Faculty of Technology

Research and knowledge transfer

2707.jpgThe Faculty is active in research and knowledge transfer across all Departments; this informs and underpins learning and teaching. Activities range from 'blue skies' pure research to working closely with local industry to develop new products and services.

In December 2008 the nation-wide Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) recognised the international significance of this research with excellence identified in all the submissions and Applied Mathematics as being rated among the top 4 Universities in the UK.

Centres of Excellence

The Faculty has two centres of research excellence:

  • The Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation (ICG): A research institute linked to the Department of Mathematics, which is internationally known for its work on models of the early universe, galaxy surveys, dark energy and the cosmic microwave background radiation. ICG research is supported by STFC, the Royal Society and the EU. The ICG is a partner in the world's leading galaxy survey SDSS, the new Dark Energy Survey (DES), the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR:UK), the South East Physics Network (SEPNet) Astrophysics theme and the UK National Cosmology Supercomputer Consortium.
  • The Mechanical Behaviour of Materials Group (MBM): This is based in the School of Engineering and includes research into fatigue in aero engine and bio-mechanical components. MBM research is supported by EPSRC, MRC and Rolls Royce.

Active Research Groups in other Areas

The Regional Centre for Manufacturing Industry (RCMI) runs a number of Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with industry in the region.

The main research groups within the Department of Mathematics are the Logistics and Management Mathematics Group (LMMG), which was part of an RAE submission in Business and Management Studies, and the Nonlinear and Complex Systems Research Group. The Department also includes research into biostatistics and numerical analysis.

In the The School of Computing the main research groups are Artificial Intelligence, , Healthcare Modelling and Informatics and Information Systems.

Research in the School of Engineering are split into two divisions: Intelligent and Networked System and Mechanical Engineering.

In the School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, urban runoff control and wastewater research is supported by research laboratories and specialised facilities in the Centre for Environmental Technology. The School also includes research into composite behaviour modelling, fire engineering and materials.