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Environmental SustainabilityKTN

Environmental SustainabilityKTN

3 Projects, page 1 of 1
  • Funder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: EP/J003875/1
    Funder Contribution: 1,325,120 GBP

    This project is located in the field of ultracold atoms, which based on the Nobel Prizes 1997 and 2001 is rapidly growing worldwide. It aims to establish UK leadership in dipolar magnetism, a novel area in this field connecting to several disciplines including spin-ice physics, a hot topic in condensed matter physics, macroscopic entanglement, of major interest to quantum computation and precision magnetic sensors with cross-disciplinary applications ranging from fundamental physics to geophysics, mineral exploration and climate change. In principle dipolar systems represent 19th century physics, when dipolar interactions were discussed in vain to explain magnetism. In the 20th century quantum physics with the Pauli principle and the Heisenberg model of magnetism came to the rescue - pushing dipolar interactions to the status of a small perturbation. However, it is exactly the quantum regime, which is currently triggering strong interest in dipolar systems. Dipolar interactions promise to provide long-range interactions in ultracold gas systems, opening unprecedented possibilities to study many-body effects, create magnetic monopole excitations or perform quantum gate operations. This project proposes to explore a new pathway in the highly competitive area of dipolar quantum gases by focusing on magnetic interactions, effectively establishing a new research area. The goal is to understand dipolar quantum phases, dipolar dynamics like the Einstein-de Haas effect and to explore dipolar interactions to create a system of large quantum spins with ultimate sensitivity to magnetic fields. It will directly benefit on the order of 20 researchers in the UK and 200 worldwide and has established collaborations linking to diverse fields in order to maximise impact.

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  • Funder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: EP/I036877/1
    Funder Contribution: 2,515,590 GBP

    Gravity measurements exert a particular fascination ranging from the everyday experience of feeling the gravitational force holding us on ground to the mysteries of general relativity and space time. Compared to other forces gravity is surprisingly weak, making shielding of gravitation practically impossible. Gravity measurements are ideally suited to look deep inside the ground and they have been used for over 100 years in fields as oil and mineral exploration, underground mapping and climate research. However, although gravity measurements are highly valued, there are some drawbacks in terms of long and tedious measurements and geological noise. GG-TOP responds to an increasingly pressing demand for a holistic development programme driving sensitivity of instrumentation, modelling instrument and geological noise, discriminating underground objects, fusing and presenting the information from multi-sensor systems. The GG-TOP consortium is truely multi-disciplinary uniting fundamental and applied physicists, civil and electrical engineers and archaeologists behind a joint goal. GG-TOP has a strong Stakeholder compontent with interactions at all levels and potential users directly influencing the research programme. GG-TOP will explicitly evaluate the potential of its new technology in applications as diverse as urban infrastructure (pipes, cables...) and void (cellars, tunnels,..) mapping, seabed inspection, archaeology and fundamental tests of physics. We anticipate the outcome of this programme to be a technology suite adaptable to various needs and leading to a range of follow-on product development programmes.

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  • Funder: UK Research and Innovation Project Code: EP/J017698/1
    Funder Contribution: 6,324,860 GBP

    There is irrefutable evidence that the climate is changing. There also is strong evidence that this is largely a result of human activity, driven by our insatiable consumption of resources, growing populations, unsustainable migration patterns and rapid overdevelopment in cities that are resulting in heavy ecosystem services losses. Humankind's solutions to these problems do not always work, as many rely upon quantities of resources that simply do not exist or that could not support the rate of change that we are facing, behaviour changes that sit uneasily with our current consumption patterns and quality of life aspirations, and government policies that emphasise long-term sustainable gain but potential short-term economic loss for businesses and local people. A radical revisioning of the problem is needed, not only to reverse current trends, but also to contribute positively to the sustainability and wellbeing of the planet, now and in the future. This proposal is that radical new vision, adopting a 'whole of government' focus to the changes needed in the ways that societies live, work, play and consume, balancing social aspirations against the necessary changes, and using CO2 emissions as a proxy measurement for the harm being done to the planet and the resources (particularly energy) that we use. Through the development of a city analysis methodology; engineering design criteria for quality of life and wellbeing; engineering design criteria for low carbon pathways and; radical engineering approaches, strategies and visioning-all generated in a multidisciplinary context-we aim to deliver a range of engineering solutions that are effective in sustaining civilised life, in an affordable and socially acceptable style. Our vision is to transform the engineering of cities to deliver societal and planetary wellbeing within the context of low carbon living and resource security. We seek to prove that an alternative future with drastically reduced CO2 emissions is achievable in a socially acceptable manner, and to develop realistic and radical engineering solutions to achieve it. Certain techno-fixes for a low-carbon society have been known for some time (e.g., installing low energy appliances in homes), but are not always deemed successful, in part because they have not been deemed socially acceptable. Current aspirations for material consumption are driven by social factors and reinforced by social norms, yet recent research shows that meeting these aspirations often does not enhance wellbeing. Thus, the challenge the research community faces is to co-evolve the techno-fixes with people's aspirations, incorporating radical engineering strategies within the financial, policy/regulation and technical contexts, to re-define an alternative future. A roadmap is required to chart the path from here to there, identify potential tipping points and determine how to integrate radical engineering strategies into norms. However, this roadmap can only be considered once that alternative future has been established, and a 'back-casting' exercise carried out, to explore where the major barriers to change lie and where interventions are needed. Our ambition is to create an holistic, integrated, truly multidisciplinary city analysis methodology that uniquely combines engineered solutions and quality-of-life indicators, accounts for social aspirations, is founded on an evidence base of trials of radical interventions in cities, and delivers the radical engineering solutions necessary to achieve our vision. We seek to achieve this ambition by using a variety of innovative and traditional approaches and methods to undertake five research challenges, which are outlined in detail in five technical annexes.

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