#TakeOnTomorrow
Autumn 2021 • northumbria.ac.uk
Issue 24
Our people Our planet Our future There is no bigger challenge to the sustainability of our planet and the world as we know it than climate change. Global temperatures have risen faster in the last 50 years than in the 2,000 years before. Ice sheets are melting and sea level is rising. Severe heatwaves are causing devastating wildfires and hurricanes are wreaking havoc across communities. Natural habitats are being destroyed by pollution and many countries face either extreme droughts or catastrophic flooding. Without immediate, collective and focused action to limit greenhouse gas emissions, global warming will cause irreversible damage to the planet in the next few decades and we will face climate breakdown. As the climate crisis continues to demand global attention, we look at the many ways in which the Northumbria University community is leading the fight against climate change. From innovative research teams bringing multidisciplinary perspectives to a huge range of studies, through to institutional and individual commitments, Northumbria University is taking action to address the impact of climate change and help ensure a safer, more stable future for our planet. Sustainability is at the forefront of the University’s activities and Northumbria is committed to delivering on the UN Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). Whether through academic research, teaching, or partnerships forged with regional, national and international organisations, the University is determined to lead the way in driving change within our society to create a more sustainable future. In 2021 the University was ranked 50th in the world for sustainability in Times Higher Education’s Impact league table; the only global performance table that assesses how universities manage research, outreach and teaching, set against the United Nations’ SDGs. Northumbria researchers are actively leading the
way in modelling, predicting and understanding the impact of climate change. They are investigating how and when the effects of climate change will affect our society. They are helping communities affected by the impact of natural disasters. They are developing new technologies and optimising existing infrastructure to drive a more energy efficient society. And they are doing much, much more to help individuals, businesses and communities reduce their collective carbon footprint and create a more sustainable way of living. Northumbria is committed to operating sustainably and has reduced its carbon emissions by a
massive 58% across its Newcastle campuses over the past five years. The University helps give students the confidence they need to actively address climate change – whether through education, green initiatives on campus, or extra-curricular activities organised by societies within the Students’ Union. The institution is also developing a broad portfolio of sustainability initiatives, one of which is a commitment by Newcastle Business School at Northumbria to embed sustainability within its curriculum. Northumbria is one of 38 higher education institutions from around the world to have signed up to be a United Nations Principles
for Responsible Management Education (PRME) champion in business and management. The initiative aims to raise the profile of sustainability and equip students – the business leaders of the future – with the understanding and ability to deliver change for tomorrow. Turn to pages four and five to discover more about how Northumbria University is taking on climate change.
EXPLORING SPACE
RESEARCH EXCELLENCE
TAKA’S ROAD TO SUCCESS
From the health of astronauts to unlocking some of our galaxy’s longest-held scientific mysteries, find out more on pages 8-9.
Read about the latest awarding of prestigious Leverhulme Early Career Fellowships on page 26.
Read about Northumbria student Taka Suzuki’s world recordbreaking Paralympic journey, on page 43.