Nexus Knowledge Dissemination // University of Southhampton Strategic Research Group
The University of Southhampton, United Kingdom, has launched an interdisciplinary strategic research group on the water energy food (WEF) nexus. In-line with it's strategic Vision-2020, this will provide a hub for collaborative interdisciplinary research to advance sustainable WEF resource development.
About the WEF Nexus Strategic Research Group
Demand for water, energy, and food (WEF) is increasing with global population growth. The WEF Nexus describes the interacting interplay between different sectors by which exploitation of one resource may negatively impact others. Efficient and sustainable WEF resource management is urgently needed to enhance and maintain quality of life. This University Strategic Research Group (USRG) will spearhead the advancement of understanding of how to develop WEF resources sustainably to benefit societies and the environment. The USRG will provide a focal point for defining and setting the agenda for NEXUS research so that we are placed as a world leader in this field.
This topic is of international importance (World Economic Forum 2011, 2014) and targets the need of societies globally. Economic success is dependent on WEF security and supply, despite ageing infrastructure, increased geopolitical insecurity, and the constraints of targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Water: Population growth places strain on inadequate distribution systems, resulting in nearly 1 billion people worldwide being unable to access safe drinking water and sanitation. In the UK, current infrastructure will be unable to cope with future demand that will exceed resource availability, particularly during drought exacerbated by climate change.
Energy: By 2020, 30% of the current UK electricity generating capacity will need to be replaced by a low carbon energy system, as ageing power stations and existing infrastructure are decommissioned. The UK needs to advance novel technology and install new infrastructure to mitigate for environmental impacts.
Food: All stocks of commercially important fish are predicted to collapse by 2050 at current rates of harvest. In the UK, agricultural resilience must be improved in the face of extreme climate events that will become more frequent and intense. The area of agricultural land in England and Wales at frequent risk of flooding is predicted to double by the 2050s and rise by more than 150% by the 2080s.
Defining and solving the challenges that emerge when exploiting WEF resources in combination requires integrating expertise from multiple disciplines. In-line with the University’s strategic Vision-2020, this USRG will provide a hub for collaborative interdisciplinary research to advance sustainable WEF resource development. As well as incorporating staff who carry out research in the WEF areas, staff within the University that have expertise in areas that provide common linkages or at the interfaces between WEF, including soils and ecosystem services, will also be invited to participate.
Members
The NEXUS Science USRG has two chairs and four co-chairs listed as below:
Chairs:
Professor Paul Kemp, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (P.Kemp@soton.ac.uk)
Dr Joel Smethurst, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment (J.A.Smethurst@soton.ac.uk)
Co-Chairs
Professor Guy Poppy, Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Professor Alan Jackson, Faculty of Medicine
Professor Tiina Roose, Faculty of Engineering and the Environment
Dr Julian Leyland, Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences
USRG Coordinator
Patricia Worby p.worby@soton.ac.uk
Aims
Nexus Science aims to bring together and foster a community of researchers from across disciplines and Faculties, within academia and industry, to address the need to meet world demand and to ensure long-term Water/Energy/Food security, finding a way for integrated, efficient, and sustainable resources management.
Planned Projects
The USRG is addressing an issue of international importance and targets the need of societies globally. Economic success depends on Water/Energy/Food security and supply, and it has to be delivered despite ageing infrastructure, increased geopolitical insecurity, and the constraints of targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As well as incorporating researchers who carry out research in the WEF areas, we invite University colleagues with expertise in areas that provide common linkages or that exist at the interfaces between Water, Energy and Food, (including soils and ecosystem services) to participate.