Water - Managing a Fragile Resource

Our research is focused on the major challenges we face in the sustainable management of water. It draws together multidisciplinary teams - from scientists and engineers to town planners and architects - to work on all aspects of the water cycle, from catchment science to water and waste water infrastructure.

We work in close partnership with Government departments, non Governmental organisations and industry partners: supporting evidence based decision making, providing access to unique world leading facilities, commercialising new technologies and supplying the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Water - Managing a Fragile Resource Extended

Our research is focused on the major challenges we face in the sustainable management of water. It draws together multidisciplinary teams - from scientists and engineers to town planners and architects - to work on all aspects of the water cycle, from catchment science to water and waste water infrastructure.

We work in close partnership with Government departments, non Governmental organisations and industry partners: supporting evidence based decision making, providing access to unique world leading facilities, commercialising new technologies and supplying the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Supporting Policy Makers

Professor David Lerner and Professor Bob Harris discuss how the multi-disciplinary research teams collaborate across Government departments, non Governmental organisations and commercial partners in the water industry. The film demonstrates how collaborations with the Environment Agency and DEFRA help support evidenced based decision making.

URSULA

The URSULA project – Urban River Corridors and Sustainable Living Agendas - is an interdisciplinary collaborative project looking at urban rivers and catchment science research. The project brings together academics from different disciplines to focus on the river and its urban setting as a system. The project works with Sheffield City Council on real-life river and catchment issues in the regeneration around the River Don. This film discusses the Sheffield flood which took place in 2007 and how researchers and the City Council are working together to help prevent this happening again in the future.

Critical Zone

The ‘Critical Zone’ is the earth’s outer layer from the tree tops to the soil and groundwater systems. Professor Steve Banwart discusses the effects that the ‘Critical Zone' has on the environment and our clean water supply which we need to survive and grow crops. The film highlights how interdisciplinary research and good working relationships amongst academics gives a better understanding of the pressures that human populations place upon the environment.

Research to Business

Dr Pete Skipworth shares his experience of working with the University of Sheffield, including the benefits of working with the University and the importance of bringing together the right partners to commercialise ideas and take them to market. 

http://www.em-solutions.co.uk/
http://www.ecusltd.co.uk/index.php
http://www.seamsltd.com/

Water Infrastructure Research Facilities

Rain Simulation

Professor John Wainwright shows how the unique facilities in the Department of Geography give a realistic representation of rain fall in urban and rural environments. These facilities are used to explore erosion in urban and rural environments and develop new models for erosion processes that are important for understanding the effects of environmental changes.

Micro-Bubbles

Professor Will Zimmerman discusses his novel invention: the micro bubble generator and its applications for use in industry. Professor Zimmerman has been working with AECOM on new applications for the technology in wastewater treatment. This film demonstrates the advantages of working in partnership and the benefits for both parties.

Green Roofs

Dr Virginia Stovin and Jeff Sorrill discuss the Green Roof Centre at Sheffield University. Sheffield has more green roofs than any other city in the UK. The Green Roof Centre is a national centre of excellence, working to promote green roof development and implementation through research, education, demonstration, information and technology transfer.

Advanced Manufacturing

Sheffield has a rich heritage and a strong reputation as a global leader in manufacturing. The brand 'Made in Sheffield' represents quality and excellence in the City's manufactured products.

Manufacturing research at Sheffield spans the supply chain from advanced materials and the production of new technologies through to the fabrication of components. Our research is used across a wide range of sectors including aerospace, biomedical and automotive. The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) is a unique model for bringing together industry, academia and Government to deliver new innovations and a competitive advantage to partners in the manufacturing sector.

Advanced Manufacturing Extended

Sheffield has a rich heritage and a strong reputation as a global leader in manufacturing. The brand 'Made in Sheffield' represents quality and excellence in the City's manufactured products. 

Manufacturing research at Sheffield spans the supply chain from advanced materials and the production of new technologies through to the fabrication of components. Our research is used across a wide range of sectors including aerospace, biomedical and automotive. The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre with Boeing (AMRC) is a unique model for bringing together industry, academia and Government to deliver new innovations and a competitive advantage to partners in the manufacturing sector.

The AMRC Model – A view from industry

Partners in the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) discuss the unique AMRC collaborative model which brings together universities, industry and government to focus on the innovation of new manufacturing technologies.

3D Visualisation Facilities

This film takes a closer look at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC)’s 3D visualisation facilities and provides a unique view of a Rolls Royce Trent 800 jet engine.  The visualisation tools are used to ease assembly, repair and maintenance of aerospace components.

AMRC Technologies

This film takes a tour around some of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre’s (AMRC) technologies including robotics for assembly and machining tools for production of components. It shows how technologies and processes are being developed to meet the accuracy and tolerances required by the aerospace industry.

The MANTRA Truck

The Manufacturing Transporter (MANTRA) Truck serves two purposes. Working with AMRC partners, it enables new technologies to be taken out to supply chain partners for demonstration. It also works with schools to inspire the next generation of engineers thereby helping to ensure that the UK has the skills it needs for the future manufacturing industry.

The Mercury Centre

This film explores the work of the emerging Mercury Centre which works with partners across a wide range of sectors - including aerospace, biomedical and automotive - developing new additive manufacturing technologies. The Centre helps commercial partners to de-risk the innovation step by providing access to these facilities and understanding the benefits they can bring.

Energy - Delivering a Secure & Sustainable Supply for the Future

Energy - Delivering a Secure & Sustainable Supply for the Future Extended

The Commercialisation Process - Fusion IP and Seren Photonics

Low Carbon Combustion Centre

Wind Power Research Centre

Sheffield Solar Farm

Seren Photonics – A Novel Manufacturing Process

Healthcare Technologies – innovating for society’s needs

As the demographic of the UK population changes and people live longer, new pressures are being faced by the healthcare sector.  It is therefore vital that university research responds to the challenges facing an ageing population to deliver better standards of healthcare without the burden of extra costs.  Here at Sheffield, interdisciplinary working is at the forefront of our expertise to address healthcare issues from assisted living to regenerative medicine. The ChELSI Institute is an example of how clinical researchers interact with chemical engineers and industry partners to gain a better understanding of disease and develop new tools and therapies for their treatment.

Healthcare Technologies – innovating for society’s needs - Extended

As the demographic of the UK population changes and people live longer, new pressures are being faced by the healthcare sector.  It is therefore vital that university research responds to the challenges facing an ageing population to deliver better standards of healthcare without the burden of extra costs.  Here at Sheffield, interdisciplinary working is at the forefront of our expertise to address healthcare issues from assisted living to regenerative medicine. The ChELSI Institute is an example of how clinical researchers interact with chemical engineers and industry partners to gain a better understanding of disease and develop new tools and therapies for their treatment.

Biomaterials & Tissue Engineering – Advanced applications through interdisciplinary research

This film showcases the interdisciplinary teams and specialist laboratories focused on biomaterials, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine at the University. This brings together clinicians, cell biologists, material scientists and tissue engineers to work on new clinical treatments for injury and disease. 

Tissue Engineering – Skin & Bones

Professor Sheila MacNeil discusses how the tissue engineering team is working with ophthalmic surgeons in Hyderabad, India to develop biodegradable polymers – similar to dissolvable sutures - which can be used to successfully deliver cells to the eye.  This technique is crucial for repairing scarring of the cornea which affects 3% of India’s population.  The team is also working on new scaffolds to grow new bone and soft tissue for cleft palate reconstruction.     

Tissue Engineering – Nerve Guides

Professor John Haycock takes an in-depth look at the problem of repairing peripheral nerve damage.  Approximately 1 in 1000 people suffers serious nerve injuries due to road traffic or DIY accidents each year. Repairing this nerve damage surgically can be difficult as clean cuts are rare.  The specialist team at Sheffield is overcoming this problem through the creation of new polymer scaffolds which guide new nerve growth, assist repair and provide an ‘off the shelf’ solution for surgeons.

Assisted Living Solutions – deploying new products & services

This film discusses many of the new innovative assisted living technologies developed by inter-disciplinary researchers at Sheffield. These include: robotics for at home stroke rehabilitation; speech recognition devices for disabled people to enable everyday tasks such as opening doors and turning lights off; and handheld devices for chronic illness sufferers, which measure symptoms such as blood pressure and feed these directly to healthcare professionals who can analyse the data and intervene if necessary.  

ChELSI – in more depth

Bringing together the University’s engineers and biologists in high-tech labs to work on multi-disciplinary solutions is the aim of the ChELSI (Chemical Engineering at the Life Science Interface) institute.  Professor Phillip Wright discusses how EPSRC and BBSRC funding is being used on a range of challenges – from  pinpointing the early signs of colon cancer disease progression through to understanding how new sources of biofuels can be developed via synthetic biology and metabolic engineering tools.

Developing advanced dental products

Professor Paul Hatton discusses the work of the cell and tissue engineering laboratory and its role in the adaptation of the dental restorative material - Glass Ionomer Cement (GIC) – for middle ear surgery as well as the benefits of being adjacent to an NHS training hospital for students and researchers.

Computational modelling – skin cells

Professor Rod Smallwood explains how computational modelling can be used to understand the continuous process of renewal of human skin.

Synthetic biology – technology and facilities

Professor Giuseppe Battaglia takes a tour through the molecular biology and cell biology laboratories at the University of Sheffield and explains the role of the specialist analytic equipment available to students and researchers to enable world-class teaching and research.   

Environment – protecting our habitat and resources

From meeting the food needs of a growing population to reducing carbon emissions resulting from transportation, environmental challenges are faced at both a global and local level and require a holistic approach to research.

Interdisciplinary teams here at the University of Sheffield are working innovatively to develop new models, technology and systems to help companies reduce their environmental footprint as well as understand the public’s level of acceptance of these new practices. Areas of research expertise explored in this film include the sustainable design of buildings, the ‘greening’ of the supply chain and the development of electric vehicles.  

Environment – protecting our habitat and resources (extended version)

From meeting the food needs of a growing population to reducing carbon emissions resulting from transportation, environmental challenges are faced at both a global and local level and require a holistic approach to research.

Interdisciplinary teams here at the University of Sheffield are working innovatively to develop new models, technology and systems to help companies reduce their environmental footprint as well as understand the public’s level of acceptance of these new practices. Areas of research expertise explored in this film include the sustainable design of buildings, the ‘greening’ of the supply chain and the development of electric vehicles.  

Understanding public attitudes

Psychology is now recognised as a broader component in environmental and engineering research.  Dr Chris Jones discusses the use of psychology in understanding peoples’ behaviour with respect to the environment around us and the adoption of new technologies.  

Project Sunshine in more depth

Project Sunshine is a unique collaboration which brings together research disciplines such as solar physics, photovoltaics, photosynthesis, ecology and plant physiology to understand how the sun provides us with the energy to feed and power the world in real time.  Professor Tony Ryan explains how this will enable us to tackle the biggest challenge facing the world today: meeting the increasing food and energy needs of the world's population in the context of an uncertain climate and global environment change.

www.sheffield.ac.uk/shine

Energy innovation for deprived communities

The adoption of energy efficiency measures is essential to all aspects of society not just industry.  This film explains the aim of the University of Sheffield’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funded project seeking to install energy efficiency measures in predominately low income and hard to treat housing stock.

Developing a low carbon supply chain

Professor Lenny Koh discusses the work of the Logistics & Supply Chain Management Research Centre (LSCM) based within the Centre for Energy, Environment and Sustainability.  The LSCM Research Centre is an international network developing new ways to assist industry in decarbonising their supply chains as well as developing business tools to identify hotspots and different types of interventions in order to reduce carbon footprints. 

Electrical Machines & Drives Group

This film provides a more in-depth look at the Electrical Machines & Drives Group which works with many industrial partners to develop hybrid and electric vehicle technology.  Combining the benefits of academic expertise and testing facilities under real conditions, the prototypes developed by the Group promote the pull through of research to commercial exploitation in this emerging technological area.  

Cross-cutting research

The founding motto of the University of Sheffield is Rerum Cognoscere Causas, meaning 'To discover the causes of things'. Today, this ethos continues to hold strong and our researchers work across disciplines to solve big challenges such as how to deal with the pressure on our resources or the impact of changing demographics.

This film demonstrates how our cross-cutting research themes - energy and the environment, the digital world, and healthcare across the disciplines -- are taking knowledge from one area of the University and applying it to another to deliver significant societal and economic benefit.

Additive manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing (AM) refers to a revolutionary range of processes that can create parts with hitherto impossible geometries; often within a space of hours. The AdAM team at the University Sheffield is playing a key role in realising this potential by conducting research and development across a broad range of AM processes for industries such as aerospace, automotive and healthcare. Featuring interviews with our collaborative partners - BMW Group, Boeing Research & Technology 3D printing specialists Materialise and AM consultants Wohlers Associates -- we hear how important university researchers are to these organisations.

Structural optimisation of metallic components

Structural optimization is a field that has fascinated scientists for over a century, but has remained largely of academic interest. Thanks to the advent of Additive Manufacturing and the huge topological freedom afforded by AM, previously unrealisable forms of a component can now be manufactured for aerospace and automotive applications; often producing components which are 20-30% lighter. This film highlights the unique advantages of AM processes used here at the University Sheffield and the range of topographies which can be achieved.

Microstereolithography

Here at the University of Sheffield, we take an interdisciplinary approach to biomaterials and tissue engineering combining our biological, chemical and material science knowledge to develop advanced healthcare techniques. Using innovative stereolithography techniques to build 3D scaffold structures, this film explains how we are improving peoples' lives by aiding nerve regeneration to help those with peripheral nerve injuries or corneal disease. Thanks to the technology a large range of differently sized devices can be produced quickly and the internal surface and intra-lumen features can be incorporated with ease.

Soft tissue prostheses production using 3D colour printing

Physical appearance is important to many people; if part of someone's face is missing, whether due to trauma or cancer, it is easy to understand how difficult this can be. Using 3D colour printing technology and working in collaboration with Fripp Design and Research, the University of Sheffield has been leading the adoption of AM technology to produce customised soft-tissue facial prostheses at a much reduced cost; making it accessible to any patient anywhere in the world. 
This film explores how this technology -- which has never been used for this sort of application before -- has the potential to revolutionise the facial rebuilding industry.

The Mercury Centre and Bloodhound SSC

At the tip of the Bloodhound SSC is a titanium nose tip developed using pioneering AM techniques by the University of Sheffield's Mercury Centre. Part financed by the European Development Fund, the Mercury Centre is a £10m research centre which provides industry with access to cutting edge technology and equipment in the field of near net shape powder based manufacturing. This film explores the work of the Mercury Centre using the Bloodhound SSC as an example of how AM technology has been essential to the manufacture of key car components which couldn't be manufactured by traditional methods.

Polymer Sintering

Additive Manufacturing by polymer sintering (also referred to as laser sintering or high speed sintering) involves the production of 3D objects by selectively melting successive layers of polymer powder using lasers or through printing and infra-red heating. Compared to other AM processes, polymer sintering has many advantages such as additional geometric complexity and mechanical properties. This film explains how polymer sintering works, the applications is can be used for such as Formula 1 cars, high fashion or consumer goods such as running shoes, and how University of Sheffield staff and students are applying the technique.

Metal Additive Manufacturing

Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) defines a group of technologies used to build 3D fully functioning parts layer by layer from a CAD model; often within a few hours. The geometric design freedoms that can be obtained using metal AM make it a very exciting technology for the future of manufacturing. This film explains how the University of Sheffield is at the forefront of developing metal AM expertise which can be applied within the aerospace, automotive, healthcare and jewellery markets.

Inkjet printing

Inkjet printing is an AM technology which only adds material when and where it is needed. It therefore, minimizes waste and makes it ideal for handling expensive materials. This film explains the technology behind piezoelectric inkjet printing at the University of Sheffield and how it can be applied to many areas of research. For example: in tissue engineering, inkjet printing can help to find ways to treat wounds more effectively; in carbon fibre composites, their properties can be improved by strategically placing beneficial additives and in crime applications, unique markings can be produced that can help combat crime.