Climate and Environmental Solutions Research Center
The Climate and Environmental Solutions Research Center (CESRC) at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) is at the forefront of addressing the most critical environmental challenges of our time. Driven by rapid industrialization and urbanization, China faces unprecedented pressures on its natural resources and ecosystems. CESRC was established to pioneer the innovative scientific and engineering solutions necessary to drive sustainable development and build a resilient future.
We are a dynamic, interdisciplinary research hub, uniting renowned experts from chemical and environmental engineering, civil engineering, and geographical sciences. Our mission is to conduct cutting-edge experimental, theoretical, and empirical research that translates into tangible impact, bridging the critical gap between academic discovery and real-world application.
Our research is strategically focused on pressing global issues, with particular emphasis on the Chinese context. Our core strengths and research themes include:
- Air Quality and Pollution Control: Developing technologies and strategies to mitigate air pollution and improve air quality in urban and industrial areas.
- Aquatic Resource and Soil Management: Investigating the preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and soil health.
- Carbon Neutral Practices & Technologies: Researching innovative approaches to reduce carbon emissions and achieve carbon neutrality.
- Green Construction Materials: Researching and developing sustainable, eco-friendly construction materials to reduce the environmental impact of the building industry and promote energy-efficient infrastructure.
- Natural Medicine Resources: Exploring the sustainable use of natural resources for medicinal purposes.
- Solid Waste Recycling/Treatment/Management: Developing efficient systems for waste reduction, recycling, and disposal.
- Urban Climate Change: Studying the impacts of urbanization on local and regional climates and developing adaptive strategies for sustainable urban development.
- Water Quality and Wastewater Treatment: Advancing methods for water purification, wastewater treatment, and sustainable water resource management.
CESRC is powered by a team of internationally recognized and highly active researchers. Our faculty leads pioneering projects, publishes in high-impact journals, and secured significant research funding. We pride ourselves on a collaborative and supportive environment that nurtures the next generation of scientific leaders.
Leadership:
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Faculty of Science and Engineering
Dean of Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chair Professor of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering
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Chemical and Environmental Engineering / Faculty of Science and Engineering
Professor in Environmental Chemistry and Pollution Control, Head of Natural Resources and Environment Research Group (NRERG), Deputy Director of International Doctoral Innovation Centre (IDIC)
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Civil Engineering / Faculty of Science and Engineering
Professor in Sustainable Construction Materials, Deputy Head of Natural Resources and Environment Research Group
Core members:
Professor Bencan Tang, Chemical & Environmental Engineering | Profile
Professor Faith Chan, Geographical Sciences | Profile
Dr Ahmad Mousa, Civil Engineering | Profile
Dr Binjie Hu, Chemical and Environmental Engineering | Profile
Dr Fangfang Zhu, Civil Engineering | Profile
Dr Ping Fu, Geographical Sciences | Profile
Dr Meili Feng, Geographical Sciences | Profile
Dr Tengwen Long, Geographical Sciences | Profile
Dr Zhiyu Xiao, Chemical and Environmental Engineering | Profile
Dr Weizhuo Shi, Civil Engineering | Profile
Dr Kien Woh Kow, Chemical and Environmental Engineering | Profile
Water, Soil and Pollution Remediation Technologies
- Developed analytical methods for detecting emerging contaminants in water, sediments and biota.
- Evaluated full-scale activated carbon systems for effective removal of endocrine disruptors from sewage effluent.
- Developed advanced electrokinetic techniques for in-situ and ex-situ soil contamination remediation.
- Established processes for the degradation of emerging contaminants.
- Developed nano‑porous composites for heavy metal adsorption.
Air Pollution & Carbon Mitigation
- Developed catalysts for air pollution control.
- Designed functional materials for CO₂ conversion.
- Established internal carbonation of cementitious materials.
Urban Resilience, Flood & Coastal Planning
- Advanced sponge city initiatives across the Asia‑Pacific region.
- Delivered research on climate‑extreme adaptation and urban flood management.
- Explored future‑oriented planning for delta and coastal cities.
Solid Waste Resource Utilisation and Sustainable Materials Innovation
- Turned sewage sludge into sustainable functional materials for waste resource recovery.
- Upcycled municipal/industrial solid waste into high-value green construction materials or products.
Coastal Hydrodynamic and Geomorphological Numerical Modelling Research
- Developed a phase-resolving model for swash zone hydrodynamic and morphodynamic simulation.
- Reproduced coastal transverse finger bars based on numerical models.
- Adelaide University
- Shanghai University
- University of Technology Sydney
- Shandong University
- University of Malaya
- Chinese University of Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- University of Leeds
- National University of Singapore
- Monash University Malaysia
- Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences
- Ningbo Dadi Chemical Environmental Protection Co., Ltd.
- Green Water Co., Ltd.
- Ningbo ZCONE High‑Tech Co., Ltd.
CESRC offers exceptional opportunities for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to work on high-impact projects with state-of-the-art facilities and expert supervision. We actively foster collaborations with industry, government bodies, and international institutions to ensure our research informs policy and drives sustainable innovation.
For more information, prospective students and research partners are encouraged to contact our leadership: