Past projects
Project in bold (external link to SEI website)
AIR Network
The AIR (Air Pollution Interdisciplinary Research) Network was an interdisciplinary research partnership of African and European researchers and African community members, with the long-term aim of creating innovative, participatory solutions to air pollution and its effects on human health in low-resource settings in sub-Saharan Africa.
Air pollution and SDGs in Africa as a Focus for Interdisciplinary Research collaborations (ASAFIR)
This project explored the potential for future interdisciplinary research to tackle such complex environmental challenges, using air pollution as a focus around which to explore new collaborations and research opportunities that will ultimately support progress towards the SDGs for countries across Africa.
Air quality drivers for sub-Saharan Africa (AQD-Nairobi)
AQD-Nairobi aimed to identify the drivers of personal and community exposure through measurements of air pollutants and air quality monitoring.
Black Carbon and Tropospheric Ozone Assessment
The assessment considered all aspects of anthropogenic emissions of black carbon and tropospheric ozone precursors, such as methane. It analysed trends in emissions of these substances and the drivers of these emissions; summarized the science of atmospheric processes where these substances are involved; discussesed related impacts on the climatic system, human health, crops in vulnerable regions and ecosystems and the societal responses to the environmental changes caused by those impacts. Read about the assessment report.
Citizen Science and Air Pollution
This project ran from July to December 2015, funded using SEI Seed and Innovation funds provided by SIDA. The aims of this project were to:
- Perform a pilot study on monitoring of indoor and outdoor PM levels use personal mobile monitors in a key informal settlement of Nairobi (Mukuru) using six ‘community champions’ selected to represent different ages, genders and occupations from within the informal settlement; and
- Work with the community champions to communicate about the results of the study to other local residents, policy-makers including local government officials, and other researchers working in the area.
CiXPAG Interaction of climate extremes, air pollution and agro-ecosystems
The project developed further a flux-based approach in ozone chemistry and climate models. State-of-the-art global and regional climate model simulations were combined with statistical downscaling approaches to provide better information on climate extremes relevant to agriculture.
Direct measurement of microbial methane oxidation in peat soils in relation to vegetation cover
The work carried out in this project complemented measurements of net methane fluxes by separating out the dominant component fluxes by measuring directly levels of methane oxidation across vegetation types at Lake Vyrnwy, Wales using stable isotopes.
Equitable Resilience in Local Institutions (ERLI)
This project filled vital knowledge, policy and practice gaps on how equitable resilience can be secured through local institutions. Building on a large body of published experiences of resilience practice, it investigate how key themes linking equity and resilience play out in different social and environmental setting
EUCANET was the European Agencies Network for citizenship, inclusion, involvement and empowerment of communities through the urban transformation process.
Evaluation of Derwenthorpe
This project evaluated whether the new Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust development of Derwenthorpe, York, succeeded in its aim of being a sustainable, low-carbon community.
Health and wellbeing benefits of greenspaces
This project brought together environmental and health researchers to understand if more specific ‘greenspace dose’ recommendations can be made to improve health and wellbeing.
Implementing Creative Methodological Innovations for Inclusive Sustainable Transport Planning (i-CMiiST) was funded by the British Academy’s Cities & Infrastructure programme. The project explored whether more creative co-design methods can reveal alternative, more inclusive streetscape options that facilitate safer urban mobility.
Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP)
SEI's York Centre contributed to Yorkshire Integrated Catchment Solutions Programme (iCASP) by hosting a workshop with stakeholders from farming, agricultural policy and scientific research to explore integrated nitrogen management (INM) approaches.
Integrating knowledge for food systems resilience (IKnowFood)Integrating knowledge for food systems resilience (IKnowFoood)
iKnowFood was a 3.3 million pound, four year project (2016-2020) led by the York Management School’s (TYMS) with collaborators from across the University of York and the Universities of Liverpool and Manchester. The project explored resilience on farms; in supply chains; and among consumers.
Livelihood improvements in the Sahel
This project studied different dimensions comparing the ‘re-greened’ with ‘conventional’ areas of agro-eco systems, looking into both social and biophysical aspects.
Modelling and Mapping of Ozone Flux
See the DO3SE model for recent information.
Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the aim of the project is to get local communities and visitors to the Peak District and surrounding areas to collect data over a long period of time to help understand how moorlands and the species they support are responding to climate change.
Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network
OPAL has been encouraging people to get back in touch with nature by enabling them to explore and study their local environments.
OPEN EU
The OPEN:EU project developed a comprehensive and foresighted set of EU consumption indicators that can be used to facilitate greater transparency in decision making and high-quality policy and transform the European Union (EU) to a One Planet Economy by 2050.
Regeneration and Optimisation of Cultural heritage in creative and Knowledge cities (ROCK)
The project developed new ways to access and experience Cultural Heritage (CH) ensuring environmental sound solutions, city branding, bottom-up participation using living labs, while increasing liveability and safety in the involved areas.
The project integrated environmental, economic and equity considerations into decision making around livestock intensification.
Restoration of blanket bog vegetation
The Defra funded peatland project BD5104 investigated different management possibilities of heather dominated blanket bog vegetation and their impact on plant biodiversity, carbon sequestration and water regulation. The project will initially run from 2011 to 2016.
Sensors for Clean Water
Access to clean water is fundamental for life. It is estimated that more than 1.5 million children under five years old die every year from diarrhoeal diseases due to unsafe water and a lack of basic sanitation. This project used a participatory approach for technology innovation, specifically in Vanuatu.
Sustainable Manufacturing and Environmental Pollution (SMEP)
SEI´s SMEP study provided a solid scientific basis for the initial calls for proposals launched as part of the broader FCDO-UNCTAD SMEP Programme, a GBP 25 million umbrella research initiative addressing the issue of manufacturing pollution in Africa and Asia. The SMEP programme was launched in 2019 and will run until the end of 2024. For more information and to discover ongoing opportunities, visit the SMEP website.