Our research has local, national and global impact. Our collaborative approach creates world-leading research of the highest quality that creates tangible results.

But don't simply take our word for it – explore some of our research features here, and get a snapshot of the broad scope of work we're producing.


Search by research theme

Democratic citizenship | Future and emerging technologies | Health and wellbeing | Security and risk | Sustainability and the environment


Democratic citizenship

What does social media mean for our politics?

Dr James Dennis' research has revealed a gap in the centre of popular discussions around social media and politics.

Save our NHS sign, London
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Brexit: Why EU Investment Doesnt Mean A Vote for the EU

What shapes our feelings about the EU? Our PERCEIVE project has found that communication and identity play the biggest roles in deciding how people feel about Europe.

row of european flags
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Why Game Theory could be the key

Dr Ansgar Wohlschlegel has researched how Game Theory can keep civil disputes out of court, and save both parties involved, and the legal system, a lot of money. 

finance meeting
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New tactic in the battle against breast cancer

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Vaccine zines

Busy Fools zine
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Past mapped for the present

London map
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Future and emerging technologies

Building intelligence into systems allows them to make the right decision

Artificial intelligence
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New field of astrophysics is answering questions about the origins of the Universe

Universe
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Understanding people to design better prosthetic hands and arms

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Quantum physics is powering the new tech revolution

Quantum physics
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Computing helps children make sense of the world and helps clinicians save lives

Child's robot toy
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Complementary methods of astronomy help to discover patterns in the Universe

Radio telescopes
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A new way of understanding the Universe

Laura Nuttall observatory
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A life-saving solution in the palm of your hand

Heart rate monitor with ECG
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Amateur sleuths muscle up the science of discovery

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Shop til you drop

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Health and wellbeing

Are we close to the greatest discovery since penicillin

Antibiotic capsules in blister pack
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The therapy that could transform facial palsy care

facial palsy
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Diversity straining on its leash

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Life saving NEWS

Illustration by Paul Dickenson
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Can research ethics survive a pandemic

Covid research ethics image, University of Portsmouth
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Security and risk

Fukushima: Lessons in preventing a nuclear disaster

Professor Ashraf Labib has researched how deadly man-made disasters can be prevented in the future, and explored these findings in relation to the nuclear disaster at Fukushima.

Mostly wooden debris from a tsunami piled up next to a damaged building
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The psychological science of better evidence gathering

Professor Lorraine Hope is researching how memory performs in dynamic, high-stress situations, so the emergency services can improve the way they gather evidence, and the quality of it too. 

A police officer in a reflective jacket standing near two people
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How virtual reality could help cut crime

Dr Claire Nee is using virtual reality to understand the behaviours, thought patterns and emotions of burglars, with the aim of reducing crime, and rehabilitating criminals.

Yellow crime scene tape
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Independence and violence

Opportunities have been expanding for women across South Asia, and Prof Tamsin Bradley has researched how these changes are affecting the daily lives of South Asian women. Find out more now.

Women's hands on bright clothing
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Sustainability and the environment

Taking a closer look at an often misunderstood material

Concrete archtecture
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Control systems are integrating renewable energy with the power grid

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Showing how a low carbon economy can flourish

There is no Plant B poster
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Using maths to help tackle climate change

Aerial picture of solar panels in a field, next to a road
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Could a mutant enzyme solve the planet's plastic problem?

A collaboration between the Centre for Enzyme Innovation, and the US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has created a new mutant enzyme that breaks down plastic bottles faster.

Beach with plastic pollution
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Driving us closer to greener transport

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The devil's in the details of the deep blue sea

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The world is our oyster

Biologist holding shellfish
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Britain's burning question

Dr Mark Hardiman is exploring what sort of wildfires Britain can expect from global warming.

Smoke rising from a grassland wildfire next to a forest
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The buck stops on a shop shelf near you

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Ecology - a brand new economy

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Plumbing new depths of sustainable behaviour

Professor John Williams shows how nature can help our wastewater systems work better for people and the planet.

Close up of wave crashing in the sea
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Airborne microplastics can be found even in the worlds most remote places

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Call of the Wild

Orangutan, photo by Tim Laman, Wikimedia Commons
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Crime fighters go wild

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From rags to environmental riches

Dr Elaine Igoe explains how we’re making fashion more sustainable through our teaching, design and research.

Denim jeans photo by Mica Asato, Pexels
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Microplastics in our homes

Microplastics fibres in the air
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