Research

Sustainability challenges often have multiple causes, making it important to bring on board multiple disciplinary perspectives when developing solutions.

At YESI, we focus on three key research themes that align with both global challenges and the University of York’s established areas of expertise. These themes reflect the breadth and depth of our research strengths, brought together through collaboration across faculties and disciplines—a unique approach that sets us apart.

Each theme is led by two York academics who are responsible for advancing cutting-edge research and driving innovation, ensuring that our work remains at the forefront of tackling the world’s most pressing sustainability issues.

Food, Water & Waste

Developing global research into food, water and waste systems resilience and sustainability
Designing integrated solutions to deliver improved food security across the food system

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Resilient Socio-ecological Systems

Investigating socio-political, environmental and economic dimensions of coupled ecological-economic-social systems to ensure resilience, sustainability and equity
Understanding the interactions and feedbacks among species and ecosystem dynamics and human behaviour
Identifying and evaluating practical, effective, and equitable solutions that induce consumers, organisations, businesses and governments, especially those with high resource consumption, to take more sustainable decisions to deliver more resilient socio-ecological systems for the future.

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Rebecca Kariuki shaking hands with John Supuk, a Maasai chief.Taken from the Amboseli National Park boarder in southern Kenya

Environment & Health

Improve understanding of the links between ecosystem and human health and wellbeing
Develop and evaluate nature-based solutions for physically and mentally healthier futures.

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