UAB, a referent in environmental and sustainability research
Over the years, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona has positioned itself as a research and innovation level at a general level (and such is endorsed by international rankings like CWUR and CyD), and when it comes to environmental and Sustainability issues it is not an exception. Today, June 5th, on World Environment Day, we are highlighting and analysing the environmental capacities at the UAB campus.
With a multidisciplinary and collaborative look, UAB promotes pioneer projects that address ecological transition from science, technology, territorial planification, economy, and governance. In this article, we are analysing the lines of action and capacities to make UAB a referent in green transformation.
Capacities by UAB departments
At the UAB we have at our disposal a wide academic structure that integrates sustainability and the environment as transversal axes. This multidisciplinary approach allows to address the great challenges that ecological transition presents from all possible points of view.
The Department of Geography is one of the departments with the most transversal presence in sustainability, through their remote sensing and GIS for territorial analysis, analysis of the environmental impact of tourism, management of natural and mountain areas, sustainable local development, environmentally efficient mobility and transport, coastal and maritime areas and sustainable tourism.
The Department of Applied Economy mainly takes part in a socio-economic analysis related to the environment: whether it is with environmental impact of the economic activity, the economy of natural resources and environmental policies, or the relationship between institutional issues and sustainable development.
The Department of Chemical, Biological, and Environmental Engineering is specialised in technologies for the treatment and recovery of waste: removal of nutrients from wastewater, degradation of industrial contaminants, and valorisation of waste through biological processes.
The Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology, and Ecology has, obviously, a great deal of importance when studying and researching ecology and biodiversity in many fields, such as the prevention of invasive exotic species, research on health, and plant development in environments of environmental stress. It also contributes by training PhD candidates in terrestrial ecology, biodiversity, and plant biotechnology.
The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, though its focus is on biomedicine, contributes to teaching and researching environmental biotechnology through lines of action linked to molecular and physiological processes.
Leading research centres and institutes
The UAB has a network of research centres and institutes of international renown and excellence that are leading pioneer projects and promote initiatives of applied sciences in different lines within environment and sustainability.
The Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals (ICTA-UAB) addresses the main environmental challenges related to global change and anthropogenic climate. Researchers at ICTA-UAB develop advanced research in specific areas of environmental sciences through three general areas: Earth and Life Sciences, Social and Environmental Sciences and Technology, and Environment and Society.
CREAF is nature’s NASA! It is a public research centre specialised in terrestrial ecology and territorial analysis, with the goal of creating knowledge and tools for the conservation, management, and adaptation of the environment to global changes. Some of their lines of action include societal sciences, regenerative agriculture, and multi-actor collaboration.
CTFC is a centre of research focused on sustainable forest management, biodiversity, and circular bioeconomy, with programmes of multifunctional forest management, landscape dynamics and biodiversity, and bioeconomy, health, and governance.
Spin-offs
But research does not end with just studying; it is complemented and completed with the spin-offs created through university research. In a greener, fairer, and more focused-on-social-impact society, these are essential parts.
Aeris Technologies is a UAB spin-off created by experts of the GENOCOV research group that focuses its activity on designing, building, and maintaining bioreactors for wastewater and waste gas treatment.
Ctrl4Enviro is located at the Eureka building in the UAB Research Park that researches advanced solutions in systems of control and monitoring for environmental processes.
Inèdit is a UAB spin-off born in 2009 focusing on sustainability and environmental prevention research that brings a factor of eco-innovation and eco-design to their clients.
Planet Biotech is a CRAG spin-off that develops and commercialises products for sustainable agriculture, designed to mitigate the effects of climate change. Their patented technology opens a new door to sustainable and affordable solutions to face droughts and heat waves in the fields.
Tectum Garden, born in the Sostenipra research group at ICTA, are specialists in urban agriculture and have a diverse range of expertise to give an interdisciplinary answer to the challenges that represent advancing to more sustainable cities.
