The ICSR officially launched in February 2025 during Sustainability Week, bringing together researchers and stakeholders from across the Liverpool community and beyond. Here we shared our ambitions for the Centre and to announce our first focused theme: Climate Action (SDG 13).
Our first programme of workshops followed in March and April 2025, offering colleagues from across all three faculties an introduction to the ICSR and a space to connect. These sessions encouraged academics to explore how their climate-related research could be strengthened through interdisciplinary thinking, new perspectives, and collaborative approaches across traditional boundaries.
Building on the momentum of our first workshops, we hosted two day-long sandpit sessions. These events provided a dynamic environment for researchers working on climate-related challenges to share insights, identify complementary expertise, and supported the formulation of emerging research priorities.
The outcomes helped us refine the programme further, leading to additional workshops in October and November designed to deepen collaboration and support the next stage of co-creation. These events also highlighted what the Centre is already achieving by connecting colleagues across disciplines in ways that enable new networks and new research directions.
Professor Ainhoa Mielgo Iza, Department of Molecular & Clinical Cancer Medicine said, “The ICSR has been instrumental in facilitating workshops and follow-up meetings that have brought together academic experts from across our University to collaboratively address some of the most pressing challenges we currently face. Thanks to the ICSR’s support, we have established an interdisciplinary team, including biomedical scientists, ecologists, chemists, engineers, architects, and public communications experts, working together to understand the impacts of micro- and nanoplastics on human health and ecosystems.”
Supporting collaboration through pump-priming funding
The ICSR launched a limited pump-priming funding scheme to support the most promising collaborations emerging from our workshops and sandpits. We have awarded small grants to four interdisciplinary teams, helping them to strengthen partnerships, bring external stakeholders into the work, and maintain momentum towards ambitious external funding bids.
As we enter our second year, ICSR will continue supporting these teams through the next stage of research development and bid preparation.
Professor Nicoleta Leonardi, Department of Geography and Planning, said “Being part of the ICSR has allowed me to work with colleagues from very different disciplines whom I wouldn’t otherwise have met, and to come together around some of the most pressing climate-related challenges. The Centre’s pump-priming support has played a key role in bringing our interdisciplinary team together, helping us work towards ambitious funding proposals, and engage external stakeholders to maximise our impact.”
New for 2026: A focus on Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10)
In 2026, ICSR will move into its next thematic phase, shifting our targeted activities from Climate to Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10). This marks an important next step in our mission to foster collaborative sustainability research that addresses complex global challenges through interdisciplinary and inclusive approaches.
SDG 10 calls for reducing disparities within and between societies, encompassing issues such as economic inequality, unequal access to services, discrimination, social exclusion, and structural barriers that limit opportunity.
ICSR will take a broad and inclusive approach to this theme. We warmly welcome researchers whose work connects with SDG 10 directly, as well as those engaging with related goals including:
- SDG 1: No Poverty
- SDG 4: Quality Education
- SDG 5: Gender Equality
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
- SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
The challenge of reducing inequalities demands interdisciplinary thinking and the ICSR is uniquely placed to lead.
Our kick-off workshop on our new topic took place in February 2026. If you are interested in shaping this next phase of ICSR’s work, we encourage you get in touch with them to see how you might be able to contribute and participate in further activities. Together, we can build new partnerships, develop ambitious research ideas, and strengthen the University’s contribution to the UN SDGs locally and globally.