Research Excellence Framework

B7: Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences

Providing solutions for society and the economy

Research REF 2021 Results
A postgraduate student wearing a white laboratory coat and blue medical gloves conducts a wildlife ecology experiment using a small electrical device in a biological sciences laboratory

Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences research is divided into distinct themes: Genetic and Molecular Applications; Wildlife Ecology, and Geoscience.  


For our Genetic and Molecular researchers, the prevalence of antibiotics in natural and
anthropic systems is a key focus, with specialisms in anti-microbial resistance,
biotechnology, genomics and computational biology related to global food security.

Our Wildlife Ecology research investigates tropical ecosystem challenges; upland landscape ecology; and biodiversity conservation, while Geoscience research specialises in applications of advanced automated mineral analysis; forensic geoscience; geo-archaeology; and applied mineralogy.

Biotechnology and food security Research

A birds-eye view of a herd of cows running.

REF Highlights

  • More than 50% of the Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences research is
    recognised as world leading or internationally excellent (4* / 3*) 
  • Joint first in the UK for impact out of 40 universities - based on 4* / 3*
  • 100% of our research impact is internationally excellent (3*)

Unit of Assessment Results

 
% 4*
% 3*
% ≤  2*
Overall
 4 49 47
Outputs
 5.9 41.2 52.9
Impact
 0.0 100.0 0.0
Environment
 0.0 0.0 100.0

For the full results visit www.ref.ac.uk

Impact Case Studies

Aerial view down onto green forest.
Informing policy for tropical terrestrial biodiversity conservation
Contributing to global food security