Overview
The School brings together a number of different disciplines, from chemical engineering to bioscience to chemistry, mathematics and analytical and measurement science. This puts us in a uniquely strong position to work at the interface of and benefit from the synergies between these different disciplines. The defining and unifying feature of our diverse research is that we are concerned with studying, designing, integrating and/or operating complex systems of various types and scales – including multiphase, biological and industrial systems. Therefore, our research structure has been re-designed since last RAE to reflect and underpin this research philosophy.
Our mission and vision
Building on the international reputation of UMIST and on the natural synergies between the disciplines in the School, our mission and vision for the next five years and beyond is to become internationally renowned in, and the main driver for, the development of the new discipline in Self-sustaining Systems. Taking inspiration from biological systems where materials and energy flows are utilised in the most sustainable way possible and applying Darwin's definition of life as "self-sustaining chemical systems that undergo evolution at the molecular level", we will work actively on making systems work more sustainably, with the ultimate aim of contributing to a better quality of life. This will apply to systems at all levels, from micro- (atomic) to nano- (supra-molecular) to macro-levels (processes, materials, products and supply chains) and will include all three dimensions of sustainability - environmental, economic and social. We will realise this ambition by using the synergies between the disciplines within the School to translate basic science and engineering into practical working solutions to relevant (bio)technological, industrial, medical, economic, environmental and social issues.
We will also collaborate closely with other Schools within the University, benefiting from the new structure of the University which actively encourages multi- and inter-disciplinary collaborations. We will expand significantly our international outreach and collaboration, including developing countries. We will continue to build on our excellent collaboration and links with industry, tackling the most important fundamental as well as applied problems, working towards making industrial systems work more sustainably. Providing a unique world-class research experience for our students and research assistants will continue to be our priority.