Goal 6: Operations

The University’s operational activities play a key role in our approach to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Here’s a wider showcase of our work addressing Goal 6.

Working with Industries to Prevent Aquatic Ecosystem Damage

Our work in hydrology and hydrochemistry to understand metals, carbon and gases in water systems has led to the development of a highly successful spin-out company, Salamander, which has brought to market two cutting-edge pieces of water monitoring software – chloroclam and hydroclam – which are being used in industry to improve water and marine system monitoring. We have also undertaken work to understand hypoxia – dead fish zones – which has directly informed marine industry practice on aquatic ecosystems.

Making labs greener

Leading the way in achieving the University’s pledge to eliminate avoidable single-use plastic usage, staff in our School of Biological Sciences are reducing single-use plastics in the lab through adoption of a 6R approach.

This has included:

  • refining protocol and optimising waste management;
  • reducing single-use items;
  • re-using materials, plastic containers and gloves;
  • using recycled material;
  • replacing plastics where possible with glass, paper or wood.
Watershed management

We’ve implemented watershed management strategies based on location-specific diversity of aquatic species.

These ensure flow rates of water run-off in our urban environment are decreased and water quality is improved, including reducing flow into our local River Medlock on campus.

At our rural Jodrell Bank site, we’ve also reduced flow into our local watercourses, protecting the great crested newt – a protected species that relies on aquatic life.