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Grand Challenges is focusing on the ways in which cross-disciplinary research can address the objectives laid out in the United Nation鈥檚 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Launched in 2008,听果冻影院听Grand Challenges听aims to deliver significant contributions to solving some of the world鈥檚 greatest problems.听The initiative听was born of a belief that听a听large research-intensive university with a global standing听can make significant contributions in key areas.听Grand Challenges brings together a diverse range of experts听from across the 果冻影院 community听to address these large and complex societal issues.听听听
The听Grand听Challenges听strands 鈥� Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Cultural Understanding, Human Wellbeing, Transformative Technology and Justice & Equality 鈥撎齝over the spectrum of globally complex challenges听framed听by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as听identified by the UN in its 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, launched in 2015.听听
Grand Challenges听works in tandem with听the听果冻影院 SDGs Initiative,听which听seeks to maximise听果冻影院鈥檚听impact on the听UN鈥檚听2030听Goals听through research,听internal听operations, external engagement听and听teaching听activities,听as well as听those听undertaken by our student听and alumni听communities.听听
Grand Challenges听plays its part in听this by听supporting 果冻影院听researchers听to听generate听cross-disciplinary responses to the听goals.听It听does so听through developing听partnerships both within and beyond the university,听funding projects based on grass roots ideas,听organising events, and听by motivating,听organising听and delivering special听initiatives听that relate to the SDGs and their interconnections.听
By aligning听its work with听the SDGs,听Grand Challenges听is facilitating听impactful听new partnerships听鈥撎齱ithin听the university and beyond听鈥� that are听both听intellectually stimulating for researchers and of听clear and immediate听value to society.听Since its inception, the inter-faculty collaborations and external links fostered听by the programme听have听inspired听new听research听approaches and听the听practical translation of research听outputs. By听complementing the 果冻影院 SDGs听Initiative,听Grand Challenges听will听continue听to grow and develop 果冻影院鈥檚听capacity to tackle and offer solutions to听globally significant听problems听- and听help听to ensure听that听action on the听Goals听is addressed听across a range of spatial scales 鈥撎齛t听city,听regional,听national听and international听levels.听听
What we鈥檝e done so far
For more on how Grand Challenges projects are supporting the SDGs, visit our case studies page.听
Find out more about 果冻影院's听Sustainable Development Goals Initiative.