Science strategy

The Science strategy's interdisciplinary approach is breaking down barriers between academic schools and bringing staff together to tackle some of the big issues of our time.

The strategy will invest £230million of internal and external income in key themes of activity.

The University is investing £27million in staffing and infrastructure developments, £83million in science-related capitol projects (including new buildings and refurbishment of current facilities), and will be raising £75million in earned research income for research projects, students, and collaborations.

The University already has strength and depth in these areas and they fit closely with international research priorities. It does not mean that Exeter will only teach and research in these areas of science. The core internationally rated science will remain a top priority; however the themes are the University’s investment priorities for the immediate future.

Key themes

Extrasolar planets

Extrasolar planets exist outside Earth’s immediate solar system. By researching the atmospheres and underlying physics of these planets we can learn more about our own planet, its history, and its future.

Functional materials

Invisibility screens for radar, artificial bone, solar panels, novel sensors; all rely on functional materials, whose properties derive from and are controlled by their underlying design.

Translational medicine

Exeter is internationally recognised for clinical and translational research in diabetes, mood disorders and interventions to achieve behavioural change. Our research moves lab discoveries into clinical practice.

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. We are at the vanguard of climate change research.

Systems biology

Techniques from mathematics and physics are accelerating biological sciences into the 21st century. From subcellular processes to entire ecosystems, we are developing models to understand systems at every scale.