Working with public sector

We continued to work closely with the public sector to help inform the decisions that impact our students and wider society.

Gender-based violence in climate-hit countries and climate finance were two key topics addressed by Professor Tahseen Jafry during the United Nations climate summit COP27, which was held in Sharm El Sheikh. The Director of Glasgow Caledonian University's Mary Robinson Centre for Climate Justice was involved in key discussions at the World Health Organization Pavilion and also the Africa Pavilion during the two-week event.

Following a report by the Substance Use and Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses research groups, led by Professor Carol Emslie, the Scottish Parliament debated alcohol problems in Scotland’s LGBTQ+ community and considered ways to better help vulnerable groups.

GCU Cold Case Unit, in partnership with the charity Locate International, continued to develop its relationship with Police Scotland as our Criminology students worked on nine historical cases of unidentified remains.

The unit, which was profiled on BBC One’s Crimewatch in February, launched an appeal in Ireland to identify a woman washed ashore in Scotland 16 years ago that generated nationwide coverage.

Research from Dr Keith Baker led to the formation of the UK’s first publicly-owned energy company in Wales. The Welsh government used Dr Baker’s Powering Our Ambitions 2019 policy paper as its blueprint and hopes to have the new company set up by April 2024.

In another successful joint venture, University engineering students, the Royal Navy, and Scottish primary school-aged pupils, designed and manufactured the world’s first mobile luge ramp.

The impressive 2.5m high and 13m long ramp can be assembled and disassembled by the Royal Navy team, giving athletes the flexibility to train anywhere they wish. The 10-month project, a result of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) partnership between our Mechanical Engineering department and the Royal Navy, enlisted the help of six Renfrewshire primary schools.