Research projects

These are some of the ways in which our interdisciplinary research is tackling challenges on a regional, national and global stage.

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  Better healthcare in care homes

  Research at the University of Hertfordshire is helping to identify ways to improve healthcare for the nearly half a million people living in care homes in the UK.

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  The coffee historian

  Coffee is a global product that influences millions of lives. From crop to cup, its production faces challenges ranging from environmental conservation to economic equality. An expert on the global history of coffee, Professor Jonathan Morris is working with the industry to understand its heritage and ensure its sustainability.

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  Discovering new planets

  The finding of new planet Proxima b marks a significant step in mankind’s quest to know if life exists outside our Solar System. University of Hertfordshire astronomers played a leading role in the game-changing discovery

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  Exploring science through art

  Understanding our world using music and sculpture. Cosmoscope, a monumental sound and light sculpture created by artist Professor Simeon Nelson and composer Rob Godman at the University’s School of Creative Arts, crosses the boundaries between science and art to explore the complexities of the universe.

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  Monitoring air quality

  Air pollution shortens the lives of some 40,000 people in the UK each year. Low-cost, highly accurate technology developed by the University’s researchers to monitor air quality at Heathrow Airport is now helping to tackle this urgent problem in more than 60 countries worldwide.

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  Next generation scientists

  Developing future generations of scientists is vital to the UK’s economy, so it is important to engage pupils in science from the start of their education. The Primary Science Quality Mark is a unique award programme helping to raise the profile of science teaching and learning in primary schools.

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  Protecting our troops in biowarfare

  University of Hertfordshire researchers are working with Ministry of Defence agencies and multinational defence companies to develop technologies that protect the UK’s armed forces from biological attacks.

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  A fairer gig economy

  The rise of ‘on-demand’ work managed by online platforms such as Uber and Deliveroo is changing the way work is organised and challenging traditional forms of employment. Research by Hertfordshire Business School is informing policymakers seeking to protect labour standards.