ARCC news for January 2017
Hello 2017!
To start the year, I’d like to launch straight into a new initiative from the ARCC network – a provocation series whereby we want to tackle the big questions relating to the built environment and infrastructure sectors. I encourage all of you to consider the questions we will pose over the coming months in the context of your own experience and role within these sectors. These discussions, in addition to informing the broader research community, will also contribute to our ongoing work with EPSRC and the other research councils to articulate what a sustainable and resilient built environment really can look like. Click through to the ARCC website for the first provocation…
And continue reading below for the latest from around the ARCC network.
Roger B Street
Principal Investigator
News from the ARCC network
ARCC event report – focusing on research needs in the built environment
In late 2016, EPSRC and the ARCC network invited researchers to identify emerging challenges and priorities in built environment research following on from evidence submitted in the recent EPSRC Balancing Capability exercise, and centred on the four interlinked outcomes included in their delivery plan: productivity, connectedness, resilience and health. This event was attended by over 60 researchers and stakeholders and focused on buildings (domestic and non-domestic, urban, suburban and rural), and their interactions with occupants, the surrounding curtilage, form, supporting services, and environment. The summary report and other information from the event is available online.
New Provocation series: What is the future for built environment research?
Call for papers: UK Construction Week 2017
Due 17 February 2017
What does the construction industry need to know? We invite you to join us in preparing seminar proposals for UK Construction Week, being held 10–12 October 2017 at the NEC in Birmingham. We attended last year, working with researchers who are looking at future materials, building performance tools, safety in construction and flood management. 2017 presents another opportunity to get research out to the industry with over 30,000 visitors expected at this event.
ARCC-led Future materials and processes feature at Ecobuild
7–9 March 2017, London
Don’t miss out on the biggest sustainability event for built environment professionals. ARCC will be there with displays of low carbon products, those inspired by nature, and future processes and manufacturing. This stand includes research from the University of Cambridge, University College London, Imperial College London, Coventry University, University of Reading, University of Manchester, and University of Bath.
Watch this space for more information on our display … and don’t forget to register to attend.
ARCC involved in Flood and Coast 2017
28–30 March 2017, Telford
ARCC is pleased to be part of a presentation of leading EPSRC-funded research focusing on SME flood resilience at the second Flood and Coast conference. The conference will draw together key stakeholders from the flood and coastal erosion risk management community, including local authorities, infrastructure owners, consultancies, contractors, businesses, community groups and universities.
Conference programme and registration.
ARCC So what now what? guide: Toolkit to improve resilience of health and social care services for older people
Researchers with the EPSRC-funded Built Infrastructure for Older People’s Care in Conditions of Climate Change (BIOPICCC) project have devised a framework to identify the formal and informal health and social care systems which act as resource networks. These all rely on the built infrastructure – for example, roads, utilities and buildings – to function effectively. The BIOPICCC team explains the work and its implications in a new ARCC So what? Now what? guide.
Urban microclimate: overcoming obstacles to high density resilient cities – event report
6 January 2017, London
Working with the CIBSE Resilient Cities Group, ARCC brought together 65 policy, industry and academic experts to consider the current state of knowledge and understanding of the various built form-driven effects on urban performance and resilience. The event provided an opportunity for researchers and practitioners to review and debate our current understanding of the interdependent dynamic relationships between high density urban typologies, urban climate, energy management, use of green infrastructure and the health and well-being of urban dwellers.
Follow up on the ARCC website for more information.
Event videos: Breathe Easy – engineering air quality solutions
20 October 2016, Birmingham
Are you interested in the impact poor air quality has in homes? On transport? How it contributes to the spread of infectious disease? Collaborating with major membership groups CIBSE and the IET, these areas and more were covered at this half-day workshop, as well as highlighting the engineering solutions available. Videos from the IET.tv are now online.
Climate Change: what’s next? Event in Westminster
7 February 2017
Have you spoken about climate change recently? Emerging research in the climate change communications discipline tells us that despite the polarising nature of the topic, it is important to continue to have these public conversations.
In December 2016, ARCC’s parent-group UKCIP worked with global communication specialists Mediaplanet to deliver the latest contributions to the climate conversation in business, infrastructure, adaptation, climate finance, the 1.5C target, climate conversations, built environment, and flood resilience. You may be particularly interested to read the article from Heriot-Watt University on Waiting for the haitus of low-carbon building policy to end Or John Dora on Are our cities ready for climate change?
This work has the support of leading climate change advocate Christiana Figueres, as well as Caroline Lucas from the UK All-Parliamentary Party Group on Climate Change – see the articles on the What’s next website.
Come and hear some exciting and dynamic speakers on 7 February.
Opportunities & events
Report released: Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) 2017
Defra have now released its response to the Evidence Report (pdf, 370 KB) prepared by the ASC, supporting the ‘more action needed’ tag by the ASC for flooding and coastal change risks, and the effect of rising temperatures on people’s health. Both of these are of concern for the built environment and infrastructure sectors, with opportunities existing for collaboration between research and industry to ensure the challenges of a change climate are met.
Invitation: EPSRC Engineering Theme workshops, London, Birmingham and Scotland
EOI due 31 January 2017
EPSRC are holding a series of workshops to engage with a cross-section of the engineering research community and related areas to share EPSRC’s strategy for the Delivery Plan 2016–17 / 2019–20, with attendees having the opportunity to provide input and feedback on Engineering’s contributions.
Call for papers: International Symposium on Sustainable Refurbishment of the Built Environment
Due 1 February 2017
The Refurbishment Symposium provides an environment in which thought leaders in industry, academia and the professions across the world can communicate, present research and share best practice in sustainable refurbishment with the ultimate aim to improve standards and reduce emissions relating to the global housing stock.
Job opportunity – Building Performance Consultant, Oxford Brookes University
Due 14 February 2017
Do you have the knowledge and skills to tackle the problems of overheating in housing? This new role will be based with Encraft Ltd in Leamington Spa with regular visits to the Low Carbon Building Group Oxford Brookes University (Oxford).
Committee on Climate Change survey – adaptation in new buildings
The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is coordinating a survey on behalf of the Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) of the Committee on Climate Change. The aim is to help the ASC to understand the costs and benefits that designers and builders associate with buildings fit for the future climate. The ASC will use the results in its next progress report to Parliament about managing climate change risks within the built environment.
International Centre for Infrastructure Futures (ICIF) – Infrastructure Grand Challenges event
21 February 2017, London
Join the ICIF research team, special guests and other leaders in the field from industry, government, regulation and academia for an exhibition of ICIF research, debate of infrastructure grand challenges and key-note presentations from practitioners.
Demonstrating outcomes: RCUK Research Outcomes collection 2017
Due by 16 March 2017
To gather evidence on the value and impact of research, RCUK are running their 2017 research outcomes collection from 6 February to 16 March 2017. During this time RC-funded Principal Investigators are expected to submit a comprehensive record of their outputs, outcomes and impact on Researchfish. The requirement to report is for the life-time of an award and usually for 5 years thereafter.
Further details, including how the information is used.
Government response to the Dowling Review of Business-University Research Collaborations
The 2015 Dowling Review (pdf, 1.5 MB) made recommendations on how government can support relationships between UK businesses and researchers by, for example, reducing complexity. In its response, the government has confimed its support (pdf, 310 KB) for maximising knowledge exchange and the value of collaborations. Subject to parliament, the creation of UK Research and Investment (UKRI) will incorporate the functions of the seven research councils and InnovateUK, provide strategic oversight of the funding system and simplify access for businesses and academics.