SSRP Week

Time for action: A new phase for sustainability research with impact


The clock is ticking. Achieving the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in less than 10 years is becoming increasingly challenging amidst the climate emergency, the long-lasting effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and conflicts across the globe. Now, more than ever, solutions-focused research is needed to address these global challenges in a just and equitable way. Over the last five years, our programme has delivered impactful interdisciplinary research in over 20 low- and medium-income countries (LMICs) and the UK. We have now launched our second phase with the aim to scale up research in pressing sustainability issues, and to become a leading institution in providing 'Science for the SDGs'.

SSRP Week programme – 7 until 11 November 2022

To celebrate this new phase, we hosted an exciting full week of free events between 7 and 11 November 2022, at the University of Sussex. This week also marked the start of the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 27). Throughout SSRP Week activities led by a cross-campus community of researchers with local and international partners across our five new research themes were highlighted and advanced: 

  • Sustainability frontiers 

    Monday, 7 November 2022, 17:00-18:30
    IDS Convening Space, Institute of Development Studies

    Good COP, Bad COP? Accelerating climate action from below and above

    Watch the recording


    Thursday, 10 November 2022, 16:00-17:30
    Sussex Humanities Lab, University of Sussex
    SSRP-SHL-MAH networking event: Media and arts for sustainability

    Read the short summary

  • South Coast sustainability

    Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 10:00-13:00
    G30 Jubilee Building, University of Sussex

    The Living Coast Biosphere – Sharing research, raising questions

    Contact Dr Chris Sandom and read his recent SSRP Blog for further information


    Thursday, 10 November 2022, 13:00-14:00
    GDSC Seminar Room, Genome Centre, University of Sussex

    Crop-pollinator interactions in urban farming

    This event also formed part of the Evolution, Behaviour and Environment (EBE) seminar series.

    Watch the recording

  • Ecosystems, rights and justice

    Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 14:00-15:00
    Room 221, Institute of Development Studies

    New frontiers in sustainable supply chain management

    Contact Dr Anthony Alexander and read his recent SSRP Blog for further information

  • Planetary health

    Thursday, 10 November 2022, 14:00-15:00
    Global Studies Resource Centre, Arts C Building, University of Sussex

    Joint action on SDGs for public health and conservation

    Watch the recording

  • Sustainable climate and food systems

    Friday, 11 November 2022, 15:00-17:15
    G32 Jubilee Building, University of Sussex

    Is sustainability possible in conflict zones? The experience in Northwest Syria

    Take a look at the slides [PDF 3.17MB]

From speaker events to panel discussions, workshops, exhibitions, and drinks receptions, SSRP Week was a great opportunity to engage with a thriving community of sustainability researchers, activists and practitioners. 


SSRP Day  9 November 2022

The main event of the week, ‘SSRP Day’ officially launched phase II of our programme, taking place on Wednesday, 9 November 2022 at the Conference Centre (University of Sussex, Bramber House, Floor 3), with the following programme:

  • 11:00-11:30 Arrivals and tea/coffee
  • 11:30-13:00 Speaker event: official launch of SSRP Phase II
  • 13:00-14:30 Free lunch served in the ‘SSRP space’: audiovisual exhibition featuring SSRP-funded research
  • 14:30-16:30 Annual SSRP research symposium: speed-exchange of SSRP project findings
  • 16:30-17:30 Networking drinks reception. 

SSRP Day included a speaker event with university representatives, SSRP researchers and external guests, including our new VC Sasha Roseneil, Deputy Pro-VCs for Research, Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown Lloyd Russell-Moyle and Prof Joyeeta Gupta, co-Chair of the Earth Commission and Professor at the University of Amsterdam and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Netherlands. The release of the university’s annual sustainability performance report was also announced alongside SSRP’s Phase II launch, followed by an audio-visual exhibition featuring videos, photos, soundscapes from Sussex sustainability research around the world, SSRP’s annual research symposium and a networking drinks reception.


Missed out on SSRP Week? Why not browse through the recordings, summaries and slides of all SSRP Week sessions under each of our themes above and click through our SSRP Week Gallery?

Make sure to take a look at our upcoming events and sign up to our mailing list to stay in the loop and receive email updates on SSRP activities, news and funding opportunities. 


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