The centre aims to align specialisms from a range of expertise of staff and from multiple disciplines at the University of Northampton to support research and enterprise that is problem solving, fact finding, evidence based, which fosters visions of a sustainable future. From product design, use of technology through to planning resilient, biodiverse, and healthy landscapes where we all live and work. We wish to foster partnerships and increased collaboration with business, local communities, regulators, and non-government organisations. Our impact will support business development, development of training materials, supporting sustainability education in the wider community, and fostering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes through successful funding, high quality research and consultancy.

About The Centre for Sustainable Futures

What is the future direction of the centre?

• The vision for Centre for Sustainable Futures, will work towards positive environmental, social, and economic impacts for communities at local and national and international levels. Our focus will be activities that advance best practice in industry and working toward achieving sustainability development goals.
• More importantly, the Centre will adopt regenerative practices, innovative and multidisciplinary approaches in decision-making to address the challenges resulting from the environmental crisis and climate change. It also aims to promote resilience of landscapes, communities, infrastructure systems and promote a circular economy in manufacturing and waste management.

The Centre for Sustainable Futures is a multidisciplinary research centre with a research community covering sustainability issues for producers and users and encompassing the application of green and natural materials, such as bioplastics, alternative technologies to reduce energy use and new processes to minimize waste. It is envisaged that the Centre will comprise research groups broadly aligned with the research interests of the members drawn from technology, humanities, education, environmental and social sciences, and business studies.

Themes

Environment, Landscapes and Natural Resources

This theme includes researching land use, planning, benefits of green infrastructure, achieving biodiversity gain, and supporting communities to increase resilience through the Climate and Biodiversity crises

Processes, Materials and Technologies

Investigation of issues for producers and users and encompassing the application of renewable energy, circular economy principles, green and natural materials, such as bioplastics, alternative technologies to reduce energy use and new processes to minimize waste.

Education for Sustainability

Promote innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to teaching sustainability and introducing positive values and attitudes and decision-making to address sustainable development goals