Engineering and Science Research

Our vision

The Faculty of Engineering and Science uses the latest advances in science and technology to deliver novel, impactful and sustainable solutions to the key challenges now facing society. We deploy fundamental research to solve the world’s most urgent problems as part of applied, challenge-led collaborations with diverse partners.

Our mission is to:

• Develop strong partnerships with industry, policy-makers, NGOs and other academic institutions, while deploying innovative tools and approaches to maximise the impact of our research outputs.
• Create and support a high-quality inclusive academic community, recruiting, mentoring and upskilling members at every stage of their career.
• Provide multidisciplinary, evidence-based responses of the highest quality, arising from our rigorous specialised knowledge.

Our Research Centres

The most powerful way to address the world’s most complex societal challenges is through interdisciplinary research. The Faculty of Engineering and Science is therefore comprised of five Research Centres which draw on multiple disciplines, ensuring appropriate support, mentorship and guidance for researchers at every stage of their career.

• Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
• Centre for Advanced Simulation and Modelling
• Centre for Functional and Organised Molecules
• Centre for Safety, Resilience and Protective Security
• Centre for Sustainable Cyber Security

Our impact on the world

The Faculty of Engineering and Science exists to address the biggest challenges now facing societies in the UK and globally. With data increasingly informing every aspect of our lives, our researchers seek to apply increasingly data-driven solutions to these challenges and to enhance security, trustworthiness and fairness in the ways data is generated and used. We believe in sustainability in its holistic, broadest sense, aiming not only to reduce the harmful impacts of existing technologies and processes but to develop radically new and inherently sustainable alternatives. Our research also focuses on making the world safer, fairer and more just, whether it’s increasing access to medicines in the Global South or improving evacuation procedures in disaster situations.

Our research directly contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Key examples from Faculty of Engineering and Science Research Centres include:

• Work led by the Centre for Sustainable Cyber Security to ensure sustainable entrepreneurship and high technology innovation through protection against cyber and data risks, which contributes to Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8)
• Research at the Centre for Safety, Resilience and Physical Security to improve the safety of aircraft, buildings and passenger ships through more effective standards, policy and designs, which supports Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure (SDG9).
• The development of a novel carbon dioxide mineralisation technology (ACT) by the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, which diverts industrial solid waste from landfill and converts carbon dioxide gas from the atmosphere into construction materials, supporting Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11)
• Circular manufacturing projects at the Centre for Advanced Simulation and Modelling to improve material properties and reduce material wastage ranging from turbine blades to 3D-printed components, which supports Sustainable Consumption and Production (SDG12).
• Work at the Centre for Functional and Organised Molecules on ‘green’ synthesis of molecules using innovative, disruptive technologies such as electrochemistry and photocatalysis, with a focus on scale up to reduce the chemical industry carbon footprint, which supports Climate Action (SDG13).

Knowledge exchange

Researchers at the Faculty of Engineering and Science collaborate closely with external partners in the UK and worldwide to create and share new knowledge for the benefit of society. Among our knowledge exchange partners and activities are:

• The Henry Royce institute, the UK National Institute for Advanced Materials and Innovation, the UK National Cyber Security Centre, and the London Centre for Nanotechnology.
• Local SMEs and world-leading businesses, such as Airbus, AkzoNobel, AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, Boeing, Bombardier, Chevron, Fiat, Ford, G4S, Glaxo-SmithKline, HP, IBM, Lloyds Register, Merck, Mitsubishi, Pfizer, Rolls-Royce, Sainsbury’s Supermarkets, Shell, Thales, Unilever.
• Public sector organisations, such as the NHS, the Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL), the Home Office and the Cabinet Office.
• Overseas organisations, such as US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Australian Defence and Technology Group (DSTG), the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, the International Space Station, in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA).
• Kent Fire and Rescue Service, the Royal Borough of Greenwich and other local authorities.
• Numerous higher education and research institutions in the UK and overseas.

Postgraduate research

All those undertaking postgraduate research at the Faculty of Engineering and Science enjoy the following benefits:

• Automatic enrolment at one of our five Research Centres, vibrant communities that provide world-class research support and mentoring at every career stage.
• A chance to experience a unique research environment, be exposed to a broad methodological landscape and work with leading researchers and practitioners.
• Opportunities to interact with key external partners, and to drive real-world change via impact focussed research.