IGSD News

Warwick hosted the Sustainability Network Studio on 3-5 June, an international event to facilitate the formation of interdisciplinary research collaborations in and around the area of Sustainability between researchers at three universities: Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) from Belgium; Technische Universitat Dresden (TUD) from Germany and the University of Warwick.

The event was organised as part of the EUTOPIA activities and under the aegis of the Sustainability Spotlight. It was led Prof. Elena Korosteleva in her capacity as Chair of the Sustainability Spotlight, and in partnership with the Sustainability Spotlight leadership team. The event was held over the three days, involving members of the Sustainability Spotlight networks. It was based around pitch presentations from each of the 23 researchers attending and consortium-building for European research funding. The event was facilitated by research support staff from each of the three institutions and is expected to lead to new research collaborations in and around the sustainability area in disciplines ranging from chemistry and engineering to political science, business and economics. From the Warwick team, it included Prof. Stuart Coles (WMG), Prof. Stefan Bon (Chemistry), Dr Fred Dahlmann (WBS), Dr Soroush Abolfani (Engineering), Dr Madeleine Fagan (PAIS), Dr Lory Barile (Economics), Dr Feng Mao (IGSD) and Dr Adela Glyn-Davies (Design).

Warwick Research Culture: Research Celebration 2025 – Congratulations to Professor Elena Korosteleva and Dr Paul Hansbury

Elena and Paul have been honoured with a “Highly Commended” award for establishing the Warwick Ukraine-Belarus Hub, which employs interdisciplinary insights to advance policy recommendations and support stakeholder interaction. Under Elena’s and Paul's leadership, the Hub has improved understanding of Belarus-Ukraine relations through higher-level webinars, targeted policy briefs, podcasts, film screenings and debates, and two international conferences at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) Whitehall. The WUB-hub also raised awareness and offered policy advice to the UK FCDO, the EU institutions (EEAS, EU Parliament and Commission), NATO PPD, and established collaborations towards the European Belarus Forum, and its key stakeholders.

Further details here: Warwick Research Celebration 2025 Winners

Between 30 March – 5 April 2025, over 21 next-generation climate leaders from eight countries (and 13 nationalities), will attend Warwick’s pioneering Sustainability Training Academy in Venice. Launched in 2023 by the Institute of Global Sustainable Development (IGSD), and supported by the COP29 Scientific Council, the Sustainability Training Academy equips early career researchers (ECRs) with the interdisciplinary analytical, methodological, and practical skills needed to address the systemic challenges of climate change, climate justice and climate transition.

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On 16 October Professor Roberta Bivins and Professor Elena Korosteleva, representing the Health and Sustainability spotlights respectively, were invited to the Warwick Medical School and the School of Life Sciences to discuss the opportunities for engagement and interdisciplinary synergy building. They highlighted the possibilities for interdisciplinary funding, impact and visibility growth, as well as for connecting and training ECRs for more interdisciplinary futures. Prof. Korosteleva drew attention to the launch of ECR Training Academy for Sustainable Futures in November at COP29 in Azerbaijan, Warwick Climate Governance and Policy Network as the ROAD to COP30, and Cross-Spotlight forum in July 2025. Watch the space!