?
Published in New Statesman, 19 July
The power of place
Can we empower communities to help them imagine a better climate future?
Professor Alison Anderson and
Professor David Sergeant
explore how we might use climate education and creativity to make a change for good.
Read the full article
Published in New Statesman, 12 July
Impacting communities through research and knowledge exchange
Research impact
Researchers in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Business are actively engaged with stakeholders outside the University context, to contribute to meaningful and tangible benefits for people, the environment, and communities.
AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
This strategic award provides funding to amplify the non-academic impact of arts and humanities research, offering two core funding schemes: the Impact Initiation Fund and the Impact Project and Fellowship Fund. Both schemes aim to establish, develop and accelerate impact from existing, high-quality, published research.
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Supporting students at every step
¾«Æ·ÎÞÂë¹ú²ú×Ô²ú welcomes new Presidents
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Our research environment
Knowledge Exchange, Experiential Education & Skills
Empowering transformation through collaborative partnerships, hands-on learning experiences, and future-focused skills development.
Postgraduate research
Become part of our scholarly community that proudly includes a wide range of research approaches and disciplines
Arts & Culture Programme
The University’s arts and culture programme welcomes everyone to experience high quality exhibitions, talks, films, music, performances, and events throughout the year.
Engaging with policy toolkit
Guidance on how government, parliament and policy making works and how researchers can engage with policy-making processes
Researcher support
Supporting researchers to maximise their impact and influence policy to transform the places and spaces we inhabit.
Digital innovations
Our cutting edge facilities attracts and supports researchers from a wider range of disciplines
The Bridge
Connecting people, ideas and opportunities
Providing integrated support for Research, Impact, Experiential Education, Knowledge Exchange and Civic and Cultural engagement in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business.
The Bridge is a dynamic force for positive change, advancing knowledge and understanding through collaboration, creativity, and innovation. We create inclusive spaces where everyone can engage with art, culture, and cutting-edge research, inspiring people to learn, connect, and shape a brighter future.
