Global Change Institute

The Global Change Research Institute is a grouping of over 200 researchers whose overarching mission is to understand past, present and future changes in the Earth system, and to inform mitigation strategies for future change.

We host longstanding programmes in understanding how the atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, land surface and oceans have interacted in the past, in monitoring their current behaviour, and in developing predictions of their future dynamics. 

Building on these scientific foundations, we further engage in interdisciplinary research focussed on mitigating the many challenges posed by the global climate emergency, environmental hazards, inequalities, conservation and sustainability.

Our research extends throughout the world, over the seven continents, across all the oceans, from the poles to the equator,  and from the deep Earth to the upper atmosphere. 

Our members comprise around 100 academic and research staff, and around 130 postgraduate researchers. We research and teach across all GeoSciences disciplines including ecology, environmental science, geography, geology, geophysics and meteorology.   Due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, our academic staff may belong to one or more groups across other institutes at the School.

Our research programmes typically involve field work, remote sensing, in situ monitoring, laboratory experimentation and analysis, theory, modelling and stakeholder engagement. 

Within the Institute, we exchange knowledge regularly in weekly seminar programmes and smaller research group discussions.  Twice-yearly, the Institute also comes together for the Global Change Symposia, where our students, staff and stakeholders discuss their latest developments and outline new grand challenges.

Our research groups

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of our research, academic staff may belong to one or more groups across our School institutes.