What is the vision and ambition for the STEM Grand Challenge?

Our vision is to future-proof the University’s STEM facilities and to enhance associated activities. STEM Grand Challenge will deliver a mix of new buildings and repurposed facilities that will transform the heart of the campus. This will create a new destination for a wide range of users from across the University community.

There are a few key drivers, including the promotion of interdisciplinary research and education, alongside the maintenance of strong disciplinary identities. This will allow us to build upon, and raise the visibility of a critical mass of world-leading expertise. There will be a focus on co-creation and partnership, building on the excellent collaborations already established. Working together, with a focus on outreach and engagement, STEM Grand Challenge coordinated activities will reach, and benefit, an even wider audience – regionally, nationally and internationally.

Innovation is key to our 2030 Strategy; how do you see this project supporting our strategy?

STEM Grand Challenge is central to the University 2030 Strategy – it will deliver financially sustainable growth in STEM. Innovation in action is at the heart of these ambitions. Creativity within the curriculum and development of course content focussed on prevailing ‘global challenges,’ will allow us to enhance our educational offer for current and future students. It will also provide our learners with the skills and experience sought by employers around the world.

Our focus on excellence and impact, including recently identified cross-cutting, priority research themes, will provide a platform to attract the best scientists and engineers to Warwick, meeting our ambitions to be one of the world’s truly exceptional universities. 

Which part of the project are you most excited about?

There’s much to be excited about! I’m delighted to be joining the Warwick community at this important time in the University’s development. I’m excited to get to know colleagues, students and partners, and to work with them to create and shape a compelling future, including a lasting legacy. Hopefully this will be enjoyed by existing and future members of the University for decades to come.

What impact will the completed project have on staff, students and alumni?

Due to the creativity, vision and collective endeavour of colleagues across the University, STEM Grand Challenge is already delivering results. I’ve been particularly impressed by the work to develop several new multi-disciplinary courses / programmes, under the banner of ‘Science for Sustainable Futures.’ The first of these will be delivered in 2023. 

The current process and scale of the project means we still require funding to enable project completion. Should this be secured, the proposed new buildings will include specialist, state-of-the-art research facilities, innovative teaching spaces, and a place where the community will come together to collaborate and innovate in new ways. I’m also keen that we use STEM Grand Challenge to recognise and celebrate success. It will showcase the brilliant research being undertaken across the Faculty, and beyond.

This is a long-term initiative. We need to remain receptive to embracing change in response to the ever-evolving external environment. The ability to remain agile and flexible is therefore important. My hope and expectation is that STEM at Warwick will be as exciting and vital, as the University approaches its Centenary, as it is today!

What benefits will the project bring to our campus and wider community?