Science for a sustainable future
Human prosperity and planetary health are interdependent imperatives.
The School of Sustainability exists to accelerate solutions that make both possible. We envision a world where people can live prosperous, meaningful lives in harmony with the planet, and we are building the evidence, coalitions and capabilities to get there.
We are a new kind of team: impact-oriented, intellectually agile and driven by a deep commitment to people and planet. Our work spans research, policy, innovation and implementation, and moves beyond the boundaries of traditional academic projects or partnerships.
This is where world-class research meets real-world urgency, and where bold ideas become systems-changing action.
Our missions
The Schools of Convergence Science are mission-led – shaped by society’s most complex challenges. Below are some exemplar missions the School of Sustainability is exploring:
Nurturing: An Earth that supports prosperous, healthy people and flourishing nature
What if we can provide irrefutable evidence and tested solutions showing that our land can sustain both people and nature – not by trading one off against the other, but by optimising what we take and, importantly, what we as humans give back to nature?
Re-engineering: A step change in the stewardship of limited materials
What if we could fundamentally redefine our relationship with materials, launching convergent systems that share stewardship of critical resources, doing more with less, delivering utility without pollution and demonstrating the benefits of a revitalised planet on the health of its people?
Powering: Systems that can provide 10 billion people with equitable access to clean, healthy energy by 2050
What if we knew how the new energy age will deliver modern society’s hunger for energy? From smart grids, efficiency solutions and evidenced and robust implementation strategies, we will seek to overcome the barriers that are stifling innovative solutions to drive a future that meets our need for equitable, clean energy.
Thriving: Resilient global societies that can withstand increasingly frequent and large-scale environmental shocks
What if everyone had access to the information and proven solutions needed to be fully prepared and insulated against an increasingly harsh planet? What if our interconnected world helped strengthen our collective health and prosperity in a changing world?
Our Co-Directors
Professor Benjamin Barratt
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Professor Benjamin Barratt
School of Sustainability Co-Director
Alyssa Gilbert
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Alyssa Gilbert
School of Sustainability Co-Director
Dr Mirabelle Muûls
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Dr Mirabelle Muûls
School of Sustainability Convenor and Co-Director
Professor Nilay Shah
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Professor Nilay Shah
School of Sustainability Co-Director
I’m excited to help shape the School of Sustainability – a new platform where Imperial’s diverse research expertise comes together to tackle complex and urgent sustainability challenges such as climate, energy and pollution. Through true interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to deliver solutions that don’t just imagine a better future for people and the planet - but help build it. Dr Mirabelle Muûls School of Sustainability Convenor and Co-Director
Get in touch
Contact the School at: sustainable-convergence@imperial.ac.uk