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The Sussex Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) is delighted to be joined by and supporting five new cutting-edge research projects, set to receive funding for the 2023/2024 academic year.

These projects, selected as part of SSRP’s 8th seed-funding call ‘Research at the mid-point of SDG implementation’, will drive impactful sustainability research forward, focusing on diverse areas such as ecosystem recovery, territorial and indigenous rights, waterway resilience, equitable forest restoration, and place-based research for sustainability transitions.

Continuing their annual tradition of providing seed-funds to interdisciplinary projects that address critical global and local sustainability challenges, this funding call particularly encouraged researchers who have not previously led or engaged in earlier SSRP funding rounds to apply.

Excitingly, SSRP is welcoming an all-female-led lineup of sustainability experts to its community, made up of three new Principal Investigators and including two early-career researchers. While the programme is very pleased to be welcoming the next generation of sustainability researchers from across campus, it is also committed to supporting ongoing SSRP streams of work - building on the community’s strengths and long-standing partnerships and following its recognition as a University of Sussex Centre of Excellence.

The awarded projects were selected by a diverse cross-campus review panel for their potential to have significant impact. Prof Joseph Alcamo, Director of SSRP, commented: “These projects come at a particularly pivotal time as the world reaches the mid-point in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Science is needed more than ever to uncover promising strategies for achieving the SDGs."

With ongoing support of SSRP and a modest pot of funding, these initiatives promise to advance the vision of SSRP and the University in creating a more sustainable world, both in our backyard and further afield:

• Dr Valentina Scarponi (School of Life Sciences) will assess effectiveness of kelp restoration tools and methods in supporting marine ecosystem recovery along the South Coast

• Dr Bonnie Holligan (School of Law, Politics & Sociology) will strengthen the rights of mining-affected communities in Brazil, building on previously SSRP-funded work on Rights of Nature legislation
  
  
• Dr Lucila Newell (School of Global Studies) will co-create a citizen science project to develop methods for assessing water pollution and biodiversity in South England’s Upper River Medway
  
  
• Prof Fiona Mathews (School of Life Sciences) will explore how land titles policy can assist in conservation and forest management in Ecuador, focusing on the connection between ecosystems, rights and justice
  
  
• Dr Shova Thapa Karki (University of Sussex Business School) will investigate the potential of scalable place-based solutions in bridging the disconnect between macro and community-led initiatives for sustainable land use and nutrition across both Southern England and Java, Indonesia.

Intrigued to hear more?

Join us on 29 November 2023 for a morning of research-sharing and sustainability insights. At our annual SSRP Research Symposium you will have the chance to:

• hear the latest SSRP updates through quick-fire (5 minute!) presentations from our community
• become familiar with sustainability research currently being undertaken at Sussex and beyond
• discover ways to actively participate and get involved with SSRP
• network and make new connections with the sustainability community over refreshments
• and receive a sneak peek into our new 2023/2024 projects mentioned above!

More information about the successful Round 8 projects will be uploaded here soon. In the meantime, visit the SSRP website and take a look at past and ongoing sustainability initiatives.

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