Researchers at The University of Manchester are developing a novel approach to investigate the relationship between changes in surface water, human and animal interactions, and gastrointestinal disease prevalence. 

Chronic zoonotic waterborne diseases are a leading cause of morbidity in landscapes shared by people, livestock, and wildlife in East Africa. However, disease surveillance remains focused on acute, epidemic diseases. 

Co-created with local partners and institutions in Kenya and Tanzania, this project aims to examine how environmental factors, such as water availability and quality, contribute to the spread of diseases among humans, livestock, and wildlife in the region. There is an urgent need to improve access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, especially for vulnerable populations, to reduce preventable deaths. 

An interdisciplinary team of experts in epidemiology, disease ecology, and physical geography will examine issues like water scarcity and contamination to deepen our understanding of how these factors affect health across different populations. 

The findings will inform strategies for sustainable water management and disease prevention, aiming to reduce waterborne disease risks and lower mortality rates in East Africa. Additionally, the results will contribute to global policy frameworks, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, WHO International Health Regulations, and the African Union Agenda 2063.

Each year we launch a report which highlights how we are addressing key issues facing humanity as set-out by the United Nations.  As the UK’s first university to have social responsibility as a core goal, we’ve developed a strategy to tackle the SDGs in four inter-related ways: through our research, learning and students, public engagement and operations.   

Our latest SDG report shows that the University published over 22,000 pieces of research on the SDGs in the past five years, which is 4% of the UK’s entire share of publications. It details teaching and learning programmes that address the SDGs, such as our ‘Creating a Sustainable World’ interdisciplinary unit. 

AquaPlan is an interactive web application that helps farmers, businesses, and governments improve agricultural water management and climate adaptation, while also helping to educate students and the public about issues of water security and food sustainability. The initiative received a Making a Difference Award for its outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability and a low carbon future.

Deforestation is the second leading cause of climate change after fossil fuels, accounting for almost a fifth of planet-warming emissions.

Our researchers led an international and interdisciplinary team of ecologists, economists and political scientists in the largest ever study of community forestry.

Studying 18,000 community-led forest initiatives in Nepal we found that community-forest management led to a 37% relative reduction in deforestation and a 4.3% relative reduction in poverty.

Researchers in our Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences have examined degraded soils of grasslands in Kenya and China to understand the role of soil biodiversity in creating and supporting healthy ecosystems.

We’ve scaled up novel approaches to harness ecological connections between native soil microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, algae) and native plants to accelerate recovery from degraded to healthy soil.

Tools have been developed to provide accessible and practical knowledge for local communities to repair soils and public and policy awareness has been raised of the vital importance of soil biodiversity on a global scale.

Our One Bin to Rule Them All research programme has drawn on our Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub in our Henry Royce Institute, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and  Sustainable Consumption Institute to work with 17 industry partners and local authorities to address key challenges in the plastics lifecycle.

Researchers from our Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub are also working with the manufacturer Callaly to develop alternative sustainable materials for menstrual hygiene products to help combat the growing need for natural-renewable alternatives for plastics.

Our Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering is examining how electronic engineering can improve food supply and sustainable energy production without increased pressures on our land.

E-Agri Manchester is using e-devices for reducing waste, increasing yields and making crops more resilient.

We also work on sustainable agriculture with the eight most research-intensive universities in the north of England through an N8 AgriFood programme.