Universities

What role do universities and research institutions play in minimising environmental effects from aviation?

• focus on research, information and impact
• deliver intellectual leadership on sustainability
• offer collaboration and experimentation across a range of subjects
• responsible for contributing to and progressing public debate
• go beyond theory to practice by collaborating with industry and the consumer.

What kind of information is available?

Many universities and research centres in the UK and across the world are studying aviation and the environment. Here are some of the most prominent.

Manchester Metropolitan University - Centre for Air Transport and the Environment (CATE)

CATE undertakes research on a variety of issues, from emissions measurements and modelling to modelling of global climate impacts, biofuels, airport environmental capacity and its management, community noise disturbance, carbon management and climate change adaptation strategies.

CATE also provides training to industry and government bodies across the world and runs undergraduate and post graduate courses in the field of aviation environmental management and the sustainability of air transport.

Cranfield University

Cranfield is one of the world's leading aerospace research centres and in recent years has played a key role in aviation emissions modelling and noise management. It also specialises in issues such as treatment of waste, water and contaminated soils.

The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research

The Tyndall Centre is a partnership of eight UK universities and is headquartered at the University of East Anglia. It focuses on the provision of a trans-disciplinary approach to research, assessment and communication of climate change, in the global, UK and local contexts of sustainable development.

Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS)

The Royal Aeronautical Society has a ‘Greener By Design’ programme dedicated to independent research on Sustainable Aviation.

King’s College London

A number of research projects are currently being undertaken at King’s College London to help develop understanding of air quality, its impacts and how it can be managed. They also operate London Air - an information portal with data on London's air quality.

IPCC

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a scientific body under the auspices of the United Nations (UN) which aims to review and assess the most recent scientific, technical and socio-economic information produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of climate change.

University of Southampton – Airbus Noise Technology Centre

The Airbus Noise Technology Centre is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Airbus and the University of Southampton on a range of noise research projects. The Airbus Noise Technology Centre is the result of a long-standing collaboration between Airbus and the University of Southampton on a range of noise research projects.

Imperial College London

Hosted by Imperial College’s Department of Aeronautics, Green Aviation is an integrated approach which draws on expertise within the Imperial College engineering and science departments and its specialist cross-disciplinary centres. Green Aviation’s research portfolio comprises the four research themes of Low Emissions, Low Noise, Low Weight and Low Maintenance, addressing this significant environmental challenge.

University of Cambridge - Institute for Aviation and the Environment

The University of Cambridge Institute for Aviation and the Environment (IAE) unites the latest scientific research, technological developments and economic thinking to address the needs of the aviation and aerospace industries regarding the environment. The Institute fosters a close alliance between academia, industry and government to facilitate the transfer of knowledge by aligning world-leading research with end-user needs and it liaises closely with industry and government to ensure that its activities address the key questions of long-term importance to sustainable aviation.