News

Warwick's Sustainability Training Academy (STA) in Venice (WVC) has now come to a close, but what an event it was bringing together 21 ECRs from 13 countries, to share and develop their creative skills, and engage with critical theories and interdisciplinary methods! Blue skies, organic food from Sant'Erasmo farm, and new CA'Foscari friends; amazing cookies from Chiara at WVC and loads of pasta, pizza and aperol spritz - what else you could wish for!! All of these however was made so special and possible by the whole bunch of people and we at IGSD are indebted to them - Prof Harini Nagendra, Dr Bryan Brazeau, Dr Harriet Richmond, Dr Adela Glyn-Davies, Nargiz Ismayilova, Dr Anar Valiyev, and Dr Fariz Ismailzade!

We are also immensely fortunate to gather such a fantastic group of ECRs: coming from so many different disciplines to focus on Just Transitions, they bonded well together to engage with critical theories, creative skills and interdisciplinary methods, and collaboratively work on their group projects. We hope to keep in touch with every single one of them! We are also grateful to our former ECR @TieazaSantos from NASA Open Science, for sharing NASA learning resources with us, and to everyone who made this STA a success, including the support from Warwick's Sustainability Spotlight and COP29 Scientific Council Azerbaijan. Watch the space for 2026!

This exciting workshop on Systems-thinking for Interdisciplinary Research was organised by Dr Fred Dahlmann (WBS) under the auspices of COLAB2 led by Prof. Gary Bending (WESIC), of the Sustainability Spotlight. The event aimed at researchers of all disciplines and career stages across Warwick to introduce them to the basic concepts underpinning systems-thinking; to explore systems mapping as a simple tool for developing shared understanding of complexities involved in addressing sustainability challenges; to reflect and apply insights on identifying solutions and interventions for sustainability; and to network and develop new collaborations for future research discoveries and funding bids. The event attract over 40 researchers, and resulted in network-building and many new research ideas for addressing regional and planetary challenges. Many thanks should go Fred and Gary for their intellectual leadership; and to Rika and Tanya for their logistical support!

Facilitated by Christine Bell and led by Prof. Stefan Bon, this sandpit event focused on advancing research in Sustainable Plastics. It was organised under the auspices of the Sustainability Spotlight, to expand interdisciplinary network, and explore collaborative research opportunities. Attendees also were given the opportunity to apply for pump-prime funding following the workshop to grow their interdisciplinary research further. For more information see the event page here. Particular thanks go to Christine Bell, Prof. Stefan Bon, and Rachael Kirwan, for their amazing organisation and intellectual input.