Resources
Providing for human needs in ways that sustainably manage finite resources and recover value from rather than lose materials into the environment.
The Resources challenge area explores the importance of providing for human needs and regenerating nature by sustainably managing both renewable and finite resources, and recovering value rather than wasting energy, materials and water. The magnitude of the threats of not achieving the Resourceful Futures objectives is significant enough to consider it an independent challenge, but is clearly interlinked with the rest of the challenges of Sustainable Futures. The smart management of resources implies a systemic vision and is crucial to becoming resilient, tackling climate change and achieving healthy and inclusive futures.
The Resources challenge area brings together academics with different perspectives to collaborate. Our members are:
- Dr Claudia Henninger
- Dr Joe Blakey
- Nicolas Labra, Deputy lead
- Dr Claire Hoolohan
- Dr Diarmaid Clery
- Dr Edidiong Asuquo
- Elisabeth Allen, Deputy lead
- Prof Cise Unluer
- Prof Maria Sharmina
- Dr Okechukwu Okorie
- Dr Saeed Reza Mohandes
If you are interested to be part of one (or more) of the subgroups and being informed of future activities (e.g. specific seminars, working in internal or external consortia for calls or doing networking) please contact the Area Challenge Lead Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid.
Case Studies
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Zombie batteries
Exploding or zombie batteries can cause injury and disruption during the recycling of discarded electronics. Experts at The University of Manchester have used artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to develop a vision-based device to scan electrical junk and detect problem batteries - even in the most damaged equipment.
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Reducing waste at festivals
Every year millions of festivalgoers across the globe gather to enjoy live music. But once the party is over, they often leave a large ecological footprint behind. Seeking a greener way forward, researchers at The University of Manchester helped Glastonbury Festival reduce waste via education and behavioural change initiatives.
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Resources Steering Group
Click here for more information on our Steering Group members.
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Take the Resources survey!
We are scoping expertise and interests in order to facilitate collaboration in research and knowledge exchange. If your research or professional activity is in this area, we'd value your input.
Complete the survey here
Resources Challenge Lead
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Dr Alejandro Gallego Schmid, Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) in Circular Economy and Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment at the Department of Engineering for Sustainability.
Alejandro is part of Tyndall Manchester - an interdisciplinary team working on relevant research on climate change sustainability, where he works identifying sustainable solutions for industrial, agricultural, textile, construction, water and energy systems on a life cycle and circular economy basis, taking into account economic, environmental and social aspects. His current research is focused on: i) the role of circular economy to tackle climate change and achieve net-zero solutions; ii) the implementation of circular economy in renewable sources of energy; iii) circular economy and the informal waste sector in the Global South; and iv) the nexus between circular economy and digitalization.