SOLVE
As a university, we have a responsibility to communicate what we are learning.
Only by sharing our knowledge will we succeed as a community and as a nation. That's why we're producing SOLVE magazine – to share as scientists and educators our research and knowledge-building that stand to make a difference to the world.
Introducing the current issue
This edition of SOLVE is a record of our times, revealing some of the inspiring behind-the-scenes endeavours that build community resilience and optimism.
Record-keeping during times of upheaval isn’t just a civic or academic function. For many people it is a way of maintaining a sense of place and purpose. We see this exemplified in the enthusiastic response to crowdsourcing and citizen science activities such as the GB1900 gazetteer project, the Galaxy Zoo astronomy programme, and in the way young people creatively maintain social connections under lockdown conditions.
In this edition we also explore vital research into the care of our planet, from the continuing progress of our Revolution Plastics team, to wildlife management and the protection of endangered species. These are just a few illustrations of the extraordinary fields in which we work and take pride in sharing. I am certain you will find them inspiring and motivating at a time when hope and optimism are important for all of us.
Professor Graham Galbraith
Vice-Chancellor, University of Portsmouth
Health and Wellbeing
We're seeking to manage health, disease and disability through technological, creative and scientific developments that support physical and mental wellbeing.
In this issue of SOLVE, you'll meet extraordinary people whose ingenuity and services to humanity are inspiring – from detecting early signs of health emergency through big data, through to exploring questions the pandemic raises for research ethics, the ‘Covid-generation’ of school children and the future of our social and working lives.
Read now
- Life-saving NEWS from old health data – Professor Jim Briggs
- Can research ethics survive a pandemic? – Dr Simon Kolstoe
Sustainability
The world is facing a tipping point in the relationship between people and nature that threatens planetary health and human wellbeing. Change is inevitable. The role of science and education is to ensure necessary economic and environmental transitions are positive.
Discover how we’re working with global partners to fill a critical gap between awareness of the plastic pollution and effective action to reduce it, and taking forensic and legal action towards minimising wildlife crime.
Read now
- Call of the wild – Dr Marina Davila-Ross
- Crime fighters go wild – Dr Nick Pamment, Dr Paul Smith and Jac Reed
- Saving elephants from the saleroom – Caroline Cox
Future and Emerging Technologies
As we evolve into a more technological society, our increasing interconnectivity can fuel changes both positive and negative, depending on where you’re standing.
Research in this issue of SOLVE shows how scientists have joined forces with more than 2.3 million keen amateurs to interrogate the nature of the cosmos more extensively than ever before, and delves into how tensions between consumer convenience and sustainable business practices have evolved through a rising trend in online shopping.
Read now
- Amateur sleuths muscle up the science of discovery – Professor Daniel Thomas and Professor Bob Nichol
- Shop ‘til you drop … your phone – Professor Lisa Jack, Professor David Pickernell, Dr Matthew Anderson and Dr Jason Sit
> Read more Future and Emerging Technologies features in SOLVE
Democratic Citizenship
Democratic citizenship looks beyond nations, borders, communities, languages, histories, genders and bodies to promote equality, citizenship and civic engagement across multiple disciplines.
Discover how our researchers have harnessed the attention of 1,200 volunteer geographers to create a comprehensive record of placenames and the history of those names, and built a growing collection of eclectic Zines self-published by students, artists and colleagues worldwide.
Read now
- The past mapped for the present – Professor Humphrey Southall
- Wanted: A VacZine for our times – Dr Jac Batey
Read the previous issue
If you enjoyed reading the current issue of SOLVE, take a look at our previous issue for stories about world-leading advances towards solving major environmental challenges on land and at sea and our acclaimed gender research that introduces functional, positive change through innovative tools, processes, programmes and mindsets.
