Addressing global challenges through the lens of place
Research driven by the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business
Plymouth's cross-institutional place-based research aligns with government agendas for people and place, as well as UKRI and British Academy priorities. A critical mass of SHAPE – Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy – researchers in collaboration with STEMM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Medicine – colleagues are tackling global challenges associated with health, marine and sustainability.
The Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business is a hub for interdisciplinary, impactful research with strengths in smart cities, environmental building, coastal communities, heritage and place-making, digital and immersive technologies, arts-health research, environmental cultures, lifelong education, and global displacement.
Exploring the modern world through the lens of place
We investigate the intricate relationships between communities, the natural world, and technology.
Locally, we co-create sustainable solutions to complex problems in order to build resilient and thriving neighbourhoods, cities, and regions. Our work transcends geographical, social and political boundaries to become applicable on a global level.
Place-based research explores how a location's unique features and dynamics affect social, economic, cultural, environmental, and political phenomena. This approach:
- involves a geographic concentration on a particular location
- promotes a contextual understanding by taking into account historical and environmental factors
- encourages community involvement to make the research more relevant
- examines interconnected elements within the chosen place through an interdisciplinary approach
Research highlights
Environment and sustainability
At Plymouth, we use the lens of place to offer a transdisciplinary perspective on environmental and sustainability issues. Drawing from fields such as politics, geography, sociology, psychology, literature, education, and the arts, we focus on the human experience and values.
Working with local communities, organisations, authorities and schools, we uncover cultural and social influences on environmental attitudes and explore ethical considerations to foster communication and advocacy and guide efforts toward a more sustainable future.
Delivering on the UK’s defence and security priorities
Discover how the University and its partners across Plymouth are putting the city and its residents at the heart of efforts to enhance national resilience in an ever-changing world.
Heritage, culture and digital innovation
Our research explores the intersection of heritage and digital innovation and harnesses technology to safeguard, interpret, and celebrate cultural heritage in the digital age.
Our ongoing research and partnerships embed communities in the co-creation of digital heritage initiatives. Through this, we foster a sense of ownership and connection to place and local heritage while empowering them to share their stories and perspectives.
Plymouth Perspectives on Place
Building resilience with place-based solutions
Can social sciences, humanities and the arts play a major role in creating community-led policy?
Read the full article
Published in New Statesman
Published in New Statesman
The power of place
Can we empower communities to help them imagine a better climate future?
Read the full article
Published in New Statesman
Impacting communities through research and knowledge exchange
Research impact
Researchers in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Business are actively engaged with stakeholders outside the University context, to contribute to meaningful and tangible benefits for people, the environment, and communities.
AHRC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
This strategic award provides funding to amplify the non-academic impact of arts and humanities research, offering two core funding schemes: the Impact Initiation Fund and the Impact Project and Fellowship Fund. Both schemes aim to establish, develop and accelerate impact from existing, high-quality, published research.
Commercialisation in SHAPE disciplines
Our academics at the forefront of pioneering the commercialisation approaches within social sciences, humanities, and the arts for people and the economy (SHAPE) research.
This initiative showcases the innovative ways our academics transform research into sustainable impact, collaborating with partners to address modern world challenges through creative commercial models.
This initiative showcases the innovative ways our academics transform research into sustainable impact, collaborating with partners to address modern world challenges through creative commercial models.
Latest news
“Why choose Plymouth? Because we don’t just imagine the future – we build it”
Student Alex Alani explains why he travelled to the UK to be part of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Computer Music Research
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Project aims to support people with health conditions or disabilities to overcome barriers to employmentThe Plymouth-led research is being supported through the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s Work and Health Research Initiative
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You’re hired! Secondary students have a taste of business successPupils from schools and colleges across the South West came to the University to pitch ideas as part of Enterprise Day.
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Plymouth student selected for Commonwealth GamesDoaa Shayea will compete for Team England in Para Powerlifting this summer
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![Illustration graduate Jamie England, who designed the wraparound for the machine; Amy and Dan from Supamatic, who installed the machine; and Illustration programme lead Ashley Potter]()
Vending machine with a twist showcases students’ creativityThe machine stocks small, affordable pieces designed by local creatives, including students and alumni from the University of Plymouth
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Our research environment
Postgraduate research
Become part of our scholarly community that proudly includes a wide range of research approaches and disciplines
Engaging with policy toolkit
Guidance on how government, parliament and policy making works and how researchers can engage with policy-making processes
Digital innovations
Our cutting edge facilities attracts and supports researchers from a wider range of disciplines
Our research and expertise
Discover world-leading research and expertise from across the University of Plymouth
Strategic Research Institutes
Marine Institute
Advancing sustainable use of the marine environment through our systems-thinking approach to research, education and innovation.
Sustainable Earth Institute
Solving complex global sustainability challenges through a holistic, solutions-oriented approach to research, education, innovation and knowledge exchange.