The University of Brighton’s newest centre of research excellence, the Centre for Environment and Society (CES) was officially launched at an event held at the university on Friday 27 June 2025.
The CES launch event was opened by the university’s PVC for Research & Knowledge Exchange Professor Rusi Jaspal and hosted by centre’s Co-Directors Prof James Ebdon and Dr Corina Ciocan.
Following a brief introduction to the Centre for Environment and Society’s aim, objectives and scope, representatives from each of the five research themes, namely: 1) People, Nature and Place; 2) Water, Health and Humans; 3) Ecology and Conservation; 4) Geoscience and Society; and 5) Environmental Data and Spatial Intelligence; provided further details of the centre’s focus.
The launch event featured an exciting and carefully collated blend of events* including keynote presentations by invited external speakers, brief introductions to our research themes, example projects on subject ranging from conservation of wild carnivores in Africa to sensory inequalities and access to blue spaces in Sussex, along with research and knowledge exchange posters, exhibitor stalls and wine tasting. You can see the full schedule together with links to presentation slides below.
The event drew in visitors, speakers, and exhibitors from across the university and the region, representing local organisations, companies, trusts, governmental organisations and community partners including Southern Water, South East Water, Binnies, Mott MacDonald, WRC, IFCA, Sussex Bay, Final Straw Foundation, Blue Marine Foundation, Aqass Ltd, Shoreham Port Association and Brighton and Hove County Council.
The event provided an opportunity to showcase interdisciplinary research from across the centre and for attendees to ask questions and network with one another over refreshments at intervals throughout the afternoon.
If you wish to find out more about the event please follow this link to the CES launch day schedule and accompanying slide content. If you or your organisation are interested in becoming a member (or an associate member) of the Centre for Environment and Society then please email us on EnvSocCORE@brighton.ac.uk.
Schedule of Centre of Environment and Society launch
Follow links for pdf versions of presentation slides.
Session One
1.00-1.05 pm Welcome and background to CORE from Professor Rusi Jaspal, Pro Vice-Chancellor (R&KE)
1.05-1.15 pm – Brief introduction to the Centre for Environment and Society and the launch event details – Centre Co-directors Professor James Ebdon and Dr Corina Ciocan.
1.15-1.30 pm Keynote 1
Dr Nick Mills, Head of Innovation Southern Water – priority areas for research and innovation within Southern Water: challenges and opportunities.
1.30-1.45 pm Introductions to the five research strands
People, Nature and Place – Professor Becky Elmhirst
Water, Health and Humans –Professor James Ebdon
Ecology and Conservation – Dr Corina Ciocan
Geoscience and Society – Dr Lorna Linch
Environmental Data and Spatial Intelligence – Dr Matthew Brolly
Comined pdf of all research strand slides.
1.45-2.00 pm Keynote 2
Read more about our keynote speaker Catja de Hass
2.00-3.00pm Lunch
Session Two (Huxley 300 Lecture Theatre)
3.00pm – 4.00pm Dr Bogdan Cristescu – Africa project
Sadie Rockliffe (PhD student)– Accessible Waters Project
Prof Martin Smith – Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) Project (Wild Park)
Dr Andy Chandler-Grevatt – Moss Safari
Questions and closing Remarks
Refreshments, networking and optional tour of laboratory facilities
