Interdisciplinary research

Research excellence across the Sciences

We believe the future of research lies in breaking down traditional barriers between academic disciplines, so that bigger problems can be considered from human as well as physical perspectives. To enable this we have identified a number of interdisciplinary research themes and undertaken projects such as the Bridging the Gaps initiative.

Climate change and sustainable futures

Climate change is one of the most significant phenomena of the 21st century, needing a truly interdisciplinary approach to tackle the issues it raises. With strong links to the Met Office's nearby headquarters and diverse expertise encompassing mathematical climate modelling, ecosystem responses, mitigation interventions and technology, the University of Exeter is uniquely positioned at the vanguard of climate change research.

Systems biology

By adding principles and techniques from mathematics and physics to the field of biological sciences, biology has entered the 21st century. Our bioscientists, engineers and mathematicians are gene mapping, curing diseases which blight crops and trees and moving age old principles of biological observation into a new world of prediction and interaction. From proteins in individual cells to entire ecosystems, we are coming to new understanding of systems and networks at every scale.

Extrasolar planets

Extrasolar planets are those that exist outside Earth's immediate solar system, which have only recently become investigable due to technological developments such as the Hubble Space Telescope. By researching their atmospheres and underlying physics, we can learn more about our own planet, its history, and its future. Exeter unites mathematicians and theoretical astrophysicists with observational astrophysicists in this exciting new field of study.

Functional materials

From the discovery of fire and the wheel, the history of human technology has been about how we use and develop the materials around us. At Exeter, our physicists and engineers are working together to create new smart materials, from bomb-proof curtains to invisibility cloaks, as well as developing technologies like additive layer manufacturing techniques and investigating graphene, the 21st century's most exciting new material. 

Translational medicine, personalised healthcare and public health

If medical research is to be of benefit to society then it must move seamlessly from bench to bedside. Exeter's researchers span the University, the joint Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry and the NHS, and are developing new treatments for diabetes, investigating the ageing population, exploring the limitations of human performance and designing behaviour change interventions.