Changing how the world works

In today’s uncertain world, the significance of university research in shaping our global trajectory cannot be emphasised enough.

Here at Birmingham, I am immensely proud of all our dedicated researchers, who collaborate across disciplines, relentlessly pushing the boundaries of knowledge and understanding.

This culture of collaboration extends across the world and it’s only with our partners that we can all yield groundbreaking research that directly improves the lives of individuals worldwide.

Here are a few reflections from me on some of the ways Birmingham is changing how the world works.

Our world faces an uncertain future. Climate change threatens more extreme weather and disruption to food supplies. Health systems, stretched by the pandemic, are further challenged by an ageing population and antimicrobial resistance.

Economic inequality and political instability heighten social tensions and undermine development efforts in many regions. Rapid advances in technology, including artificial intelligence and biotechnology, raise job fears and ethical concerns.

But there is hope. University research has a critical role to play in changing how the world works.

As a leading global university, we have been influencing the world for 125 years – creating solutions to humanity’s most pressing challenges. As we prepare to celebrate our 125th anniversary in 2025, the time is right for the University of Birmingham to reaffirm our commitment to pioneering research that can shape a better future.

We are making a significant investment in appointing 125 Anniversary Fellows and Chairs over the next five years, seeking to bring the very best academic talent from around the world to Birmingham. Alongside this, we are launching a new campaign ‘Changing how the world works’ to showcase our most impactful research; grounded in ambition, pragmatism and determination to make a difference.

Our researchers are working across disciplines, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and understanding to create research that improves the lives of people around the world. We’re focusing on the challenges that matter most to our shared future: Global Health, Thriving Planet, Fairer World, Life-Changing Technologies, and Connecting Cultures.

Global Health

Maternal health is well known as an area of research strength at Birmingham. Working with the World Health Organization, and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a team of Birmingham researchers led by Professor Arri Coomarasamy OBE created a set of interventions and tools that is proven to dramatically reduce the numbers of women dying from excessive bleeding during childbirth.

In our own city, we are finding ways to improve the ecosystem of healthcare in the region. Led by Birmingham Health Partners, of which the University is a founding member, the Birmingham Health Innovation Campus opens this year. It will offer high-quality laboratory, office, incubation, and innovation facilities as we work with forward-thinking businesses to deliver patient-centred applied health research.

Thriving Planet

For our planet to thrive, we must understand and combat the effects of climate change, learning how we can adapt into the future. The Birmingham Institute of Forest Research (BIFoR) brings together more than 100 researchers to explore how increasing levels of CO2 will affect our forests, plants and crops and their resilience to invasive pests and diseases.

Fairer World

In a fairer world, everyone should have equal access to high-quality education, which allows them to lead prosperous fulfilling lives. Our Autism Centre for Education and Research is challenging misconceptions around autistic children and young people.

We are proud that the University of Birmingham School is a centre of teacher education in the region and our sector-leading widening participation programmes engage with more than 10,000 less advantaged students in the West Midlands every year. Our fundraising and volunteering campaign ‘Birmingham In Action’ supports our most important areas of work - including access to education, youth mental health, cancer, refugees, and the environment.

Life-Changing Technologies

Technology has the capacity to change lives and we are at the cutting-edge of incredible advances. We’re developing quantum sensing and timing to reveal the unseen – beneath the ground, in the sky and within the human body – to create novel solutions to age-old problems, from dementia to public infrastructure.

Connecting Cultures

‘Signing Shakespeare’ is a powerful illustration of how creativity unlocks potential and connects communities. Our researchers identified ways in which deaf young people can better connect with Shakespeare and study works such as Macbeth.

Located at the heart of Birmingham city centre, our community knowledge hub The Exchange uses our research and teaching networks to create a place of curiosity, celebration, collaboration, and change.

As the original ‘civic’ university, we believe in sharing knowledge and making the best education accessible to all in our city and wider West Midlands region. Our Civic University Agreement underpins our contribution to the economic, cultural, and educational work of our region. From our home in Birmingham, through to our campus in Dubai and offices in India and China, our research reaches across the world.

These are just a handful of examples of how University of Birmingham research is already changing how the world works. In this age of uncertainty, using our researchers’ expertise to help shape a better world serves as our driving force and inspiration.

Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor and Principal, University of Birmingham