New Envirotron 'Greenhouse' supports conservation research at UWE Bristol
The University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has made a significant investment in a sophisticated new greenhouse called the Envirotron that will transform teaching, research and partnerships in the areas of biodiversity and conservation, global environmental change and food security.
The Envirotron features LED lighting that minimises environmental impact and affords exquisite control of light, enabling researchers to simulate and experiment with a wide range of conditions. Compartments will also be independently fully climate-controllable.
Dr Lyn Newton, Head of Department in Applied Sciences at UWE Bristol, said, “Understanding the 'planetary boundaries' that determine the sustainability of life on Earth is one of the key challenges of the 21st century.
“The Envirotron presents us with a valuable resource that will support how we teach students and conduct conservation research.”
Professor Neil Willey of the Centre for Research in Biosciences, said, “Current projects include work with Wildlife Trusts, the Eden Project and the National Botanic Garden of Wales. In the area of pollution of natural and agricultural ecosystems the Department is working with the Environment Agency, NERC and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority.
“We are also investigating the effects of plant diseases in natural and agricultural systems and have a range of projects funded by BBSRC, the Woodland Trust, Woodland Heritage, Mars and Cocoa Research UK and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana.
“There are projects focusing on plant stress biology funded by the Croatian Government, the Royal Society and BBSRC. We are also developing biosensors for nutrients and pollutants in crops with Gwent Electronic Materials, working on bioremediation with JD Norman Industries and on the biogeochemistry of greenhouse gas emissions from soils and peats for NERC and the British Ecological Society. “
The building will officially open on Tuesday 3 October 2017 at 14:00 and will be attended by UWE Bristol Vice-Chancellor Steve West and researchers and students from the Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences.
Related news
11 April 2025
UWE Bristol academics among emerging scientific leaders to receive share of £7.6m funding for health research
Two UWE Bristol researchers are among the recipients of a £7.6 million investment from the Academy of Medical Sciences aimed at tackling urgent health challenges.
09 April 2025
New research to support a thriving health and care workforce is launched
A national research partnership will explore ways to support wellbeing and sustainability in the NHS and social care same day and urgent care workforce.
08 April 2025
Associate Professor named among newest members of UK Young Academy of emerging leaders
The Royal Society has named UWE Bristol’s Dr Alexandros Stratakos, Associate Professor and Principal Investigator in Sustainable Agri-Food Production, as one of the emerging leaders across the UK who are the newest members of the UK Young Academy.
03 April 2025
Interdisciplinary studio bridging the gap between creative industries and technology opens at UWE Bristol
A new £3.6m laboratory has opened at UWE Bristol which will provide a unique arts, humanities and technologies multi-disciplinary space for researchers, entrepreneurs and businesses across the West of England.
28 February 2025
Paramedics in GP surgeries may ease workload but not NHS costs, study finds
Paramedics working in GP surgeries help reduce GP workload but do not contribute to cost savings to the NHS, according to the first major study of the clinical and cost-effectiveness of paramedic compared with GP consultations.
11 February 2025
Comics could help explain science in court, study finds
Comics explaining the complexities of forensic science in simple terms could improve understanding for jurors in court cases, research conducted at UWE Bristol suggests.
06 February 2025
Opinion: ‘We’re ensuring people have access to diverse images for healthcare’
Flicking through the pages of academic medical textbooks back in 2022, our team spotted a surprising omission: a stark absence of images of health conditions on darker skin tones.
03 February 2025
Groundbreaking UWE Bristol project based on children’s lived experiences of racism in the UK set to transform police training
UWE Bristol researchers have worked with over 1,000 primary-aged children to explore everyday experiences of racism to inform future police training.
30 January 2025
Women exercising in gyms face barriers including body image and harassment, study finds
Women exercising in gyms often feel judged for their appearance and performance, leading to a persistent sense of inadequacy, according to a new study.
22 January 2025
Can DIY greening solutions transform your street and combat climate change?
Do-it-yourself (DIY) greening kits could help safeguard the country's most vulnerable communities from the impacts of a rapidly changing environment, according to a new project supported by UWE Bristol.
14 January 2025
UWE Bristol secures British Council grant to strengthen educational ties with three leading Nigerian universities
UWE Bristol has secured a British Council Transnational Education (TNE) grant to work collaboratively with three of Nigeria’s foremost universities.
03 January 2025
Big leap forward for environmentally friendly ‘e-textiles’ technology
Research led by UWE Bristol and the University of Southampton has shown wearable electronic textiles (e-textiles) can be both sustainable and biodegradable.