Faculty of Technology

Research and knowledge transfer

The 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 Mathematics Department, 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: This is based in the Mechanical and Design Engineering Department, 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 main research groups within the Department of Mechanical and Design Engineering are the Materials and Structural Integrity Research group (including the MBM group) and the Manufacturing and Systems Engineering Research group.

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

The Department of Mathematics includes the Management Mathematics group (which was part of an RAE submission in Business and Management Studies), as well research on nonlinear dynamics, biostatistics and numerical analysis.

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

Research in Electronic and Computer Engineering includes the Microwave Telecommunications Systems and Control and Robotics groups.

In Civil Engineering, research includes the Centre for Environmental Technology (urban runoff control, wastewater), composite behaviour modelling, fire engineering and materials.

Research in Environmental Design and Management includes coastal zone management and maritime and heritage studies.