University of Exeter extends partnership with The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) for joint research centre

The University of Exeter has extended its partnership with The Chinese University of Hong Kong to tackle emerging issues related to a changing environment and human health and wellbeing.

The two universities have signed a new five-year commitment to the CUHK – University of Exeter Joint Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Resilience (ENSURE).

Launched in June 2018, the £1.9 million (HK$20m) joint endeavour aims to embark on large, impactful interdisciplinary collaborations and was the first of its kind in Hong Kong. ENSURE serves as a platform for international academic exchange, promoting policy related works, and nurturing the next generation of young researchers to address sustainable development challenges.

The new agreement was officially signed during a recent visit to CUHK by Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at The University of Exeter. Professor Lisa Roberts, and Professor Alan Chan, Provost and Professor Mai Har Sham, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of CUHK, agreed that priorities for ENSURE in the next phase will include a concerted focus on impact, engaging with policy and industry and involving early-career researchers and new PhD students with dedicated support to engage in research in these key areas.

Over the last five years, ENSURE has provided project funding for five major research collaborations between CUHK and The University of Exeter academics, each between £100,000 and £140,000 and ran over several years between 2018 and 2023.

There have been some incredible outputs including several publications (for example, in journals such as: Nature Food; Food and Energy Security; The Cryosphere; and with others submitted and under review), briefings and engagement with policymakers, the building of research outputs in undergraduate curricula at CUHK, and presentations on solutions to global climate crises presented to several symposia and conferences (including those hosted at Cornwall and Streatham and at CUHK).

The projects we have supported to date cover the following themes:

• Global Food Security, Climate Change and Resilience: An International Perspective
• Sustainability of Coastal Megalopolises in the Face of Global Environmental Change: China’s Greater Bay Area
• Transboundary Air Pollution in China and UK: Intensity, Attribution and Impacts
• Global Forest Management to Reap Triple Benefits for Economy, Health and Climate
• Hydrological Significance of Rock Glaciers: Potential Water Resources in a Warming Climate

The new agreement was officially signed during a recent visit to CUHK by Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at The University of Exeter. Professor Lisa Roberts, and Professor Alan Chan, Provost and Professor Mai Har Sham, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of CUHK, agreed that priorities for ENSURE in the next phase will include a concerted focus on impact, engaging with policy and industry and involving early-career researchers and new PhD students with dedicated support to engage in research in these key areas.

Professor Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive at The University of Exeter said: “I am delighted that we have extended our commitment with CUHK to our joint research centre on environment and sustainability, ENSURE, for a further five years, and I am extremely proud of the achievements of ENSURE over the last five years. It is extremely important to collaborate with our strategic and global partners to work together to create a greener, healthier and fairer world.”

Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor of CUHK said: “By harnessing the expertise of both institutions, ENSURE has achieved remarkable milestones in advancing sustainable development through collaborative research and knowledge exchange in areas such as food security and climate change, air pollution, and coastal ecosystems. The renewal of the partnership reflects our shared dedication to creating a sustainable and socially just future, and I am confident that the centre will continue to play a pivotal role in driving impactful change globally”.

The renewal will allow the partnership to support new collaborative research projects and to develop a new Split-Site PhD scheme to support promising young researchers engaging with and benefiting from the expertise in environmental studies and related fields.

It will also enable the centre to take forward research projects which align with its missions whilst also expanding the network of academics to include more early-career researchers who will be well-placed to reinforce the bonds between the two universities into the future.

The ENSURE renewal took place as part of proceedings for the ENSURE Workshop and Symposium. The two-day workshop featured two sessions aligned with the focus themes for ENSURE over the next five years: “Food-Water-Energy-Ecosystem Nexus and Planetary Health” and “Bracing for Climate Extremes and Climate Change.”  Participants were invited to give a presentation on their research work and discuss potential new projects of collaboration.

The workshop also comprised of an externally facing Symposium session, engaging with a diverse audience of stakeholders in climate science and policy. CUHK and the University of Exeter colleagues shared their research findings and insights on how resources can be better managed to ensure economic, social and environmental sustainability.