COASTAL AND ENVIROMENTAL ENGINEERING
- Assessing the impact of climate change on Smart Urban infrastructures
- Advanced technologies for monitoring and protecting marine ecosystems
- Sustainable water resources management and advanced water treatment
- Advanced materials engineering for Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability infrastructure
- Innovations in heat and mass transfer for energy efficiency in sustainable buildings
- Renewable energy advancement in Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability development
- Advanced strategies for improving indoor environmental quality in dense urban spaces
- Efficient renewable-based heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
- Phase change materials applications in buildings for passive temperature regulation
- Integrated waste management for energy sustainability
- Innovative energy cycles for energy production and cogeneration
- Fire safety in Smart Urban Coastal infrastructure design
- Developing resilient civil engineering practices to mitigate the effects of climate change on Smart Urban infrastructure.
- Implementing seismic retrofitting techniques for enhanced earthquake resilience of urban structures
- Energy efficiency, sustainable solutions and environment protection in Marine Engineering / Maritime Industry
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES AND BIODIVERSITY
Green Infrastructure: Green Roofs and Walls: Installing vegetation on rooftops and building facades to reduce urban heat island effect, improve air quality, and provide habitat for wildlife. Urban Parks and Gardens: Creating green spaces within cities to promote recreation, biodiversity, and mental well-being among residents. Tree Planting: Increasing urban tree canopy to provide shade, mitigate air pollution, and absorb stormwater runoff.
Natural Water Management: Permeable Pavements: Using permeable materials for roads, sidewalks, and parking lots to allow rainwater infiltration, reducing runoff and alleviating flooding. Rain Gardens and Bioswales: Constructing vegetated depressions or channels to capture and filter stormwater, improving water quality and reducing erosion. Constructed Wetlands: Creating artificial wetland systems to treat wastewater, enhance biodiversity, and provide recreational opportunities.
Climate Resilience: Urban Forests: Establishing and maintaining forests within urban areas to sequester carbon, regulate temperatures, and buffer against extreme weather events. Green Infrastructure for Climate Adaptation: Implementing NBS to mitigate heat stress, manage flood risk, and enhance resilience to climate change impacts such as sea-level rise and storm surges.
Biodiversity Conservation: Pollinator Habitats: Designating areas within cities to support pollinator populations, such as bees and butterflies, through the cultivation of native plants. Wildlife Corridors: Creating green corridors and connectivity networks to facilitate the movement of wildlife between fragmented urban habitats.
Community Engagement and Education: Urban Agriculture: Promoting community gardens, rooftop farms, and urban agriculture initiatives to enhance food security, promote local food production, and foster community engagement. Citizen Science Programs: Involving residents in monitoring and conservation efforts, such as birdwatching or tree planting events, to raise awareness and build stewardship of urban ecosystems.
Health and Well-being: Therapeutic Landscapes: Designing urban green spaces with elements such as walking trails, water features, and native vegetation to promote physical activity, stress reduction, and mental health. Nature Play Areas: Creating natural playgrounds and recreational spaces for children to connect with nature, foster creativity, and support cognitive development.
LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
- Basic research and applied technologies on farmed organism and microorganisms towards sustainability and environment protection. Applications in agriculture and aquaculture.
- Application of plants and microorganisms for prevention and management of natural disasters, and for remediation purposes. New pollutants in water, sediment or food chain, and Biosensors.
- Exploitation of (micro)organisms as biocontrol agents and as sources of human food, bioactive compounds, biofuels, and eco-friendly new materials. New applications of microorganisms on fermented products. New (micro)organisms-derived drugs.
- Environment deterioration-related diseases: mechanisms, innovative diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, biomarkers, and drug discovery. Nutrient metabolism and personalized nutrition, in preventing and managing of environment deterioration-related diseases.
- Applied Mathematics, Computational Methods, Green chemistry, and Physics, towards sustainable solutions for energy and the environment.
SOCIAL, CULTURE AND HUMAN SCIENCES INSTITUTE
Public perception of renewable energy sources
Analysing public attitudes and perceptions towards renewable energy technologies.
Analysing the influence of public opinion on the adoption and implementation of sustainable energy solutions.
Social acceptance of green infrastructure
Examining the social and cultural factors that influence the acceptance of green infrastructure projects, such as wind farms, solar installations, and sustainable urban planning.
Citizen participation in renewable energy projects
Examining the role of citizen participation and engagement in the success of renewable energy initiatives.
Evaluate the effectiveness of community-based approaches to promote sustainable energy solutions.
Environmental justice and energy access
Examining environmental justice issues in the distribution of energy resources and the impact on marginalised communities.
Analysing the role of policy and administration in ensuring equitable access to sustainable energy.
Behavioural economics and energy conservation
Investigating the psychological and behavioural factors that influence individual energy consumption behaviour.
Developing measures based on behavioural economics to promote energy savings and sustainable practises.
Cultural perspectives on environmental protection
Examining how cultural values and beliefs influence attitudes and behaviours related to environmental protection.
Analysing the role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable resource management.
Ethical considerations in energy production and consumption
Examine ethical dilemmas associated with different methods of energy production, e.g. nuclear power, or biofuels.
Discuss the ethical implications of energy consumption patterns in industrialised and developing regions.
Historical perspectives of the energy transition
Analyse historical case studies of energy transitions and their socio-economic impacts.
Understanding the lessons learnt from past transitions to support current and future sustainable energy initiatives.
Media representation of environmental issues
Examine how media portrayal influences public perceptions of environmental problems and solutions.
Assess the role of the media in shaping policy discourse on sustainable energy and environmental issues.
Eco-friendly accommodation
Certify and promote eco-friendly accommodations that use sustainable practises, such as water and energy conservation, waste reduction, and local sourcing.
Environmental education, awareness, and educational initiatives
Raising tourist awareness of responsible and sustainable travel practises through information campaigns and signage.
Working with local communities to educate them on the importance of sustainability and involving them in decision-making processes
Psychological empowerment
increasing individuals’ awareness through environmental education to improve their understanding of the impact of their actions on the environment.
Green finance and investment
Attract green investment for sustainable tourism projects through partnerships with financial institutions, government incentives and international organisations.
Develop financial mechanisms that support the transition to renewable energy and sustainable practises in the tourism sector.
Intercultural perspectives
Recognise and respect cultural differences in environmental attitudes and behaviours. Tailor interventions that are culturally sensitive and consider the diversity of perspectives within and between societies.
Eco-linguistics
Examine the relationship between language and the environment.
Investigate how linguistic structures can reflect or influence attitudes towards nature and sustainability.
Research environmentally orientated language use in different cultures.
Language in environmental policy
Examine the language used in environmental laws and policies.
Examine how the choice of language influences the implementation and effectiveness of environmental regulations.