Research
We believe in putting our knowledge to work and fully supporting our researchers to fulfill their potential in an atmosphere of friendly collaboration.
Why not join us and see what we can achieve together?
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Autonomous Systems and Advanced Robotics (ASAR)
ASAR is at the forefront of strategic research initiatives funded by the UK Government, EU and industry. Our research provides applications for many sectors including automotive and aerospace manufacturing, space exploration, food production, and healthcare.
In 2020, ASAR begins work on a new, £13m Robotics Innovation Centre, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. This will be a UK hub for businesses seeking innovative solutions for infrastructure, supply chains and health technology in a post-COVID world.
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Salford’s Health Sciences Research Centre is currently home to an £11m EPSRC-funded centre in prosthetics and orthotics. This brings together 27 industry, healthcare and academic partners to address challenges in healthcare technology and improve the experiences of those who rely on prosthetic and orthotic services.
Working with our collaborators we are providing training to doctoral level for a cohort of UK and international students to address a global shortage of expertise.
Energy House
Our unique Energy House Laboratory helps businesses understand how effective their products and services are in lowering consumers’ carbon footprint and reducing energy bills. A £16m investment, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund and the Office for Students, will see this transformed into Energy House 2.0. This research and testing facility will enable us to continue to investigate energy efficiency and design innovations for smart and sustainable living in the future.
Health, Welfare and Policy
Our Centre for Social and Health Research (CSHR) is currently leading an ESRC-funded project to investigate access to welfare support during and after the COVID-19 crisis.
COVID-19 is placing an unprecedented amount of pressure on the UK benefits system and our researchers are conducting a large-scale investigation into the individuals applying for credit for the first time and the experiences of claimants navigating a new system and associated support virtually.
DECOLONISING ENGLISH CURRICULUMS
Funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), researchers in our Arts, Media & Communication (AMC) research centre are challenging conventional narratives around the involvement of African writers and artists in modernism. This research aims to provide a comprehensive account of how South African writers helped shape the evolution of literary modernism, traditionally considered a Euro-American artistic movement.
Findings from the research will provide materials to aid educators in reframing how modernism is taught in secondary, FE and HE levels, enhancing cultural understanding of African contributions to a major literary movement.
INDUSTRY COLLABORATION
Our industry collaboration strategy ensures our research is informed by and addresses the challenges and changes within society. We prioritise this collaborative, interdisciplinary approach because we believe this is essential to solving the complex problems the world is facing today.
Our research success is dependent upon the success of our academics and postgraduate students working in productive partnerships with industry, public organisations and the third sector to apply our expertise to real-world issues.
Work with us to develop the technologies of the future within the areas of:
- Industry 4.0
- Ageing and bio-health
- Energy, housing and infrastructure
- Sustainability and environmental quality
- Resilience and leadership
Research news
Research Impact
We believe that our research should directly benefit the world around us. This demonstrable contribution and improvement to society, the economy, the environment, technology, and community wellbeing is known as ‘impact’.
Our commitment to demonstrating real-world impact from our research was recognised in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework exercise, where the impact in several of our long-established research areas was rated as predominantly of world-leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) quality. Examples include:
- Social Work and Social Policy – 100% 3* or 4*
- Architecture, Built Environment and Planning – 87% 3* or 4*
- Business and Management Studies – 87% 3* or 4*
Explore the case studies below to learn more about the impact from our current research, or browse our Impact Blog for more information:
Public Engagement
Festival of Research
Our annual Festival of Research showcases Salford’s research to the local community, providing a variety of engaging events on campus, in Peel Park and across venues in Manchester and Salford. Working closely with Salford City Council we have co-created previous festivals with more than 70 of our industry and community partners. Our festival makes our research accessible to all and includes a programme of activity designed specifically for local schools.
The festival will return, bigger and better in 2021, so watch this space and follow our updates on Twitter @Festivalofrese1.
To get in touch with us about the festival please email festivalofresearch@salford.ac.uk.
Manchester Science Festival
Salford is the lead educational partner for Manchester Science Festival. This is organised by the Science and Industry Museum to create innovative, inspiring and educational experiences around Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
In past festivals, we have showcased innovative sci-art experiences created with our industrial and artistic partners. As part of the 2018 festival, researchers from our Biomedical Research Centre co-produced the mixed media installation, MicroBiHome to enable understanding of the interaction between microbes and the human body. In 2017, our Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre researchers designed the AquAIRium; an immersive, dry aquarium, providing a virtual exploration of ocean life and conservation activities.
ESRC Festival of Social Science
ESRC Festival of Social Science is a national festival that is now in its 18th year. Salford partners with the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University to produce a local programme of events to present recent developments in social science research. Past events have covered contemporary themes, such as, ageing and health, education, virtual reality and AI, and climate change.
The festival aims to engage the wider community through a range of mechanisms including interactive workshops, exhibitions, participatory research, and debates. We use this venue both for showcasing our research and for seeking feedback from our local community to contribute to our current research projects and help us shape future research agendas.
Salford Institute for Dementia
Salford Institute for Dementia (SID) brings together an interdisciplinary team of academics drawn from the sciences, technology, arts and humanities and social science to undertake research into dementia in the areas of creativity, technology and the environment. The institute seeks to improve the lives of people living with dementia and their supporters ensuring they can live as well as possible.
Academics work in close partnership with a panel of Dementia Associates, who have direct experience of living with, or supporting someone who is living with, dementia. Through co-production, Dementia Associates contribute to setting the Institute’s research agenda, from the bidding stages to the management of funded projects and contribute to the organisation of conferences and engagement events.
Contacts
- Explore our staff directory to find academic expertise.
- For general enquiries on public engagement and research impact please email research-impact@salford.ac.uk or visit the Research with Impact blog and guidance website.
- For media enquiries please contact our Press Office.
Research Governance
The University of Salford’s Research Code of Practice outlines our commitment to conducting all research and impact activities to the highest levels of integrity. Our research governance policies and procedures ensure we act responsibly, ethically and in accordance with professional standards.