Why research at UEA?

Our research is at the core of everything we do at UEA. As a research-intensive university it drives all our teaching, but our innovative approach to research also has real world impact beyond academia.

Our work is centred around three strategic themes - climate, creative and health. Those themes are just the beginning of our research story. Our work cuts across disciplines, cultures, past and present as we look for innovative solutions to global challenges. Our world-class researchers are working in local, national and international environments, building on our global reputation and developing partnerships to change the world for the better.

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Why choose UEA?

Join a pioneering research community

Research in world-class facilities

Play a role in influencing international policy

Leading the way

UEA has been pioneering since its earliest days, particularly in fields like environmental science and creative writing.

In 1960 Sir Solly Zuckerman proposed the idea of the world's first school of Environmental Sciences at UEA. Today, UEA has the greatest density of environmental scientists working in one place across Norwich Research Park.

In 1970 we established our world-leading creative writing programme. Today our creative writing programme continues to nurture and promote the finest new writers to follow in the footsteps of alumni like Kazuo Ishiguro, Trezza Azzopardi, Tracy Chevalier and Ian McEwan.

Research at UEA

Setting the agenda in climate change research

Our researchers at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research are at the forefront of low-carbon research.

Our research on climate change has, and continues to, play a global role in influencing international policy. In 2007 UEA researchers were co-recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Al Gore, for their contributions to reports that put climate change front and centre on the global stage.

And a team of UEA scientists recently returned from Antarctica after an expedition on the RSS Sir David Attenborough to gather data that will inform and improve climate predictions.

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Curating the past, present and future of creativity

Alongside supporting the next generation of writers, UEA is also committed to preserving the cultural history and value of literature. The British Archive of Contemporary Writing was founded at UEA in 2015 and is used by students, researchers and members of the public.

Our creative work goes beyond writing too, with work happening in virtual reality, branding, education-driven creativity and the visual arts. The Sainsbury Research Unit and Sainsbury Japanese Institute are regional and global centres of innovation, tackling big societal questions.

The Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts opened in 1978 and has been pushing us to think differently ever since. Designed by Lord Norman Foster, it’s an iconic part of our parkland campus and its modern-day collections continue to pose questions and challenge thinking around the role of the visual arts in our culture.

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A Day in the Life of a Mental Health Nurse

Collaboration for a holistic view on health

The interdisciplinary connectedness of our research is what gives our innovation the edge. Although broadly divided across climate, creativity and health, in reality we collaborate across all faculties and with the community.

Our close proximity to partners at Norwich Research Park, including the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, is immensely beneficial to this collaboration. Research looking at the gut microbiome has implications across physical and mental health and sustainability.

Our work with the LIMITLESS programme aims to improve mental health in young people with care experience, by providing a framework to record and reflect upon positive everyday memories.

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Collaboration and innovation

Across Norwich Research Park our researchers speak the same language - even if they’re working on seemingly unrelated areas, we’re always thinking of ways we can connect and collaborate to maximise the real-world impact of our work.

We're committed to investing in our research community to turn transformative research into thriving spinout companies.

Nature Metrics is transforming how we gather and use environmental DNA to report on biodiversity. And Spectral Edge is a company that originated from UEA research, now at the cutting edge of image processing and image quality.

Partnering for innovation

Our researchers are driven by by curiosity, passion and an interdisciplinary approach that fosters creative thinking. We deliver ambitious, high quality and high integrity Research and Innovation, strengthening collaboration and gaining global recognition.

Why research at UEA?

Why choose UEA?

Leading the way

Setting the agenda in climate change research

Curating the past, present and future of creativity

Collaboration for a holistic view on health

Collaboration and innovation

Julian Blow

Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation

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