Research
Research in the School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences is driven by societal relevance underpinned by science and engineering of the highest international quality. Our research base is diverse. Its foundation is research in the tradition of great engineers such as Galileo, Rankine and Maxwell where frontiers are pushed by seeking to apply the latest advances in fundamental science to solve problems of profound societal relevance.
We have adopted the philosophy of Earth Systems Science, Engineering and Management (ESSEM) to encompass the range of research activities pursued in the school.
ESSEM links Earth Systems Science from our science-focused research groups with Earth Systems Engineering and Management research which is the cornerstone of our engineering groups. This reflects our drive to use cutting edge science to solve problems of global importance.
Details of specific research activities can be found on our group web pages:
- Environmental Engineering
- Geomatics
- Geosciences
- Geotechnical and Structural Engineering
- Transport
- Water
Our groups deliver our world-leading research. There is considerable synergy between groups and we are engaged with several university research institutes and centres (NIReS, CESER, NewRail, marineNewcastle) and collaborations with other schools in the University.
Our ESSEM research agenda has delivered advances in fundamental science and applied science and engineering with impacts on our understanding of climate change, energy and urban systems with relevance to policy and industrial practice.
Our research is being used to predict the risk of flooding in the face of changing weather patterns and in the development of UK and European transport policy. It has led to new methods for stabilization of engineered embankments and methods for the more sustainable use of fossil fuel resources. In addition we have developed new concepts that can be used to manage the microbial communities vital for biological treatment of wastewater and environmental pollutants, revolutionized understanding of conditions on the early Earth with implications for the rise of life and documented changes in polar ice cover with significant implications for understanding the effects of climate change.