Enabler 4:
Environmentally Sustainable Research
Purpose
To cement our sector-leading position whilst acting as a key contributor to the University’s net-zero targets and our commitment to meaningful action against the climate emergency and ecological crisis. We will be a sector leader in developing and sharing best practices with funders and other institutions, demonstrating the power of collaboration between professional services and academics.
Purpose
To cement our sector-leading position whilst acting as a key contributor to the University’s net-zero targets. We will be a sector leader in developing and sharing best practice with funders and other institutions, demonstrating the power of collaboration between professional services and academics.
Priority Activities
1. Driving Sustainable Research
Embed environmental responsibility into research by developing practical tools and frameworks. This includes:
Honouring our role as an original signatory of the Concordat for Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice to drive cultural change.
Establishing a Sustainable Research Framework to provide sector-leading guidance and continuing coordinating our community insights through the Sustainable Research Thematic Forum.
Advancing the environmental performance of our research infrastructure, implementing best practices to minimise the impact of our laboratories and digital research capabilities.
Leveraging networks to develop best-practice action plans and support bottom-up innovations.
2. Sector Engagement and Partnerships
Demonstrate leadership through collaboration by:
Taking a leading role in UKRI and Environmental Association of Universities & Colleges (EAUC) initiatives to influence national policy.
Ensuring sustainability practices consistent with our Partnership Principles and developing guidelines for sustainable partnerships, promoting responsible research practices that balance environmental concerns with social and economic realities.
Reducing the environmental impact of collaborations by aligning opportunities for research with international education partnerships and our sustainable travel policies.
Leading a sector-defining Green AI practice in applying climate science expertise to reduce environmental impact, shape responsible AI use and procurement, and align AI ambition with a sustainable future.
Enhancing Exeter’s Reputation
We will enhance Exeter’s reputation as a pioneering, inclusive, and globally influential research institution, strengthening our ability to attract talent, funding, and strategic partnerships, by:
Recognising our people by showcasing individual and team achievements through profiles, case studies, and project highlights, and utilising social media, corporate initiatives (e.g. the Technician commitment), and targeted campaigns to amplify success.
Showcase our progression pathways into recruitment materials to attract top talent.
Promoting Exeter’s world-class digital and physical research infrastructure, demonstrating our capability to support cutting-edge research, and using strategic communications to enhance visibility among potential collaborators, funders, and industry partners.
Position Exeter as a national leader in reducing the environmental impact of research by shaping funder policies and university partnerships, and drive thought leadership through conference presentations, high-impact publications, and sector-wide collaborations to improve sustainable research practices.