In the midst of emerging climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, and loss of wellbeing, universities worldwide are placing an increasing focus on sustainability research for identifying a positive way forward.  Recently, the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme (SSRP) held its 6th Symposium, an annual research-sharing event between sustainability researchers, SSRP project leads, colleagues, partners and enthusiasts eager to contribute and delve deeper into the subject.

The event not only served as a dynamic platform for the speed-exchange of ground-breaking research findings and insights but also celebrated the programme’s newly awarded Centre of Excellence status, which the university highlighted in their ‘Impossible Until Done’ video campaign, released on the occasion of COP 28.

The SSRP Symposium showcased cross-School research initiatives and collaborations, emphasising the importance of interdisciplinary research with long-term, equitable partnerships at its core, to advance sustainability across different local and global contexts. As in the past, the event was an engaging and diverse knowledge-sharing and networking gathering that brought together over 90 attendees, featuring SSRP speakers from various backgrounds and disciplines.

The Director of SSRP, Prof Joseph Alcamo, opened the Symposium by saying that “SSRP researchers are having a real and positive impact in communities from Ecuador to Papua New Guinea, and everywhere in-between.  While the world is seemingly going from crisis to crisis, the sustainability research community is showing instead that a positive future based on sustainability ideas is possible and reachable.”

This year's Symposium, chaired by SSRP researcher Dr Rebecca Webb (School of Education and Social Work), provided an overview of ongoing and preview of new upcoming projects which received funding in the past 2022/2023 and current 2023/2024 academic year. The topics covered were as diverse as advocating for Rights of Nature legislation, advancing sustainable land use along the South Coast, addressing eco-anxiety through law and policy, and supporting the restoration of South England’s kelp forests.

Attendees were treated to presentations from SSRP Fellows, providing a comprehensive overview of impactful sustainability research taking place here in the region and across the globe:

Colleagues from the Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) were first to share their projects which link medical science with social and environmental issues. While Dr Chi Eziefula presented ‘Luna Connection’, a co-created citizen science project which promotes sustainable menstrual health among adolescents in Uganda, Sudan, Kenya and the UK, Jo Middleton’s talk centred around integrated public health and conservation efforts in Papua New Guinea which has seen the establishment of a mobile health clinic and conservation of 15,000 ha of biodiversity-sensitive forest land.

Our School of Life Sciences researchers were represented through various vital topics: Prof Mika Peck and Bobby Cross discussed the importance of advocating for the 'Rights of Nature' and empowering paraecologists to address human-wildlife conflict, exemplified by success stories across Ecuador and Brazil.

Closer to home, Dr Chris Sandom emphasised the importance of developing sustainable land use systems along England’s South Coast. He emphasised the need to bridge gaps between siloed efforts and foster effective transdisciplinary research for transformative change, while also calling others to join the ‘South Coast sustainability’ community. Next, Dr Valentina Scarponi gave a sneak preview of her new regional project which aims to assess the effectiveness of the recovery of South Coast coastal ecosystems following the recent Sussex trawling ban.  Before the ban came into effect, unregulated trawling led to the destruction of much of the kelp forest since 1987, a vital ecosystem, along the Sussex coast. Dr Maria Clara Castellanos then looked at another phenomenon of ecosystem destruction – wildfires in tropical drylands –  and describes the team’s efforts in researching and developing innovative restoration approaches that reduce fire frequency and associated poverty, food insecurity, and biodiversity loss.

Delving back into more regional concerns, but with the potential to be applied more broadly, Dr Rebecca Webb (School of Education and Social Work) presented their work on scaling up approaches to education for net zero. The team has been identifying areas in UK curricula where current educational philosophies lack the space and relevance to confront challenges of the 21^st century and instead propose the incorporation of creative climate education tools and methods which can help students engage with uncertainty and face complex social challenges, without feeling overwhelmed or paralysed.

Zooming back out again, the event touched upon global issues in Zambia, with speakers Dr Ruth Stirton (School of Law) discussing the right-based approaches to nutrition and Prof Fiona Mathews (School of Life Sciences) addressing subsistence poaching in wildlife-protected areas, emphasising the complexity of alternative livelihoods and the impact on conservation efforts.

Two additional rights-based initiatives led by School of Law researchers, were also spotlighted: Dr Emanuela Orlando’s current research looks into eco-anxiety as an issue for the State under Human Rights Law, while a new project spearheaded by Dr Bonnie Holligan builds on existing Rights of Nature work with a focus on Indigenous territories and land recognition in Brazil.

Moreover, the 2023 Symposium showcased Dr Lucila Newell’s (School of Global Studies) new project ‘Ripple Effect’ which focusses on advancing waterway resilience in Sussex through citizen science, water health and biodiversity  monitoring, and community and policy engagement.

Last but not least, the University of Sussex Business School was represented through two sustainability food and agriculture initiatives at this year’s event. While Dr Mirela Barbu’s ‘Agricultural Voices Syria’ project is well underway in building capacity and promoting sustainable agriculture in conflict zones through innovative media, Dr Shova Thapa Karki has recently been awarded SSRP-funding to research knowledge gaps in food system transformations between macro-level expert-led guidance and that employed in community-led initiatives and practices.

Dr Rebecca Webb, reflects on the day and her role as chair: “It was absolutely ‘buzzing’ and ‘fizzing’. The room was packed to the rafters with old faces and new, including many undergraduate and postgraduate students who had come along because of their interest in, and passions for, sustainability research at Sussex, communicated to them through their various Schools. What made being part of this symposium so worthwhile and energising was the range and variety of new and ongoing research underway, capturing the transdisciplinary quality of so much of what is worthwhile whether focussed locally along our Sussex coastline or globally elsewhere in the world.”

Summing up the Symposium, SSRP’s Communications and Engagement Officer, Juliet Richardson, said: “The Symposium not only provided a comprehensive snapshot of SSRP's multifaceted research initiatives but also underlined the importance of community engagement and long-term partnerships as well as the challenges associated with and need for continuous funding streams, resource and support.”

For those unable to attend, take a look at the full list of speakers and presented projects here and explore presentation slides and snapshots from the day.