New challenge theme networks announced for 2024/25
The Horizons Institute has announced that the Healthy Buildings Network, Magnetism in Biomaterials, and the Polycrisis Network have been selected as its new networks for 2024/25.
Following a highly competitive application and idea development process, these three networks will receive funding and support from the Horizons Institute for the next 18 months — throughout which time each will further develop their ideas and research communities.
Horizons Institute director Stuart Taberner said: “The Challenge Networks programme is our flagship Horizons programme. We were delighted by the quality of all the applications we received, and it was a difficult decision to select only three!
“I’m excited to see how we can support them to achieve their potential while also working with other teams across the University to drive innovation and excellence.”
Head of Interdisciplinary Research Development Samantha Aspinall said: “Interdisciplinary ideas take time to develop because the genuine integration of disciplines, which moves them from multidisciplinary to interdisciplinary research, depends on the reciprocity in conversation and relationship building between researchers.
“This is why it is so important to us that our Challenge Networks are given this time and support to explore all avenues of novelty. We are really looking forward to working with them.”
These networks will collaborate with researchers and professional service colleagues, within and external to the University of Leeds, and aim to build connections with a multisectoral range of actors, including policymakers, non-profit organisations, charities, businesses and the public.
Horizons Institute Research Manager Dave Riley said: “Having experienced the process for the first time, I’ve been amazed by the diversity of ideas and collaborations that have come together for the Challenge Network call.
“The standard of the applications has been extremely high, and I can’t wait to see what innovative research ideas are going to emerge over the coming 18 months.”
The following descriptions offer a brief insight to the challenges addressed by each network, as well as their overarching aims and objectives.
Healthy Buildings Network
The inextricable link between the built environment and health poses a number of challenges, which can only be addressed in a holistic and interdisciplinary approach.
The Healthy Buildings Network, co-led by Dr Irene Mussio, Dr Marco-Felipe King, and Dr Martin López-García, aims to create partnerships between academic, industrial, governmental and clinical stakeholders to transform the vision of indoor spaces, with a view to creating ones that optimise physical, mental and social wellbeing of occupants.
Magnetism in Biomaterials
A network aiming to bring together physicians, chemists, engineers and medical researchers, Magnetism in Biomaterials will explore how magnetic fields may affect biological materials — with the ultimate goal of founding a new field with applicability in medicine and health.
Co-led by Dr Timothy Moorsom, Professor Lorna Dougan, Dr Ben Hanson and Professor Sikha Saha, the Magnetism in Biomaterials network plans to recruit members, from across academia and industry, and provide opportunities for researchers to get involved in developing this emergent field over the course of the 18 months.
Polycrisis Network
Polycrisis refers to the collisions and overlaps between multiple and simultaneous crises, resulting in generalised anxiety about the unknown.
Co-led by Dr Sebastien Nobert, Dr Laura Considine and Dr Jez Coram, the Polycrisis Network aims to provide an interdisciplinary, critical and creative space to explore academic debates about the emergence, persistence, fabric, and real-world impacts of polycrisis. With plans to analyse, document and explore the complex and dynamic ecosystem of polycrisis, the co-leads are planning a series of outputs to communicate their findings — including a short participatory film.
Each of these networks will be looking to find others interested in the challenge they are seeking to address. If you would like to be put in touch with the co-leads of any of the above networks, please email the Horizons team via horizons@leeds.ac.uk
