Research Challenge: Production and Resources
The Newcastle University Institute for Sustainability draws upon its areas of established research excellence
and the experience of collaborating partners to make an internationally-leading contribution to the
following global research challenge in the field of sustainability:
Through research, innovation and development of solutions, drive forward practical step changes
in production and process efficiencies, such that the natural environment and its resources are
safeguarded.
Rationale – The Institute for Sustainability has identified Production and Resources as one of its Global
Sustainability Challenges because of the growing need for significant changes in the ways in which the
earth’s natural, human, economic and engineered resources are sustained and/or distributed, managed,
and protected. Newcastle University is in a position to make an internationally leading contribution
to meeting this challenge because of existing expertise in areas including: earth systems engineering;
biological and biodiversity modelling and analysis; marine, terrestrial and socio-economic planning; low
carbon energy production; manufacturing and process engineering; nanomaterials; and the use of digital
technology to support decision making, whilst improving access to processes, resources and services.
Context – Population expansion and greater affluence (in many cases based on inequitable wealth
distribution) has resulted in exponentially increasing demand for natural resources and consumer goods.
Increased human populations are correlated with species extinction, which are now at rates comparable
to previous global mass extinctions. This growth often leads to degradation and depletion of the natural
resource base, which is in turn affected by climate phenomena and natural cycles. Increasingly complex
enhanced or mechanised processes can, in some cases, enable resources to be exploited and consumed
faster than they can be replenished; the global built environment consumes 3 billion tonnes of raw
materials annually1. Conversely, in certain industries, production standards are “preserved” through
persistence with resource-inefficient methods. Considerable improvements in manufacturing and resource
recovery are required to achieve a balanced and sustainable future for the production industry. Changing
attitudes and behaviours will also be necessary to reduce dependence on unsustainable production
methods.
In many cases, there is still significant potential and a need to expand fundamental knowledge about the
functioning of whole systems, their disturbance thresholds and inherent resilience. Decision and policy
making would benefit greatly from, and be more effective, when drawing on full analysis of the range of
potential impacts and consequences. Achieving a sustainable outcome is more likely when goals such
as profit maximisation are not considered in isolation, and legislative changes are proactive rather than
responsive. Therefore, a great opportunity exists to feed into, and improve, transparency and informed
decision support; resulting in significantly improved policy formulation and impact. A major area for
research exists around consideration of whether resources can be adequately substituted or effectively
transplanted to reduce or eliminate the impacts of alternative uses of a site. Policy makers are inclined to
work in economic and equivalent measures which, while well understood, are not always straightforward
to apply in complex natural situations. For example, environmental economics and the valuation of
‘ecosystem services’ underpin the 2011 White Paper on the Natural Environment2 but remain contentious
issues for the scientific and policy communities to explore further in collaboration. Newcastle University
researchers have developed a tool (MAPISCO, see projects) for policy-makers to explore prioritisation of
species conservation and associated links to those species including Ecosystem Services.
Definitions and coverage – The term resources is used in this context to encompass not only the
provisioning ecosystem services such as fresh water, biodiversity, food, soil, minerals, but also extends
to human and community resources, how they change over time and how resilient they are to external
influences. Fundamental research to further our understanding of the functioning, interactions and
thresholds of these systems is strategically important in order to develop the necessary solutions.
The use of resources for energy generation is a core area of interest, with a focus on low carbon forms
of energy distribution, management and consumption, which are particular interdisciplinary strengths at
Newcastle University.
Improved production and manufacturing, including process intensification, substitution, efficiency and
alternatives, are inherently important. Re-use, recycling, and in particular the use of waste products (e.g.,
sewage, heat, by-products, food) as a resource provide opportunities for real step changes in the way
products are manufactured and resources are consumed. There is great interest in novel methods for
recovering energy, minerals, water and other vital components of manufacturing processes.
Whole system analysis, Life Cycle Assessment – there is significant potential to build upon expertise in
holistic investigation and understanding of all stages of supply chains. Opportunities exist for revolutionising
a variety of processes, including food and energy production, where there is particular expertise amongst
researchers at Newcastle University.
Research that cuts across the levels of complex supply chains, looking at process intensification and with a
particular focus on Catalysis, offers a potential novel mechanism for real, practical advances in production
efficiency. Newcastle University has renowned strength in chemical engineering and the chemistry of
production concepts – developing more efficient methods and novel products in collaboration with
industry. The provision of fully integrated and accessible decision support tools (such as the decision
theatre) is an important part of translating and disseminating these research findings to achieve real world
impact.
The areas of nanomaterials and bioprocessing – advanced understand of underlying complexity at
extremely small scales – open up huge possibilities for transforming production systems. The ability to
manipulate the behaviour and properties of materials or structures, in order to realise improved whole
process design and sustainability, offers the potential to fundamentally improve the ways in which products
are manufactured.
Justice and Governance – There are many aspects of Production and Resources that inherently raise issues
of justice and governance. There are various complex management and institutional arrangements around
planning and upkeep of all from pristine, natural, adapted, engineered through to man-made environments
which impact on the availability of resources. Equity of access and use, beneficiaries of ecosystem services
and the level of input to decision making regarding the distribution and management of resources are all
necessary considerations. Coordination and collaboration across governance levels is a critical concern.
Equity of access and use, the process of decision making about what is produced where, what resources
are used who benefits from their production and consumption are questions which research at Newcastle
University is engaged with. Concerns about social and environmental justice go beyond corporate social
responsibility and include the wider principles of fairness. Improved collaboration between disciplines to
incorporate such considerations is required if the benefits and advantages achieved through improved
production and efficient use of resources are to advantage society equally.
Examples of current relevant projects at Newcastle University include:
•The Eden Demonstration Test Catchment - Defra (Paul Quinn CEG, Liz Oughton AFRD)
•Reducing the Costs of Marine Renewables via Advanced Structural Materials - EPSRC (ReC-ASM) (Steve Bull CEAM)
•Low Temperature solid oxide electrolyzer for conversion of CO2 to organic compounds – British Council (Keith Scott CEAM)
•Effects of soil compaction on agriculture and biodiversity - Defra (Mark Whittingham Biology)
•Layers of material flow for E-Tech elements – NERC (David Manning, Richard Dawson CEG)
•Social Inclusion through the Digital Economy SIDE - EPSRC (Paul Watson CS/DI, Aad Van Moorsel CS, Phil Blythe CEG, Ranald Richardson GPS, F Li NUBS, LS Corner IAH, SJ Norman AC)
•TRUMP: Trusted Mobile Platform for Supporting Self-Management of Chronic Illness in Rural Areas (Patrick Olivier CS, Mike Catt IAH, Michael Trenell ICM, Peter Wright CS, Peter Phillimore GPS)
•ARCH: Architecture and roadmap to manage multiple pressures on lagoons (Simin Davoudi and Elizabeth Brooks APL)
•MAPISCO – A method for prioritising global species conservation (Mark Whittingham, Phil McGowan Biology and Selina Stead MAST)
1
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) 2012
2
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmselect/cmenvfru/653/653.pdf