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What are you looking for?

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• BSc Business Administration
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MSc Global Environment and Sustainability

Page contents

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Key features
• 3 Course overview
• 4 Key dates
• 5 Admissions
• 6 Fees, funding and payment
• 7 Career opportunities
• 8 What our students say

You are reading:

Course information>

October 2024

Gain a holistic and interdisciplinary understanding of the causes and consequences of the urgent environmental issues of our lifetime, from climate change and environmental hazards, to global food systems. Explore how environmental sustainability policy and management can contribute towards achieving global peace and prosperity.

Key features

Delivered by experts in the field.

Everything you study during the degree has been developed by Birkbeck, University of London, a research hub with world-leading academics contributing to public debate and research across a wide range of areas. You’ll learn from highly experienced professionals and practitioners, combining academic excellence with industry-related knowledge and expertise.

Make a difference

Gain the skills and expertise needed to contribute meaningfully to the fight against urgent threats facing the planet and achieve professional success as a sustainability practitioner or researcher. Get ready to hit the ground running in careers in environmental management, local government, policy, business or environmental groups and charities.

Gain a prestigious qualification valued internationally

The University of London has been a trusted provider of distance and flexible learning for over 160 years. Since Queen Victoria awarded our Royal Charter in 1858, our degrees have been accessible to students globally, and we continue to be a leading force in higher education.

An accessible degree

This degree is open to students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including those without a bachelor’s degree in a related subject area. Moreover, if applicants do not meet the requirements for Direct Entry, they can apply for the MSc via the Performance Based Admissions (PBA) route.

Study online anywhere in the world

The online MSc Global Environment and Sustainability can be studied from anywhere in the world. The flexible design enables you to fit your studies around your schedule. With no international travel, relocation or accommodation costs, studying a University of London degree is more affordable than moving to London.

Join the world class

After graduation you will become part of our global network of influential alumni, joining graduates in over 190 countries, including distinguished academics, writers and industry leaders. Enjoy access to services, a dynamic programme of events and a lifelong connection to the University of London.

Course overview

Programme structure, modules and specification show.

The degree is available to be studied as a full master’s degree, a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) or Postgraduate Certificate (PGCert). 

You complete six modules for the MSc :  Five core modules (30 credits each); and one Project module (30 credits)

You complete four (30 credits each) modules for the PGDip

You complete two modules (30 credits each) for the PGCert

All of the modules from the MSc Global Environment and Sustainability, excluding the Project module, are available to study on a stand-alone basis, subject to module availability.

The Programme Specification and Programme Regulations contain information and rules regarding what courses you can choose and the order in which they must be studied. 

• Download the Programme Specification
• View the Programme Regulations
• View the Module Release running schedule

Module structure for Global Environment and Sustainability Show

Core modules.

Biodiversity, biosecurity and conservation (Open modal with additional information)

Climate change and environmental hazards (Open modal with additional information)

Global food systems and health (Open modal with additional information)

Waste and pollution (Open modal with additional information)

Water and energy resources (Open modal with additional information)

Project module (MSc only)

Project module - Global Environment and Sustainability (Open modal with additional information)

How you study Show

You can study the MSc Global Environment and Sustainability from anywhere in the world, at a pace that suits you. Our flexible approach to studying allows you to fit your studies around your commitments.  

The flexible approach to learning allows students to complete the MSc Global Environment and Sustainability in a minimum of two years (subject to module availability) to a maximum of five years. You can study at your own pace within limits, adjusting the intensity of learning to suit your needs. Modules are offered over a 20-week session each academic year.

When you register with us, you will gain access to all resources and study materials via your Student Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), that will equip you to complete each module successfully. You will gain access to a range of multimedia content, activities, and exercises, as well as the opportunity to engage with your module leader and fellow students.   

Online Library   

 As a student at the University of London, you will have access to a range of resources, databases, and journals via the  Online Library . You will be able to contact a team of professional and qualified librarians for any help you require. 

Senate House Library 

If you’re based in the United Kingdom, or are visiting London, make sure to visit  Senate House Library . Students studying with the University of London can join the library free of charge. Membership includes a 10-book borrowing allowance, access to all reading rooms and study areas, and on-site access to Senate House Library digital resources. 

Online academic support

All students receive online module leader support while studying this degree. Module leaders introduce the modules, respond to queries, monitor discussions and provide guidance on assessments.

The following modules are assessed by two assessments: one online multiple choice question test (25 per cent) and an end of term coursework assessment (75 per cent):

• Climate Change and Environmental Hazards

The following modules are assessed by an end of term coursework assessment (100 per cent):

• Biodiversity, Biosecurity and Conservation
• Global Food Systems and Health
• Waste and Pollution
• Water and Energy Resources

The Project module is assessed by one independent research project (100 per cent). All coursework and project items are submitted through the VLE

Academic Leadership Show

Academic direction for the degree is from Birkbeck, University of London, which was founded in 1823 and joined the University of London in 1920.

Over 90 per cent of Birkbeck academics are research-active across of range of disciplines and regularly contribute to public debate and publish in leading academic journals. Academics from Birkbeck’s Geography Department actively participate in research and regularly contribute to public debate and publish in leading academic journals.

Programme Director

Dr Izabela Delabre undertakes research examining the intersection of forest and biodiversity loss, sustainable agriculture and supply chains, with a focus on global-local governance interactions. Other areas of expertise cover the politics of sustainability transformations and the use of technologies and data in environmental management.

Izabela has an MSc in Environmental Management and BSc in Environmental Sciences and a PhD in Human Geography. She has also worked in sustainable business consultancy. She has published articles in a number of academic journals, including Science Advances, Global Sustainability, Sustainability Science, Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space and Society & Natural Resources.

October 2024 intake Show

April 2025 intake Show

Entry requirements Show

What qualifications do you need.

Entry route 1 – Direct Entry

• Applicants will need a bachelor’s degree which is considered at least comparable to a UK second-class honours degree or a postgraduate qualification from an institution acceptable to the University.
• Directly related professional work experience and/or directly related professional qualifications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Entry route 2 – Performance based admissions route

• If applicants do not meet the requirements for Direct Entry, they can apply for the MSc via the Performance Based Admissions (PBA) route.
• To qualify for entrance via the PBA route, applicants will need a bachelor’s degree or Aegrotat (certificate) from an institution acceptable to the University.
• Students on the PBA route may transfer to the MSc on successful completion of one module (30 credits).

Full details of all entry routes are in the Programme Regulations.

If you do not meet the standard requirements, we will consider each application on its own merits. Our Admissions Panel will consider whether any alternative qualifications or work experience you have are suitable for entry to the degree.

Entrance requirements for stand-alone individual modules

• To qualify to register for a stand-alone individual module, applicants will need a bachelor’s degree or Aegrotat (certificate) from an institution acceptable to the University.

English language requirements

You need a high standard of English to study this degree. You will meet our language requirements if you have achieved one of the following within the past three years:

• IELTS: at least 6.5 overall with 6.0 in the written test
• Pearson Test (Academic): at least 59 overall, with 59+ in reading and writing and 54+ in speaking and listening.
• Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English.
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (grade C or above).
• TOEFL iBT: at least 92 overall, with 22+ in reading and writing and 20+ in speaking and listening.
• Duolingo: must achieve an overall score of at least 120.
• If you do not meet the English language proficiency requirements but believe that you can demonstrate the requisite proficiency, the University may, at its discretion, consider your application.

We set minimum basic computer requirements because your study resources are accessed via the Student Portal and it is vital that you can access this regularly.

More about computer requirements

Recognition of prior learning Show

If you have studied material as part of a previous qualification that is comparable in content, level and standard to our Global Environment and Sustainability modules, you may be exempted from the equivalent course of our degree. This is known as  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)  or Exemption. You will not need to study or be assessed in the module(s) to complete your award. 

You may be awarded RPL up to 60 UK credits for the MSc and Postgraduate Diploma . 

You may not apply for RPL for the Final Project or for the Postgraduate Certificate programme. 

To be considered for RPL you should make a formal request within your application when applying for the programme. Or, you can submit an online enquiry , if you have already applied.  

You will need to have met the entrance requirements for the programme to be considered for RPL.  

You must have completed the qualification/ examination(s), on which the application for RPL is based on, within the five years preceding the application. 

We will not recognise or accredit prior learning for a module later than 14 days after the module start date. You will be deemed to have started a module once you have been given access to the learning materials on the VLE. 

Discretionary RPL 

Your qualifications will need to be assessed by specialist academics on a case by case basis , before we can approve RPL. This is known as discretionary RPL. A formal application is required and an RPL application fee is payable. The RPL application fee is non-refundable, even if your prior learning is not recognised.  

Your qualification must be at the appropriate level (usually equivalent to a UK Level 7/ postgraduate degree qualification or above) to be considered.  

For your discretionary RPL request to be processed, you will need to provide : a completed RPL request form, the supporting documentary evidence (normally a scanned copy of an official transcript and syllabus of your previous studies) and the discretionary RPL fee. 

You should apply as soon as possible so that we can process your request. You will need to allow time for academics to consider your documentation, so you can register by the registration deadline. 

All discretionary RPL requests must be submitted by the dates specified for the April or October session, in the year that you apply. We must receive all required supporting evidence by the deadline stated. 

If you submit your discretionary RPL application but are too late to be considered for RPL in the current session, we will still process your application to study the programme. If you receive an offer, you can still register. If you wish to be considered for RPL in a subsequent session, then you shouldn’t register on the modules you want to apply for RPL.  

RPL and Performance based admission  

If you apply or register via the Performance Based Admissions (PBA) route, you may apply for RPL. Any approved RPL will be formally applied to your record once you have been successfully admitted onto the full MSc programme.  

To enter the MSc via the PBA route, you must pass any one module from the MSc programme structure, excluding the Project module. We cannot approve RPL for any module you register on as part of the PBA route. 

You may not register for a module which we have provisionally awarded as RPL unless you withdraw your request for RPL.  

If you do not successfully meet the requirements to progress onto the full MSc programme, any application fees paid for discretionary RPL are non-refundable.  

How to request RPL: 

Additional information about the process of applying for RPL .  

Further information regarding RPL is covered in the Recognition of Prior Learning section of the appropriate   Programme Regulations and Section 3 of the General Regulations .  

Fees, funding and payment

The fees below relate to new students registering for the 2024-2025 session. On average, fees are subject to a five per cent year-on-year increase. 

Students who registered earlier can view their fees on the Course Fees page . 

The fees depend on whether you live in a developing (Band A) or developed (Band B) nation. See the list of Band A and B countries [PDF] .

Disclaimer: Currency conversion tool .

More about programme fees.

*The full MSc degree fee is payable when you first register on the degree and includes access to study materials and your first entry into the assessments. It does not include resit fees, the module fee when repeating a module, applications for Recognition of Prior Learning and fees payable to a University of London Recognised Teaching Centres, if applicable. By paying in full at the beginning of your degree, you avoid any annual fee increases to module fees. With pay per module, you pay for each module as you register for it.

**The indicative totals given represent the amount you would expect to pay if you commence study in October 2024 and then complete the MSc degree in the minimum period of time (as per when modules become available), without resits, and paying per module with a year-on-year increase of 5 per cent. These totals do not reflect the cost of any additional tuition support you may choose to take, resit fees or the fee when repeating a module, or applications for Recognition of Prior Learning.

Please note: student fees shown on our website are net of any local VAT, Goods and Services Tax (GST) or any other sales tax payable by the student in their country of residence. Where the University is required to add VAT, GST or any other sales tax at the local statutory rate, this will be added to the fees shown during the payment process. For students resident in the UK, our fees are exempt from VAT.

Further information on Sales Tax.

Your payment provider may apply additional transaction fees (if in doubt, please check with them before making a payment).

Some fees are non-refundable. Please see the refund and compensation policy for further details.

Funding your study Show

Without the cost of moving to London, studying for your University of London degree anywhere in the world represents excellent value for money. However, there are additional sources of support depending on where you live and how you choose to study.

More on funding your study .

Paying for your course Show

You can pay your fees in a number of ways, including an online payment facility via the Student Portal and Western Union Quick Pay.

More on how to pay your fees

Career opportunities

Careers opportunity show.

The degree provides career development opportunities for a wide range of individuals, including those with practical experience in environmental management and sustainability who are seeking to further develop their theoretical understandings in these topics, as well as those with a more limited knowledge of the subject who wish to develop their understanding and pursue a career in environmental sustainability.

Possible professions include sustainability manager, nature conservation officer, climate policy specialist, or environmental consultant. This degree can also be useful in waste, energy and/or water management and planning roles.

In some countries, qualifications earned by distance and flexible learning may not be recognised by certain authorities or regulators for the purposes of public sector employment or further study. We advise you to explore the local recognition status before you register.

Careers support Show

You’ll have access to a wide range of careers and employability support through the University of London Careers Service, including live webinars and online drop-in sessions.

More on the University of London Careers Service

Tailored support for careers in the refugee and humanitarian fields is available through regular programme events, webinars and careers resources.

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What our students say.

“The programme engages and inspires students of all ages to address the global issues with required knowledge and skills.”

Zhenying Liang

“It has been an exceptionally well structured course. It's absolutely up to date, relevant and essential in today's world.”

Tess Shorthouse

Start dates

• October 2024 - application deadline closes 9 September 2024

Related Content

Birkbeck, university of london.

MSc Public Health

Environmental Research Group Projects

The Environmental Research Group (ERG) at Imperial College London, is a leading provider of air quality information and research in the UK. ERG is led by Professor Frank Kelly.

ERG combines air pollution science, toxicology and epidemiology to determine the impacts of air pollution on health and the causal factors. We work closely with those responsible for air quality management to support policies and actions to minimise air pollution health effects.

Environment and Health

Air pollution impacts substantially on human health, the environment and economies. Billions of us are exposed to outdoor air pollution on a daily basis, and rapid urbanisation is increasing urban air pollution in major cities, especially in developing countries. The Environmental Research Group (ERG) aims to determine the causal factors and impacts of air pollution on health through a combination of air pollution science, toxicology and epidemiology. The group is one of the leading providers of air quality information and research in its field. Scientific evidence from the ERG’s research informs policy makers in the UK and wider world and includes contributions to the WHO Air Quality Guidelines and review of evidence on health aspects of air pollution’ and ‘health risks of air pollution in Europe’ as a part of the European Commission’s review of their air quality legislation. The ERG carries out a comprehensive programme of research across lung biology, measurement, modelling and science policy. The team aims to understand the mechanisms by which air pollution impacts on human health, with a focus on gaseous pollutants such as ozone and nitrogen dioxide, as well as particle matter from air around vehicle exhaust. Effective measurement of air pollution is a key step facilitating assessment of health effects, targeted development of control polices and feedback on their implementation. The ERG’s work on measurement aims to understand the sources of air pollution, to what extent people are exposed, the impact that this has on their heath, providing the public with information to make choices about their exposure. The ERG is one of the UK's leading providers of detailed dispersion modelling assessments, and urban emissions inventories. The work of the ERG helps establish a strong scientific evidence base with which to inform policymakers on a global scale.

Research Projects

Exposure in london, modelling no2 pollution in the uk, modelling pollution in london, satellite air quality modelling, air quality & climate change, understanding the health impacts of air pollution in london, exposomics project, exhale programme, asthma in london, modelling and mobile app development for sarajevo, global project to reduce health inequalities, personalised health impacts, london underground pm 2.5, breathe london: wearables, liverpool health and economic impact, greater manchester health and economic impact, bristol health and economic impact, birmingham health and economic impact, london health burden of current air pollution.

© Imperial College London, Environmental Research Group. All rights reserved 2020.

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31 Best universities for Environmental Science in London, ENG

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in London ranked based on their research performance in Environmental Science. A graph of 12.9M citations received by 425K academic papers made by 31 universities in London was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University College London

For Environmental Science

2. Imperial College London

3. King's College London

4. University of London

5. Queen Mary University of London

6. London School of Economics and Political Science

7. Birkbeck, University of London

8. City, University of London

9. University of Greenwich

10. St George's, University of London

11. Royal Veterinary College University of London

12. Middlesex University

13. SOAS, University of London

14. University of Westminster

15. Goldsmiths, University of London

16. London Business School

17. London South Bank University

18. London Metropolitan University

19. University of East London

20. University of Roehampton

21. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

22. University of the Arts London

23. Royal College of Art

24. School of Advanced Study, University of London

25. Regent's University London

26. Heythrop College

27. Richmond, The American International University in London

28. Royal College of Music

29. Royal Central School of Speech and Drama

30. Royal Academy of Music, University of London

31. Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance

Universities for Environmental Science near London

Environmental Science subfields in London

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• Queen Mary University of London
• Discover Queen Mary

Environmental Science

I chose QMUL as I wanted to be at the forefront of research in the environmental field, and studying environmental science in the capital city has proved to be invaluable. This allowed me to get to know a wide range of students and staff, as well as feeling like I was getting the best teaching in specific areas. — William Flynn, Environmental Science

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Our education priorities

Earth, Climate and Environmental Change

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Thank you for considering an application.

Here's what you need in order to apply:

• Royal Holloway's institution code: R72

Make a note of the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for:

• Earth, Climate and Environmental Change BSc - F764
• Earth, Climate and Environmental Change MSci BSc - F767
• Click on the link below to apply via the UCAS website:

Course options

Key information.

Duration: 3 years full time

UCAS code: F764

Institution code: R72

Campus: Egham

Earth, Climate and Environmental Change MSci

Duration: 4 years full time

UCAS code: F767

Earth, Climate and Environmental Change (BSc)

Through Science and in everyday life we understand that climate change is happening all around us. As our planet continues to warm up and climate patterns change, bringing extreme and unpredictable weather, environments will become hotter, drier or wetter, and the natural resources we rely upon will become increasingly threatened and all life of Earth will be severely impacted.

• BSc Earth, Climate and Environmental Change is a new degree designed to develop a strong scientific understanding of Earth system science and how it has shaped today’s world
• You’ll experience teaching that is research-led, quantitative science based, and underpinned by the world-leading expertise of the academics in the Department of Earth Sciences.
• We offer a broad range of optional courses to allow you to tailor your degree to your own learning interests
• You’ll study a hands-on degree with over 60% of timetabled study time taken up by hands on practical classes and the chance to participate on fieldtrips
• Study in a department consistently ranked among the top 10 in the country and home to an inspiring research culture that informs our teaching

Field trips

Fieldwork is the glue that brings together all aspects of the taught programme in Earth Sciences, as well as providing a chance for staff and students to get to know each other. The fieldwork programme is designed to provide progressive training throughout your degree.

The fieldwork programme includes year 1 trips to Devon, Pembrokeshire, Charnwood Forest, and Oxfordshire and year 3 trips to Southwest England. There is also the opportunity for fieldwork in the third-year project.

• Develop a deep understanding of humanity’s relationship with the planet.
• Teaching underpinned by the world-leading expertise of academic research in the Earth Sciences department

From time to time, we make changes to our courses to improve the student and learning experience. If we make a significant change to your chosen course, we’ll let you know as soon as possible.

Course structure

Core modules.

This module introduces the 4.6 billion-year history of our Evolving Earth and provides you with the skills to interpret that history. The module is subdivided into two complimentary streams that closely integrate. One stream (palaeontology) considers the story of life from its origin to the rise and fall of the dinosaurs, concluding with our own recent human evolution. It focuses on major events in evolution, and introduces you to the key concepts including systematic palaeontology, palaeoecology, palaeobiology, evolution, and taphonomy. The other stream (sedimentology) considers earth surface processes and palaeoenvironments and teaches you how to recognise the changing environments through time using techniques including rock classification, textural analysis, facies analysis and graphic logging, palaeoflow analysis, and stratigraphy. Because life and environments have co-evolved and are co-dependent, palaeontology and sedimentology need to be taught in close parallel, providing you with a powerful synthetic understanding of how our Earth has evolved in the past and continues to change in the future.

With the adoption of the Paris Agreement and the recent COP26, a seismic societal shift towards issues related to sustainability and climate change is taking place globally. The next generation of geoscientists are now required to understand the complex interrelations between human activities and a changing Earth system. With this module, students will explore key themes at the core of human-Earth interaction such as anthropogenic climate change, geohazards, environmental pollution, and sustainable exploitation of energy resources and energy-critical elements.

• Climate, Ocean and Atmosphere

In this module you will develop an understanding of basic concepts in chemistry and physics and how to apply these to geological processes. You will look at atoms and atomic structure, the periodic table of elements, reactions, equations, geochemical analysis, the composition of the earth, interpretation of phase diagrams, solubility of minerals, weathering and the hydrological cycle. You will also consider Newton’s Laws, kinematics, circular motion, planetary orbits, gravity, magnetism, electricity, resistivity, stress, strain, seismicity, isostasy, radioactivity, and geochronology.

In this module you develop an understanding of the skills required to practice geology in the field, carrying out a series of activities in South Devon and Pembrokeshire. You will learn to describe and interpret the origin of sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and how to prepare a geological map and cross-section using standard symbols. You will examine stereographic projections, sedimentary logging, the construction of stratigraphic columns for the identification of rocks, and the analysis of structural features using stereonets.

In this research led module skills in scientific writing, communication and data interpretation will be developed alongside an understanding of current research topics in Earth, Climate and Environmental Change. A series of seminars will be led by experts on a range of research topics in the field of Earth, Climate and Environmental change. From these seminars, you will gain an understanding of cutting edge research and the way in which research projects are planned and carried out. A literature review exercise on one of the research topics from the seminar series will be undertaken with support from tutors.

You will receive training in techniques for literature searching, synthesising a large quantity of literature and reference managing. Data interpretation skills will be developed through a short guided quantitative project.

In this module you will develop an understanding of the hazards associated with geological activity, their causes, and approaches to risk management. You will look at volcanoes, earthquakes, and radon, and the hazards associated with the exploitation of geological resources and associated anthropogenic activity, including asbestos, the mining industry, and contaminated land. You will examine a variety of geological and geochemical data, and learn to interpret and analyse these in order to make scientifically justified decisions as to the level of risk.

In this module you will develop an understanding of advanced chemical concepts relevant to the Earth Sciences. You will focus on isotope geochemistry and consider techniques that are directly applicable in most geological contexts. You will attend practical classes and conduct a small project involving the analysis and interpretation of a real geochemical dataset.

By the end of the module students should: Have gained an appreciation of some aspects of anthropogenic impact on the environment by visiting a range of field sites Understand the principles of environmental sampling, including sampling strategies, sources of error and sample contamination issues Have gained experience of a range of sample preparation methods and how to produce analytical data for a number of different sample types Understand how ICP-AES can be used for environmental analysis and gained practical experience of laboratory techniques Have gained experience of safe laboratory working practices Have developed team working skills, including time management, negotiation, and co-operation Have further developed their data analysis and report writing skills. Be able to plan and undertake an independent field-based environmental project.

The purpose of this module is to embed GIS and programming skills for the creation, analysis and interpretation of geospatial data and coding skills to facilitate data collection, analysis, modelling and interpretation. The module explains the origin of GIS and trains students in the creation of georeferenced point, line and polygon data, combine raster and vector data, and data analysis. It also introduces Python and the use of arrays, reading and writing, branching and repeating, and plotting.

Projects can be field and/or laboratory based, generating new scientific data, or they can be computational, analysing existing data that has not been subject to detailed and critical analysis. Early in term 1 you will submit a project plan to the supervisor and course leader and will receive written feedback on the project plan. Formative feedback will also be provided at the end of term 1 following presentations showing progress made so far. You will be expected to regularly meet with your project supervisor for guidance. At the end of the project you will present the results of your research as a scientific report and as an oral presentation.

This module will provide you with a working knowledge of basic meteorology. The module will begin with atmospheric basics and terminology including didactic sessions and workshops/practicals on solar radiation, thermodynamics, water vapour, stability, clouds and precipitation. It will progress into skill sessions (lectures and practicals) on radar, interpreting satellite maps and weather reports and finish with sessions (lectures and practicals) putting it all together (review and consolidation) for understanding of winds, fronts, air masses and thunderstorms. The module will finish up with lectures and practicals demonstrating how basic meteorological understanding can be applied for career useful consideration of meteorological hazards: tropical and extra tropical cyclones, regional winds boundary layers and pollutant dispersal, numerical weather prediction and atmospheric optics.

This course has two main aims:

1) To introduce you to the evidence for and mechanisms of modern climate change – what climate change is, how the climate change is manifested, what physical mechanisms are driving it, and what its future status might be.

2) Methods of research in multi-disciplinary topics, report writing, and communication of complex ideas for policy makers using Earth Science as a subject matter.

The Earth’s climate has changed across geological time, due to the interaction of a huge array of inter-related climate forcing agents. These changes have been reconstructed using many different lines of chemical, biological and physical proxy data, and mechanistically interrogated using computer simulations (Earth-System models). In this module, you will be taught about the key features of major climatic events in Earth’s history and should gain an appreciation of the typical rates and magnitudes of change that characterise these episodes. A key aim of the module is to demonstrate some of the techniques used for quantitative palaeoclimate reconstruction, and for you to learn the critical evaluation skills needed to interpret these datasets. These skills will be developed through class practical exercises and a summative task that requires the interpretation of a raw palaeoclimate dataset.

The module will cover hazards associated with geological activity, their causes and risk management including topics such as volcanoes and earthquakes, and those associated with anthropogenic activity such as mining and land contamination. Students will work in small groups to investigate geohazards pertinent to a city of their choice, bringing together all aspects of the course including physical, chemical and anthropogenic hazards. Formative assessments draw together a variety of geological, numerical and geochemical data that require analysis and interpretation of these data.

Under the guidance of a departmental supervisor the student will design and execute an independent research project. The project may utilise data collected in the field, laboratory, and/or scientific literature. Data handling using statistical or GIS techniques must be integrated into the project. Departmental facilities are available for use by students either in supplementing data already acquired or in producing their main database. BSc Geology and MSci Geoscience projects must be based on a minimum of 21 days of mapping, either through field observations or digitally using remote sensing and other data as appropriate (which need not be terrestrial). Projects based on field observations will be supporting by at least one day of guidance in the field by a departmental supervisor. Students on other departmental degree courses must complete a project in a topic appropriate to their degree. Guidance on data analysis and presentation will be provided in timetabled classes following the data collection stage. All students submit a written report, with other material as required, in a style appropriate to their topic (e.g. consultancy report, scientific paper) and give an oral presentation at the end of their project.

Optional Modules

There are a number of optional course modules available during your degree studies. The following is a selection of optional course modules that are likely to be available. Please note that although the College will keep changes to a minimum, new modules may be offered or existing modules may be withdrawn, for example, in response to a change in staff. Applicants will be informed if any significant changes need to be made.

• All modules are core

In this module you will develop an understanding of the key events in the history of life and their environmental impact using the fossil and sedimentary record. You will analyse fossil assemblages using stratigraphic principles such as absolute dating, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy. You will consider how to interpret sedimentary rocks, and examine the importance of fossil assemblages in the interpretation of events in earth history.

In this module you will develop an understanding of the theory and practice of seismic, gravity, magnetic and resistivity surveying. You will consider the methods used to manipulate, analyse, and display geophysical data to solve geological exploration problems, and examine the strengths and weaknesses of the different data types.

The module will introduce you to the principles of deep and shallow geothermal energy and its current and potential use for producing electricity and space heating (and, for heat pumps, also space cooling). Geothermal energy is the close to other geological topics such as hydrogeology, volcanology, and hydrocarbon reservoirs. The module will underline the ideal combination between geothermal energy (steady source – always there) and other but non-steady renewable sources (solar, wind and wave energy). The module will provide clear and detailed overviews on the main geothermal energy sources, namely (1) shallow geothermy (heat pumps), (2) hot-dry-rock (enhanced geothermal systems), and (3) natural geothermal (hydrothermal) systems, both in sedimentary basins and in active volcanic areas. Highly successful projects (most shallow geothermy and natural systems project) and the less successful (many hot-dry-rock projects) will be analysed to learn from them. The focus is on quantitative methods for understanding and using geothermal systems, including the basic physical principles that control the formation and maintenance of such systems, petrophysical principles, thermal principles, and using large datasets to assess the potential of geothermal systems in different geological environments. The module also covers the environmental, political/social, and economic aspects of the exploration and use of geothermal energy. The module aims to provide the students with knowledge and skills for analysing and exploring geothermal energy, both shallow and deep, in the UK and worldwide.

• Introductory Palaeobiology
• Hydrogeology
• Environmental Biogeochemistry

The aim of the course is to provide students with practical and analytical skills in Geochemistry and provide a geochemical stream throughout the degree programme. The focus of the course is on practical skills. Practical analytical skills are highly sought after in industrial and academic geological research and will allow future non-practitioners to understand the constraints of modern Geochemical analysis. The course will be run in two streams: The first stream will be weekly one hour lectures/workshops which will concentrate on the theory of analysis of air, water and solid samples for isotopic ratios, uncertainty propagation, advanced isotopic techniques and weathering. The second stream will be weekly three-hour practicals in the departmental research laboratories. Practicals will be designed to collect and analyse air, water and solid samples, prepare the samples for analysis, run on the relevant machine, reduce the data and interpret the data with uncertainty and then write up as a report for one formative and two summative pieces of assessment.

• Planetary Geology and Geophysics
• Solar, Wind and Marine Energy

The module will introduce you to the Geoscience (and wider background) needed to understand the exploitation of the subsurface for the storage of carbon dioxide (to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) and the storage of renewable energy (e.g. compressed air storage within salt). These new uses of the subsurface are expected to become significant businesses through the 2020s (in response to the Paris Climate Agreement), and the Petroleum Industry has the necessary skills, knowledge and resources to develop these. Consequently, many of our future graduates will likely find significant career opportunities in these new areas rather than in traditional hydrocarbon extraction. The module introduction will cover the environmental, economic, political and social background so that you understand the business model that will enable this new industry (specifically the how and why of carbon pricing). You will then investigate the geophysical methods required to evaluate potential subsurface structures. You will also look at the science behind subsurface utilization (e.g. issues such as what structures and sediments are needed and how these are similar to, or different from, the structures and sediments that form hydrocarbon reservoirs). In summary, the module aim is to produce graduates who can explore and exploit sedimentary basins in all the ways they are likely to be important during the 21st century.

Teaching & assessment

Classroom teaching methods are highly diverse including lectures, practicals, tutorials, fieldtrips, and other learning modes. Students will typically spend 75% of each module (90 of 120 hrs) engaged on independent tasks; however, this will vary, module-to-module, to reflect the diverse fields being synthesised, and diverse subject-specific approaches to teaching, with practical lab-based or field-based modules having higher level of classroom time.

Students on this course will benefit from pastoral support from a personal tutor. 

A combination of assessment methods will be used (exam, projects, coursework, moodle quizzes, presentations and team exercises)  and innovative assessment modes will be encouraged as new modules are developed for this course.

Entry requirements

A levels: abb-bbb.

Required subjects:

• A-level in at least one science-based subject such as Mathematics, Physics, Geology, Chemistry, Geography or Biology.
• At least five GCSEs at grade A*-C or 9-4 including English and Mathematics.

Where an applicant is taking the EPQ alongside A-levels, the EPQ will be taken into consideration and result in lower A-level grades being required. For students who are from backgrounds or personal circumstances that mean they are generally less likely to go to university, you may be eligible for an alternative lower offer. Follow the link to learn more about our  contextual offers.

We accept T-levels for admission to our undergraduate courses, with the following grades regarded as equivalent to our standard A-level requirements:

• AAA* – Distinction (A* on the core and distinction in the occupational specialism)
• AAA – Distinction
• BBB – Merit
• CCC – Pass (C or above on the core)
• DDD – Pass (D or E on the core)

Where a course specifies subject-specific requirements at A-level, T-level applicants are likely to be asked to offer this A-level alongside their T-level studies.

English language requirements

All teaching at Royal Holloway is in English. You will therefore need to have good enough written and spoken English to cope with your studies right from the start.

The scores we require

• IELTS: 6.5 overall. No subscore lower than 5.5.
• Pearson Test of English: 61 overall. Writing 54. No subscore lower than 51.
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English (ISE): ISE III.
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) grade C.

Country-specific requirements

For more information about country-specific entry requirements for your country please visit here .

Undergraduate preparation programme

For international students who do not meet the direct entry requirements, for this undergraduate degree, the Royal Holloway International Study Centre offers an International Foundation Year programme designed to develop your academic and English language skills.

Upon successful completion, you can progress to this degree at Royal Holloway, University of London.

You will graduate equipped with the specialist knowledge and practical skills to tackle the scientific challenges of a rapidly changing world, ideally prepared for a scientific or technical career in your chosen field.

Graduate destinations include postgraduate research, climate and environmental consultancy, analytical careers, Government/civil service, remote sensing agencies and regulatory bodies. Climate service companies, mining, extractive, and energy industries employ a large number of Earth Scientists to handle their environmental/climate obligations.

The majority of our graduates are working in geological careers, addressing global problems like climate change and waste disposal, or have a role in global exploration for the raw materials we need – water, minerals, oil and gas. Many others go on to study for a PhD degree and become a research scientist.

Fees, funding & scholarships

Home (UK) students tuition fee per year*: £9,250

EU and international students tuition fee per year**: £25,200

Other essential costs***: There are no single associated costs greater than £50 per item on this course.

How do I pay for it? Find out more about  funding options , including  loans , scholarships and bursaries . UK students who have already taken out a tuition fee loan for undergraduate study should  check their eligibility  for additional funding directly with the relevant awards body.

**The tuition fee for UK undergraduates is controlled by Government regulations. The fee for the academic year 2024/25 is £9,250 and is provided here as a guide. The fee for UK undergraduates starting in 2025/26 has not yet been set, but will be advertised here once confirmed.

**This figure is the fee for EU and international students starting a degree in the academic year 2024/25, and is included as a guide only. The fee for EU and international students starting a degree in 2025/26 has not yet been set, but will be advertised here once confirmed.

Royal Holloway reserves the right to increase tuition fees annually for overseas fee-paying students. Please be aware that tuition fees can rise during your degree. The upper limit of any such annual rise has not yet been set for courses starting in 2025/26 but will be advertised here once confirmed.  For further information see  fees and funding  and the  terms and conditions .

***These estimated costs relate to studying this specific degree at Royal Holloway during the 2024/25 academic year, and are included as a guide. General costs, such as accommodation, food, books and other learning materials and printing etc., have not been included.

Earth Sciences Undergraduate Admissions

Admissions office: +44 (0)1784 414944

Source: The Complete University Guide, 2024

Source: Guardian University Guide, 2024

Source: REF 2021

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Course type

Qualification, university name, masters environmental studies in london.

34 degrees at 16 universities in London.

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• Masters Environmental Studies
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• Masters Environmental Management
• Masters Environmental Planning
• Masters Environmental Policy
• Masters Environmental Protection and Conservation
• Masters Environmental Science
• Masters Forensic Science
• Masters General Environmental Health
• Masters Marine and Coastal Conservation and Protection
• Masters Police Services
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• Masters Security Management
• Masters Security Services
• Masters Security, Police and the Armed Forces
• Masters Sustainability

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Environmental and Architectural Acoustics MSc - 16 months

London south bank university.

Our professionally focused degree gives you direct experience of modern measurement equipment and techniques. We've been offering courses Read more...

• 16 months Full time degree: £11,000 per year (UK)

Environmental Health MSc

Middlesex university.

Environmental health is the branch of public health concerned with how our living, working and leisure environments affect our health. Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £10,500 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £5,250 per year (UK)

NLUD-SOAS Joint MA in Environmental Justice in South Asia

Soas university of london.

The MA Environmental Justice in South Asia is an innovative 1-year course located in the Global North and the Global South to explore Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £12,354 per year (UK)

Past Climate and Environmental Change MSc

Royal holloway, university of london.

Study Past Climate and Environmental Change (formerly know as MSc Quaternary Science) at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £10,600 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £5,300 per year (UK)

Environment and Sustainability MSc

Birkbeck, university of london.

This postgraduate course on environment and sustainability provides an advanced-level grounding in sustainable responses to a broad range Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £11,400 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time evening degree: £5,700 per year (UK)

Environmental Sciences MRes

Brunel university london.

What is the impact of deforestation Are everyday chemicals passing into our rivers How can science help us to understand the effects of Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £12,650 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £6,325 per year (UK)

Environmental Archaeology MSc

Ucl (university college london).

This MSc provides participants with a theoretical understanding of research questions and methodologies in the study of past Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £15,100 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £7,550 per year (UK)

Water and Environmental Management MSc

Queen mary university of london.

Programme This programme provides fundamental and applied training in environmental science and environmental management, with a focus on Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £11,950 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time degree: £6,000 per year (UK)

Environmental, Sustainable and Regeneration Design - MA

London metropolitan university.

Our Environmental, Sustainable and Regeneration Design MA degree will prepare you for employment in this exciting and expanding field of Read more...

• 2 years Part time degree: £5,265 per year (UK)

NLUD-SOAS Joint LLM in Environmental Justice in South Asia

The LLM Environmental Justice in South Asia is an innovative 1-year course located in the Global North and the Global South to explore Read more...

Environmental Management MRes

Carbon dioxide levels are at a record high. Plastics have impacted species throughout the food chain and have even been found trapped in Read more...

MSc Environmental Anthropology

Anthropology, Environment and Development MSc The MSc in Anthropology, Environment and Development integrates natural and social science Read more...

MSc Environment, Politics and Development

This programme takes a critical political ecology frame and examines environmental policy and its intersections with development from a Read more...

• 1 year Full time degree: £12,220 per year (UK)
• 2 years Part time day degree: £6,110 per year (UK)

Environmental Management (15 Months) MSc

How does human activity affect our planet How can these effects be managed This course develops your understanding of environmental Read more...

• 15 months Full time degree: £12,650 per year (UK)

Environmental Modelling MSc

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Built Environment: Environmental Design and Engineering MSc

There is an urgent need for more efficient, sustainable buildings. UCL’s Environmental Design and Engineering MSc develops new generations Read more...

• 5 years Customised degree
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• 2 years Part time degree: £9,650 per year (UK)

Environment and Sustainable Development MSc

This programme examines development planning in the context of environmental concerns in urban areas of the Global South. It challenges Read more...

Environmental Design and Engineering MPhil/PhD

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• 5 years Part time degree: £3,015 per year (UK)

Environmental Systems Engineering MSc

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Research Methods for Environmental Studies

DOI link for Research Methods for Environmental Studies

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The methodological needs of environmental studies are unique in the breadth of research questions that can be posed, calling for a textbook that covers a broad swath of approaches to conducting research with potentially many different kinds of evidence.

Fully updated to address new developments such as the effects of the internet, recent trends in the use of computers, remote sensing, and large data sets, this new edition of Research Methods for Environmental Studies is written specifically for social science-based research into the environment. This revised edition contains new chapters on coding, focus groups, and an extended treatment of hypothesis testing. The textbook covers the best-practice research methods most used to study the environment and its connections to societal and economic activities and objectives. Over five key parts, Kanazawa introduces quantitative and qualitative approaches, mixed methods, and the special requirements of interdisciplinary research, emphasizing that methodological practice should be tailored to the specific needs of the project. Within these parts, detailed coverage is provided on key topics including the identification of a research project, hypothesis testing, spatial analysis, the case study method, ethnographic approaches, discourse analysis, mixed methods, survey and interview techniques, focus groups, and ethical issues in environmental research.

Drawing on a variety of extended and updated examples to encourage problem-based learning and fully addressing the challenges associated with interdisciplinary investigation, this book will be an essential resource for students embarking on courses exploring research methods in environmental studies.

Research Methods for Environmental Studies A Social Science Approach

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Description

The methodological needs of environmental studies are unique in the breadth of research questions that can be posed, calling for a textbook that covers a broad swath of approaches to conducting research with potentially many different kinds of evidence. Fully updated to address new developments such as the effects of the internet, recent trends in the use of computers, remote sensing, and large data sets, this new edition of Research Methods for Environmental Studies is written specifically for social science-based research into the environment. This revised edition contains new chapters on coding, focus groups, and an extended treatment of hypothesis testing. The textbook covers the best-practice research methods most used to study the environment and its connections to societal and economic activities and objectives. Over five key parts, Kanazawa introduces quantitative and qualitative approaches, mixed methods, and the special requirements of interdisciplinary research, emphasizing that methodological practice should be tailored to the specific needs of the project. Within these parts, detailed coverage is provided on key topics including the identification of a research project, hypothesis testing, spatial analysis, the case study method, ethnographic approaches, discourse analysis, mixed methods, survey and interview techniques, focus groups, and ethical issues in environmental research. Drawing on a variety of extended and updated examples to encourage problem-based learning and fully addressing the challenges associated with interdisciplinary investigation, this book will be an essential resource for students embarking on courses exploring research methods in environmental studies.

Table of Contents

Mark Kanazawa is the Wadsworth A. Williams Professor of Economics at Carleton College, where he has served as both Chair of the Economics Department and Director of Environmental Studies. He regularly teaches courses in environmental economics, econometrics, and research methods for environmental studies. He has also authored two other books: Natural Resources and the Environment (2021) and Golden Rules (2015).

Critics' Reviews

“Using the first edition in Methods class for my bachelor students at Arctic Adventure Tourism, I have been curious about where to go next with this book. Professor Kanazawa let undergraduate students realise that there are many different questions to be answered in relation to the environmental studies. The more interdisciplinarity we can include in our research projects, the more we learn from doing research together. To be able to understand each other, coming from different disciplines, we need to have a broad understanding of the variety of methods available to study the environmental issues related to social science. Research Methods for Environmental Studies: A Social Science Approach provides us with the perfect first steps in many different careers in the field. This second edition has been extended to describe even more methods, and to an even better extent, describe more clearly some of the basic issues of a very complex field of research.” Ellen-Johanne Kvalsvik , PhD Fellow, Nature-Based Tourism “This book fills a critical need: It introduces students of environmental studies to the broad array of social science methods used in this diverse, interdisciplinary field while showcasing classic and cutting-edge environmental research. Written in a clear, engaging style, it brings coherence to its subject by explaining how each method generates reliable knowledge and when to use which method. The new edition expands its discussion of qualitative research, including a new chapter on focus groups; addresses advances in computer processing, remote sensing, and machine learning; and foregrounds the treatment of research ethics. This is a valuable resource for anyone guiding students through the research process.” Kimberly Smith , Curriculum Coordinator/Lecturer, The University of Michigan, Program in the Environment “This book illustrates convincingly the value of taking an interdisciplinary approach when studying environmental issues through a social science lens. It is thoroughly researched, couched in accessible language and examines key environmental issues insightfully. The emphasis in the book on the need to undertake research on the environment in an ethical way is timely, as well as important. Empirical evidence is presented engagingly and the book provides a useful practical toolkit to assist researchers in undertaking effective environmental research.” Dr Mark McQuinn , SOAS, University of London, UK

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Global trends in climate change litigation: 2024 snapshot

This report provides a numerical analysis of how many climate change litigation cases were filed in 2023, where and by whom, and a qualitative assessment of trends and themes in the types of cases filed. It is the sixth report in the series, produced by the Grantham Research Institute in partnership with the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and drawing on the Sabin Center’s Climate Change Litigation Databases . Each report provides a synthesis of the latest research and developments in the climate change litigation field.

Key messages

• At least 230 new climate cases were filed in 2023. Many of these are seeking to hold governments and companies accountable for climate action. However, the number of cases expanded less rapidly last year than previously, which may suggest a consolidation and concentration of strategic litigation efforts in areas anticipated to have high impact.
• Climate cases have continued to spread to new countries, with cases filed for the first time in Panama and Portugal in 2023.
• 2023 was an important year for international climate change litigation, with major international courts and tribunals being asked to rule and advise on climate change. Just 5% of climate cases have been brought before international courts, but many of these cases have significant potential to influence domestic proceedings.
• There were significant successes in ‘government framework’ cases in 2023; these challenge the ambition or implementation of a government’s overall climate policy response. The European Court of Human Rights’ decision in April 2024 in the case of KlimaSeniorinnen and ors. v. Switzerland is likely to lead to the filing of further cases.
• The number of cases concerning ‘climate-washing’ has grown in recent years. 47 such cases were filed in 2023, bringing the recorded total to more than 140. These cases have met with significant success, with more than 70% of completed cases decided in favour of the claimants.
• There were important developments in ‘polluter pays’ cases: more than 30 cases worldwide are currently seeking to hold companies accountable for climate-related harm allegedly caused by their contributions to greenhouse gas emissions.
• Litigants continue to file new ‘corporate framework’ cases, which seek to ensure companies align their group-level policies and governance processes with climate goals. The New Zealand Supreme Court allowed one such case to proceed, although cases filed elsewhere have been dismissed. The landmark case of Milieudefensie v. Shell is under appeal.
• In this year’s analysis a new category of ‘transition risk’ cases was introduced, which includes cases filed against corporate directors and officers for their management of climate risks. Shareholders of Enea approved a decision to bring such a case against former directors for planned investments in a new coal power plant in Poland.
• ESG backlash cases, which challenge the incorporation of climate risk into financial decision-making.
• Strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP) suits against NGOs and shareholder activists that seek to deter them from pursuing climate agendas.
• Just transition cases, which challenge the distributional impacts of climate policy or the processes by which policies were developed, normally on human rights grounds.
• Green v. green cases, which concern potential trade-offs between climate and biodiversity or other environmental aims.

Recent previous reports in the series:

2023 snapshot

2022 snapshot

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Some landfill ‘burps’ contain airborne PFAS, study finds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Landfill Gas: A Major Pathway for Neutral Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Release” Environmental Science & Technology Letters

Many municipal landfills “burp” gas from decomposing organic matter rather than letting it build up. And burps from buried waste containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can release these “forever chemicals” into the air, say researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Their study reports unexpectedly high levels of airborne PFAS at three landfills and demonstrates that vented gases and liquid by-products called leachates could transport similar amounts of these contaminants to the environment. 

Many municipal landfills “burp” gas from decomposing organic matter rather than letting it build up. And burps from buried waste containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can release these “forever chemicals” into the air, say researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology Letters. Their study reports unexpectedly high levels of airborne PFAS at three landfills and demonstrates that vented gases and liquid by-products called leachates could transport similar amounts of these contaminants to the environment.

Some consumer products and commercial waste, such as children’s clothing , cosmetics and wastewater treatment sludge solids , contain PFAS — and they ultimately end up in landfills. Timothy Townsend and colleagues previously established that PFAS-containing waste can contaminate the water that seeps through landfills. This leachate is usually captured and treated before entering the environment. Landfills also produce gas that can be captured and controlled, but unlike leachate, it’s often released untreated. The burped gas is mostly made up of methane and carbon dioxide; however, two recent studies also discovered a subset of airborne PFAS called fluorotelomer alcohols, which have the potential to be toxic when inhaled and can be transported long distances. Since the prevalence of PFAS-contaminated landfill vapors isn’t yet widely known, Townsend, Ashley Lin and their team wanted to identify and measure them in vented gas at three sites in Florida.

The researchers pumped landfill gas from pipes through cartridges filled with resin that captured the airborne PFAS. They freed the compounds from the cartridges with organic solvents and analyzed the extracts for 27 neutrally charged PFAS, including fluorotelomer alcohols. Surprisingly, some of the fluorotelomer alcohol levels were up to two orders of magnitude higher than previous studies at other landfills. Three of these alcohols (abbreviated 6:2, 8:2 and 10:2) comprised most of the vaporized contaminants measured at each site. The researchers also collected leachate samples at the Florida sites and analyzed them for ionic PFAS commonly found in water samples. From this data, they estimated that the annual amount of fluorine (as a proxy for PFAS content) leaving the landfills through gas emissions could be similar to, or even greater than, the amount leaving through leachates.

Because landfills are repositories for PFAS, this work indicates that vented gas from these sites should be considered in future mitigation and management strategies to reduce potential inhalation exposure and release to the environment. Some landfills burn the vapors or trap them for energy production, and the team suggests that further research is needed to determine the degree of removal these treatments provide for airborne contaminants.

The authors acknowledge funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Science to Achieve Results grant program.

The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. The Society is a global leader in promoting excellence in science education and providing access to chemistry-related information and research through its multiple research solutions, peer-reviewed journals, scientific conferences, eBooks and weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News . ACS journals are among the most cited, most trusted and most read within the scientific literature; however, ACS itself does not conduct chemical research. As a leader in scientific information solutions, its CAS division partners with global innovators to accelerate breakthroughs by curating, connecting and analyzing the world’s scientific knowledge. ACS’ main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

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Environmental Group to Study Effects of Artificially Cooling Earth

The Environmental Defense Fund, entering controversial territory, will spend millions of dollars examining the impact of reflecting sunlight into space as global warming worsens.

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By Christopher Flavelle

The Environmental Defense Fund will finance research into technologies that could artificially cool the planet, an idea that until recently was viewed as radical but is quickly gaining attention as global temperatures rise at alarming rates.

The group hopes to start issuing grants this fall, said Lisa Dilling, associate chief scientist at E.D.F., who is running the project. She said research would focus on estimating the likely effects in different parts of the world if governments were to deploy artificial cooling technologies.

The intent is to help inform policymakers, she said. “We are not in favor, period, of deployment. That’s not our goal here,” Dr. Dilling said. “Our goal is information, and solid, well-formulated science.”

The Environmental Defense Fund has previously expressed skepticism about techniques like these. But Dr. Dilling says the discussion about ways to cool the planet isn’t going away, regardless of opposition. “This is something that I don’t think we can just ignore,” she said.

The group will fund what is sometimes called solar radiation modification, or solar geoengineering, which involves reflecting more of the sun’s energy back into space. Possible techniques involve injecting aerosols into the stratosphere, or brightening clouds to make them more reflective.

Researchers believe such actions could temporarily reduce global temperatures, until society reduces greenhouse gas emissions by burning far less fossil fuel.

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June 2024 Wellness Walk

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Science & Technology

Uncovering the drivers of a million-year-old glacial transition

Driving a climate model forward and backward in time, mann research group scientists found strong path dependence in the evolution of plio-pleistocene glaciations..

The climate modeling community has been particularly vexed by the glacial/interglacial cycles of the past three million years, when the Northern Hemisphere oscillated between times with and without large ice sheets.

From about 1.25 million to 750,000 years ago—in the Pleistocene epoch—a change in glacial cycles called the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (MPT) occurred. During this time, glacial/interglacial cycles shifted from occurring every 41,000 years to every 100,000 years, with an increase in the amplitude and asymmetry of the cycles. Scientists are working to understand why these changes happened, considering that insolation forcing—variation in energy that Earth receives from the sun—does not on its own explain the change.

Now, scientists from the Mann Research Group in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research have found strong path dependence, also known as hysteresis behavior, in the evolution of Plio-Pleistocene glaciations. This means the evolution of glaciations isn’t only a function of factors such as carbon dioxide levels and solar output, but also that it is constrained by previous events.  

They show that a gradual decrease in both regolith—sediment that prevents the growth of large ice sheets—and in volcanic outgassing, when eruptions release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, are required to produce the MPT. Their findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .

“What we have seen in this study is that with the same amount of volcanic outgassing, the model calculates different concentrations of atmospheric CO2. This indicates that the carbon cycle does not behave linearly and depends on its initial state,” says first author Judit Carrillo , a postdoctoral fellow in the Mann Research Group.

Climate scientist Michael E. Mann says these results indicate it’s not too late to act to keep present-day ice sheets from collapsing.

The researchers explain that the model determines where the carbon dioxide that is outgassed by volcanoes goes. This could help scientists better predict the impact of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, says Carrillo.

This research used the CLIMBER-2 Earth system model of intermediate complexity, which includes atmosphere, ocean, ice sheet, and carbon cycle components. Mann explains that this model allows researchers to do simulations of millions of years, which wouldn’t be possible with the most complex and detailed models. Matteo Willeit of the Potsdam Institute, a co-author on the paper, led a 2019 study using this model to reproduce the main features of the Plio-Pleistocene glacial/interglacial cycles.

In the new study, the researchers built on the 2019 paper by driving the model forward and backward in time over the past three million years, testing different regolith configurations to assess their impact on the MPT. The results suggest that depleted regolith and lowered CO2 levels are required to produce the 100,000-year, sawtooth-shaped cycle, but that carbon dioxide determines the onset of the MPT more fundamentally than the rate of regolith depletion.

“We find that this evolution is path dependent and, to be specific, not reversible in time,” the authors conclude. “In experiments beginning with modern preindustrial conditions and driving the model back in time with time-reversed Earth orbital and tectonic forcing, the warm, relatively ice-free conditions of the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene are not reproduced.”

Mann adds that this finding potentially has broader implications. “The fact that ice sheet extent depends not just on carbon dioxide concentrations by the direction in time, i.e. whether the climate is in a cooling or warming phase, provides a little bit of good news,” he says. “Even though ice sheet extent was greatly diminished, and sea level substantially higher the last time carbon dioxide levels were as high as they are today several million years ago, the collapse of ice sheets is probably not yet locked in. We’ve got a bit of a cushion if we can bring carbon emissions down dramatically and quickly.”

The researchers caution that because the simulations are based on a single model, and because long-term simulations of glacial/interglacial cycles are still in their infancy, their results are not a definitive characterization of climate system behavior but “should be thought of as providing evidence of dynamical behavior that is worthy of further investigation through multiple modeling frameworks.” They note that a worthwhile next step from this work would be extending simulations further back in time, into the Miocene, when carbon dioxide levels were even higher.

Carrillo says the Mann Research Group is currently working to better understand how the carbon cycle works and why hysteresis behavior occurs and is working with a new version of CLIMBER that has higher spatial resolution to better analyze the Greenland ice sheet.

Judit Carrillo is a postdoctoral researcher in the Mann Research Group in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania .

Michael E. Mann is the Presidential Distinguished Professor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science in the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and director of the Penn Center for Science, Sustainability and the Media.

The other co-authors were Penn’s Christopher J. Larson , Shannon Christiansen , Xueke Li , and Jack G. Murphy and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research ’s Matteo Willeit and Audrey Ganapolski .

This work was supported by the School of Arts & Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania and the German climate modeling project PalMod supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research as a Research for Sustainability initiative (grants 01LP1920B, 01LP1917D, and 01LP2305B.)

To Penn’s Class of 2024: ‘The world needs you’

Campus & Community

Class of 2025 relishes time together at Hey Day

An iconic tradition at Penn, third-year students were promoted to senior status.

Arts, Humanities, & Social Sciences

Picturing artistic pursuits

Hundreds of undergraduates take classes in the fine arts each semester, among them painting and drawing, ceramics and sculpture, printmaking and animation, photography and videography. The courses, through the School of Arts & Sciences and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design, give students the opportunity to immerse themselves in an art form in a collaborative way.

Penn celebrates operation and benefits of largest solar power project in Pennsylvania

Solar production has begun at the Great Cove I and II facilities in central Pennsylvania, the equivalent of powering 70% of the electricity demand from Penn’s academic campus and health system in the Philadelphia area.

Education, Business, & Law

Investing in future teachers and educational leaders

The Empowerment Through Education Scholarship Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education is helping to prepare and retain teachers and educational leaders.

Imperial College London Imperial College London

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Sleep evolution enigma and student becomes CEO for a day: News from Imperial

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Fellowship to support venture capital experts in life science and deep tech

• Undaunted: tackling climate change with innovation
• Research groups

MSc Cleantech Innovation

Become a  C leantech pioneer  through collaboration with designers,  engineers  and scientists .   

The MSc Cleantech Innovation programme is designed to provide aspiring climate entrepreneurs with the skills and knowledge necessary to create revolutionary cleantech innovation. 

You will develop a deep understanding of the technical aspects of climate change challenges and formulate your own solutions to these within the cleantech themes of energy, materials, manufacturing, water, transport and food.

The MSc Cleantech Innovation is jointly delivered through the  Dyson School of Design Engineering and the  Grantham Institute – Climate Change and the Environment . You will also interact through  Undaunted , the Grantham Institute's innovative initiative, including completing a residency project with the Greenhouse accelerator programme startups.

You will have the opportunity to meet and learn from expert innovators across the cleantech spectrum. Develop new skills as designer, innovator and problem solver to create your own technology and get ready to launch it into the world, delivering real change. You will work with collaborators, inside and outside Imperial, to help make your cleantech solutions a reality!

The course includes individual and group components, across a variety of modes including videos, written work, invention, prototyping and business planning.

 Programme Structure

Discover your potential with our MSc Cleantech Innovation programme, meticulously crafted for those eager to excel in the world of sustainability. By immersing yourself in the course, you'll acquire the skills to innovate, lead, and contribute significantly to the cleantech industry. This experience opens doors to impactful roles in deeptech venture funds or positions in impact investment.you can collaborate with your MSc Cleantech Innovation team to launch startups or specialize in consulting, enabling you to design strategies for measuring the profound impact of cleantech innovations

Applications 

To Apply to MSc Cleantech Innovation, please follow the links on Imperial’s postgraduate prospectus . Follow the outlined instructions, complete the online application form, and submit all required documents by the specified deadline to be considered for admission.

Applications are welcomed from any qualifying graduate or significantly experienced professional interested in how innovation and design can improve the lives of people, society and the economy at leadership level in international contexts.

Eligibility Criteria

The minimum entry requirement is a 2.1 UK Honours degree (or equivalent) in a Science, Technology or Engineering discipline (or a comparable qualification recognised by the College). Applications from the areas of Design Engineering, Architecture and Industrial Design are encouraged. 

Candidates, who don’t hold a degree in a Science, Technology or Engineering discipline, but hold a 2.1 UK Honours degree in other disciplines and fulfil one or more of the following: 

• a genuine passion for sustainability and engineering that extends beyond academic study and is evidenced through a variety of extracurricular, impactful projects
• demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities in a start-up or corporate environment
• have an evidenced track record of producing innovation
• display excellency through esteemed awards in any of the following areas: design engineering, engineering, chemistry, chemical engineering, environmental studies, design, sustainability and science, climate science are invited to apply and may be considered for an interview.

The additional entry requirement criteria will be evaluated through evidence, such as a portfolio of (successful) projects, and professional review/recommendation letters from specific references, e.g. reputable employers, RAE, NGOs, national or international competitions, or other recognised institutions, patents. 

All candidates must demonstrate a minimum level of English language proficiency for admission to the College. For details, please see the  English language requirements  for postgraduate applicants.

Meet the Cleantech Innovation team

Meet the MSc Cleantech team and faculty,  a dynamic team of experts dedicated to cultivating innovative minds and guiding you through the latest advancements in sustainable technologies.

Alyssa Gilbert

Director UNDAUNTED, Grantham Institute, Climate Change for Cleantech

Anne Houston

Director of Training, Grantham Institute, Greenhouse Residency

Dr Elena Dieckmann

Lecturer, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Cleantech Innovation Project 1 & 3

Dr Kamyar Hazeri

Teaching Fellow, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Design Eng.Tools for Cleantech Entrepreneurs

Dr Reshma Rao

Lecturer (RAeng Research Fellow), Department of Materials, Cleantech Innovation Project

Dr Shayan Sharifi

Director of Education, Dyson School of Design Engineering, Cleantech Innovation Project 3

Gbemi Oluleye

Lecturer, Centre for Environmental Policy & Grantham Institute, LCA & Social Impact for Cleantech Innovation

Director of the Greenhouse, UNDAUNTED, Grantham Institute, Cleantech Innovation Project Part 2, Greenhouse Residency

Naomi Egbon

Naomi Egbon, Postgraduate Taught Admin, Dyson School of Design Engineering

Prof. Anna Korre

Professor of Environmental Engineering, Department of Earth Science & Engineering, LCA & Social Impact for Cleantech Innovations

Sanjana Kakar

Marketing, Dyson School of Design Engineering

I am delighted to see Imperial responding to the global environmental challenges we see around us by spearheading a solutions-oriented approach to one our most intractable global challenges. Through my role as Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise, I know that we have the potential to bring together the best of scientific expertise, with practical, pragmatic and beautiful design engineering. This course should offer students access to experts across faculties, as well as real-world innovation experience in the world of cleantech. We look forward to welcoming our first cohort of students" Mary Ryan Vice-Provost (Research and Enterprise)

Environmental Anthropology MSc

London, Bloomsbury

The MSc in Environmental Anthropology integrates natural and social science approaches to address issues of sustainability and resilience in the Anthropocene. It serves as a foundation for higher level research and professional work, offering a rare opportunity to learn in an interdisciplinary setting with staff who collaborate with outside organisations while also pursuing independent research.

UK tuition fees (2024/25)

Overseas tuition fees (2024/25), programme starts, applications accepted.

Applications closed

Applications open

• Entry requirements

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.

The English language level for this programme is: Level 4

UCL Pre-Master's and Pre-sessional English courses are for international students who are aiming to study for a postgraduate degree at UCL. The courses will develop your academic English and academic skills required to succeed at postgraduate level.

Further information can be found on our English language requirements page.

Equivalent qualifications

Country-specific information, including details of when UCL representatives are visiting your part of the world, can be obtained from the International Students website .

International applicants can find out the equivalent qualification for their country by selecting from the list below. Please note that the equivalency will correspond to the broad UK degree classification stated on this page (e.g. upper second-class). Where a specific overall percentage is required in the UK qualification, the international equivalency will be higher than that stated below. Please contact Graduate Admissions should you require further advice.

About this degree

Drawing on staff expertise in human ecology, social anthropology, political ecology, conservation science, and socio-ecological systems, the MSc equips graduates with an interdisciplinary perspective on topics relating to global environmental change, sustainable development, biodiversity conservation and social justice in both rural and urban contexts. Through a supervised field project and dissertation, students gain demonstrable skills in research design, and in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.

Who this course is for

The programme is suitable for students who wish to gain a training and qualification integrating natural and social science approaches to environment and sustainable development as a foundation for higher-level research and professional work, and for graduates from other fields or careers wishing to supplement their existing knowledge and experience.

What this course will give you

UCL Anthropology ranks fourth in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 , making it the top ranked institution in London, and third in the UK and Europe for the subject. Our Human Ecology group’s pioneering work in integrating social and natural science approaches to address environmental issues is internationally recognised, including winning awards for innovation, such as in citizen science (UCL Institutional Leadership Award 2018, NT100 List 2014 ). Our expertise in the interplay of biodiversity conservation, sustainable development, health and human wellbeing in different social-ecological systems promotes understanding of alternative pathways for meeting global challenges.

Our academic staff are actively engaged in research or consultancy work in the fields of environment and sustainable development, and also maintain strong links with former students now working in academia, governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations in the UK and abroad. MSc students become part of this alumni network as members of the Human Ecology Research Group. Many of our graduates go on to become leaders in academic, international agency, government and third sector organisations.

During their time in London, students are also encouraged to take advantage of the wider anthropological and environment community, including through attendance at the many relevant seminar series offered at UCL and by neighbouring institutions, such as the School of Oriental and African Studies, the London School of Economics and Political Science, the Zoological Society of London, the Overseas Development Institute and the International Institute for Environment and Development.

The foundation of your career

Graduates of this programme have gone on to a wide range of relevant careers in research, teaching, consultancy, policy and advocacy, working in universities, governmental bodies, national and international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international research organisations. A number of our graduates have chosen to pursue PhD studies in the Anthropology department at UCL or at other institutions.

Employability

The MSc integrates natural and social science approaches to answer real-world research problems, culminating in a dissertation that develops students' skills in research design, quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and academic writing. The interdisciplinary perspective and research experience are an ideal foundation for future work with governmental or non-governmental organisations, industry and enterprise, or as a step towards PhD research. Other skills acquired include oral presentation and IT, project management, team building and leadership, fundraising and critical analysis and evaluation. Many students carry out their research in conjunction with an NGO, with some going on to work for their host organisation.

Our MSc students become part of the Human Ecology Research Group, learning directly from active researchers and practitioners through a weekly seminar series. These discussions with both external experts in the environmental field and UCL research students and staff, allow students to develop contacts for their research and career development. During their time in London, students are also encouraged to take advantage of the wider anthropological and environment community, including through attendance at the many relevant seminar series offered at UCL and by neighbouring institutions. We collate information and advertise relevant opportunities for networking throughout the academic year. 

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through lectures, seminars, group presentations, tutorials, interactive teamwork, and videos. It includes a non-examined compulsory weekly seminar series with both internal and invited speakers (the Human Ecology Research Group seminar).

Assessment for core modules is is through essays, presentations, a take-home exercise focused on a research scenario, seen and unseen examinations and exercises, and the research dissertation.

The two compulsory modules typically involve around 54-63 contact hours (a mix of 2h & 3h seminars). The three optional modules (15 credit) usually amount to 54 contact hours (assuming 2 hour weekly seminar) but will vary depending on the choice of modules (some have 3 hour weekly seminars). Estimated time in dissertation supervision is around 2-4 hours (30min to 1h meetings).

The degree is available either full-time over one calendar year or part-time over two calendar years. It comprises of:

• two compulsory modules
• three optional modules: you can choose optional modules from across the department, but students must take at least one, if not more, optional modules from within the Environmental Anthropology MSc optional modules. Out of the total, up to one module can also be taken from appropriate options in other departments (with approval from the programme tutor and host department)
• attendance at research seminars and
• a personal and professional skills development programme run through the Graduate School

In addition, all students are assigned a supervisor who provides one-to-one tuition to help them develop an individual research project that will culminate in a dissertation submitted at the end of the programme.

Students take all their compulsory modules and at least one optional module in the first year. In the second year they take their remaining optional module(s) and complete the dissertation.

Compulsory modules

Optional modules.

Please note that the list of modules given here is indicative. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability are subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits. Upon successful completion of 180 credits, you will be awarded a in Environmental Anthropology.

The third term is given over to the dissertation project. Students must carry out original research involving data analysis. Often students collect their own data which involves fieldwork for approximately two months, in the UK or overseas, ideally returning from the field by the end of July to allow time for writing the dissertation. Fieldwork is self-funded and it is usual for students to find their own fieldwork site facilitated by staff and usually under the aegis of a third sector host.

Many students carry out their dissertation research with third sector organisations. There is a wide range of such host organisations, with specific placements arranged according to individual student interests.

Accessibility

Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble accessable.co.uk . Further information can also be obtained from the UCL Student Support and Wellbeing team .

Fees and funding

Fees for this course.

The tuition fees shown are for the year indicated above. Fees for subsequent years may increase or otherwise vary. Where the programme is offered on a flexible/modular basis, fees are charged pro-rata to the appropriate full-time Master's fee taken in an academic session. Further information on fee status, fee increases and the fee schedule can be viewed on the UCL Students website: ucl.ac.uk/students/fees .

Additional costs

Students need to secure their own funding for fieldwork, assisted by teaching staff who will help identify potential funders, and review draft proposals. There is no obligation to travel abroad, and many students conduct fieldwork in the UK or their home country.

Recent students have secured funds for fieldwork from, among others, the Turing Scheme, the Tropical Agriculture Award Fund, Chadwick Trust, Parkes Foundation, and departmental bursaries.

For more information on additional costs for prospective students please go to our estimated cost of essential expenditure at Accommodation and living costs .

Funding your studies

For a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available at UCL, including funding relevant to your nationality, please visit the Scholarships and Funding website .

Aziz Foundation Scholarships in Social and Historical Sciences

Value: Full tuition fees (equivalent to 1yr full-time) (1yr) Criteria Based on financial need Eligibility: UK

UCL East London Scholarship

NOW CLOSED FOR 2024/25 ENTRY Value: Tuition fees plus £15,700 stipend () Criteria Based on financial need Eligibility: UK

When we assess your application we would like to learn:

• why you want to study Environmental Anthropology at graduate level
• why you want to study Environmental Anthropology at UCL
• what particularly attracts you to this programme
• how your personal, academic and professional background meets the demands of a challenging academic environment
• where you would like to go professionally with your degree

Together with essential academic requirements, the personal statement is your opportunity to illustrate whether your reasons for applying to this programme match what the programme will deliver.

Please note that you may submit applications for a maximum of two graduate programmes (or one application for the Law LLM) in any application cycle.

Choose your programme

Please read the Application Guidance before proceeding with your application.

Year of entry: 2024-2025

Got questions get in touch.

Anthropology

[email protected]

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Imperial and University of Ghana sign major research and education partnership

Imperial and the University of Ghana have announced a new partnership to expand collaborations in research and education.

The five-year partnership will see the two universities explore cooperation in areas such as digital diagnostics, innovation and entrepreneurship, public health, environmental sustainability, and vaccine manufacturing. 

Imperial – which was recently ranked second in the world and  the UK’s top university   – has long-standing links with the University of Ghana and the two universities will develop new projects in research and education and strengthen links between London and Accra. 

The new agreement will see increased mobility of scientists and students between Imperial and the University of Ghana – with researchers spending time in each other’s laboratories in London and Accra, working on joint projects and sharing knowledge and data.    

The agreement was signed at the University of Ghana in Accra during a visit by Imperial’s Vice President (International) Maggie Dallman and colleagues from Imperial. 

Professor Hugh Brady, President of Imperial College London, said: "This major partnership with the University of Ghana underlines our ambition to build long-term collaborations in Africa.  

“The scale of our research and projects with partners in Ghana has grown rapidly in the last few years and together we are making a positive impact. Our work with the University of Ghana has already helped policymakers better understand the ways to raise living standards in cities and widen access to improved drinking water.   

“This five-year strategic partnership will kick-start advancements and progress in areas such as public health, entrepreneurship and sustainability.” 

Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, said: "The University of Ghana and Imperial have a shared ambition of nurturing outstanding researchers, excellent professionals and astute entrepreneurs. Our continued collaboration where we co-create programmes and share resources will serve as an impetus towards the attainment of our collective goals.

"With regard to research, collaboration, innovation and issues relating to administration and management, there is a lot that we can learn from each other. We have a shared goal and commitment to excellence in research output as well as enhancing student entrepreneurship and best practices in university administration." 

Professor Maggie Dallman, Vice-President (International) of Imperial College London, said: "Imperial and the University of Ghana share ambitions to strengthen science, education and innovation between the UK and Ghana.  

“Together, we are committed to nurturing the next generation of leaders, researchers, and entrepreneurs, with the shared vision of creating a brighter and more sustainable future for global society." 

The UK and Ghana have jointly developed the UK-Ghana Science Technology & Innovation Strategy, which aims to increase the number, quality, and impact of partnerships between the UK and Ghana.   

Imperial and the University of Ghana have worked together successfully on many previous projects. The University of Ghana is Imperial’s top collaborator in Ghana in terms of the number of academic research papers published, with more than 120 joint publications in the last five years. 

Imperial researchers have also collaborated with the West African Centre for the Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana to create new ways for detecting and monitoring malaria more quickly.  

Professor Felix Ankomah Asante,  Pro Vice-Chancellor with responsibility for Research, Innovation and Development (RID), said: "UG is happy to collaborate with Imperial in research, teaching and innovation across all disciples. The respected QS world university rankings ranked Imperial as number one in the UK and second in the world and UG is happy to be associated with such an institution as a partner and collaborator." 

Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner for Ghana said: "The thriving partnership between Imperial College London and the University of Ghana is great evidence of the strength of collaboration between the UK and Ghana on science, technology and innovation, in line with the joint ST&I Strategy agreed by the Governments of our two countries. The partnership will unlock new discoveries, create new jobs, and generate solutions to the challenges faced by both our countries and the world at large."

Imperial and Ghana 

Imperial has strong links with partners in Ghana and a growing community of Ghanaian alumni. These include Imperial alumnus Sir Sam Jonah (MSc Resources Engineering 1979), a leading Ghanaian businessman and the current chancellor of the University of Cape Coast.    Imperial is also partners with the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) which has a Centre in Ghana, and the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA), whose Ghanaian members include the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technologyand the University of Cape Coast. 

During the trip Vice President (International) Professor Maggie Dallman met some of the student entrepreneurs that are taking part in the Student Venture Support Programme that Imperial co-created with the University of Ghana and the Impact Hub Accra.  

The project, which was led by Imperial's Enterprise Lab and supported by the British Council, and has just been renewed for a third-year focuses on co-creating a student entrepreneurship programme to enable students to develop successful businesses. As part of the initial programme, 28 entrepreneurial teams of over 100 students were recruited, coached and mentored for two and half months. Past competition winners have shown exceptional growth and success and are continuing to turn their innovative ideas into profitable businesses. 

The Impact of Climate Change on African Cities 

During the visit to Ghana, Imperial also hosted a special event in Accra for scientists, policymakers, industry, alumni and supporters to hear about the work the university is carrying out with partners to better understand the impact of climate change on African cities. 

Professor Majid Ezzati chaired a panel discussion with colleagues Nkechi S. Owoo, from the University of Ghana, Wilfred Ndifon, Chief Scientific Officer & Centre President, AIMS Research & Innovation, and Solomon Asamoah, Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund. 

Professor Ezzati highlighted how academics from Imperial and the University of Ghana worked on a  major global project  that could help reduce inequalities in healthcare for millions of city-dwellers in Ghana. 

Research teams gathered evidence on issues affecting the health of people in cities such as Accra and Tamale and worked with policymakers to develop evidence-based policies for improving the health of city-dwellers. 

Sustainable sanitation

Imperial’s  Professor Mike Templeton , Co-Chair of the Global Development Hub, also gave a special lecture at the University of Ghana about several ongoing international research projects that are seeking innovative engineering solutions for overcoming the barriers that currently restrict access to sustainable sanitation for all. He highlighted examples of how to take initial ideas through to real-world impact and discussed the challenges and opportunities for scaling sanitation innovations.

Professor Templeton also collaborates with academics and PhD students from the University of Ghana on water resource projects.  One of the projects  examined the different sources of water that people have access to in Accra and how this varies based on socio-economic factors.

This article was first published on 21 June by Imperial College London. 

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