Extreme collaboration delivering solutions for a failing world.

A consortium of academic staff within the three Faculties of Science., Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sheffield (led by Prof Ryan, Pro-Vice Chancellor) will collaborate with colleagues from London College of Fashion (University of the Arts London) and the Tactility Factory (University of Ulster) to develop both new technologies and strategies for their implementation. The scientists and engineers will contribute to the development of the photocatalytic and photovoltaic materials. Cross-disciplinary collaboration with both artists and social scientists will frame the laboratory-based activities, building on previous collaborations and identified social challenges, providing us with a holistic approach to the challenges we seek to address. We also seek to engage all major stakeholders throughout the process of development, including government agencies, local councils, and end users such as the general public and industry representatives. A key aspect of this research will be the inclusion of a series of Public Engagement activities to raise awareness of this emerging technology (for example www.wonderland-sheffield.co.uk). We believe such engagement is vital to ensuring feasible solutions to real world problems. The past experience of the group teaches us that the key to successful, collaborative working is ongoing dialogue. The outputs of the individual research strands will be disseminated to the wider academic community and members of the general public through various means. These methods of dissemination will include conference papers, debates, lectures, web pages and workshops. Alongside these traditional methods of dissemination, we will also seek to utilise more contemporary methods of communication such as social networking sites, blogs and mobile phone applications. Furthermore, a cross-cutting seminar series will form a mechanism of dissemination for the outputs of the wider project to both the academic community and the general public.The introduction of these new technologies would have a direct, beneficial effect on the quality of lives. A reduction in the levels of air borne pollutants could result in an increased life expectancy for those living in densely populated urban areas. The widespread introduction of photovoltaic materials could provide a secure and reliable source of portable energy in the years to come. The introduction of both these technologies would also increase the likelihood of the UK achieving emissions targets for several air borne pollutants (some of which the UK is currently expected to miss) and greenhouse gases.

This project will generate a portfolio of feasible solutions to real world problems, namely the high levels of air borne pollutants in densely populated urban environments and the need for a widespread introduction of alternative energy sources. The achievement of these objectives will be reliant on the engagement of several major stakeholder groups. These groups include: the general public, local and national government, and commercial organisations. Furthermore, each of the aforementioned groups will also benefit directly from the success of the proposed research. In the case of the general public, the introduction of the proposed technologies would have a direct, beneficial effect on their quality of lives. A reduction in the levels of air borne pollutants (strands 1 and 2) would result in an increased life expectancy for those living in densely populated urban areas. The widespread introduction of photovoltaic materials (strand 3) would provide a secure and reliable source of energy in the years to come. The introduction of both these technologies would also increase the likelihood of local and national government within the UK achieving emissions targets for several air borne pollutants (some of which the UK is currently expected to miss) and greenhouse gases. This has been acknowledged by members of the Environmental Strategy Teams within Sheffield City, Westminster and London City Councils. Furthermore, our colleagues in Sheffield City Council will work alongside the group within research strands 1 and 2. The problem of high levels of air borne pollutants and greenhouse gases is not restricted to the UK. The challenge of meeting emissions targets is one faced by the governments of every nation across the globe. Therefore, given the scale of the challenge we seek to address, the commercial potential of the proposed technologies is vast. Furthermore, this potential has already been acknowledged by several industry representatives, most notably those from Ecover, Unilever, Marks & Spencer and Arup. These technologies would therefore further strengthen the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom. The group members, both individually and in the form of various partnerships, have a wealth of experience in the engagement of major stakeholder groups. These experiences vary from a diverse portfolio of Public Engagement activities through to the development of novel technologies that have subsequently reached the market place. The most recent example of the former being the Wonderland project (www.wonderland-sheffield.co.uk). This EPSRC-funded project (EP/D50712X/1) introduced the concept of sustainable technology to an audience of over 11 million members of the general public. The mechanisms of engagement within this project included a touring exhibition, an education programme and filmic pieces. This work was also widely reported through several media channels, both nationally and internationally. Furthermore, the work was short-listed within the Best International Fashion Project category of the Brit Insurance Design Awards 2009. Beyond the Public Engagement activities of this project, several novel technologies have been developed. These technologies are currently undergoing the process of commercialisation under the guidance of our colleagues at Sheffield University Enterprise Limited and Fusion IP. It is the intention of the group that the technologies proposed within this project would follow a similar trajectory.