神马福利影片

Dr Hita Unnikrishnan, an assistant professor at the Institute for Global Sustainable Development, has been appointed to the Executive Council of the International Association for the Study of the Commons (IASC). The appointment follows the unexpected and tragic loss of previous council member Raul Pacheco-Vega, prompting the organisation to invite new academic perspectives to help steer its mission.

The IASC is a globally recognised professional body dedicated to improving the governance, management, and long鈥憈erm sustainability of shared resources — from forests and fisheries to digital commons and urban spaces. It brings together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers from multiple disciplines to advance understanding and develop solutions for commons and common鈥憄ool resource challenges.

Founded in part by Elinor Ostrom - the 2009 Nobel Laureate in Economics whose groundbreaking work reshaped global thinking on collective resource management - the organisation continues to play a central role in shaping policy and research worldwide.

Dr Unnikrishnan鈥檚 appointment places her among an international group of experts guiding the strategic direction of the association. The current list of council members can be viewed on the IASC website: .

The annual Warwick Sustainability Forum in its third iteration took place on 2 July, bringing a community of researchers, practitioners and policy-makers together at Warwick. It broke its record again(!) in terms of number :) having attracted nearly 70 participants from across the University and beyond!

For the first time, the WSF connected to the Spotlight's Sustainability Training School (STA), which was held in March 2026: the participants learned about the results of three fantastic group projects - on sustainable heritage; student retention, and green composting in the area led by the ECRs - and the support they received from Coventry City Council (Giuliana Famiglietti and her team in particular). The forum also brought three established thematic networks with their champions - Circular Economy; Sustainable Food/Agritech; RIFT - to hear about their work and plans for the future. There was an opportunity thereafter to hear new voices and submit thematic ideas/champion names for the next year. The Forum concluded with the stakeholder round-table, involving the Provost's keynote, and members of the House of Lords and local council, SOS UK, VUB HOST and experts from EU-US and UK consultancy companies.

IGSD was prominently represented there, building on the opportunities the Spotlight offers, and the expertise it connects.

The IGSD team met up in Scarman to exchange news regarding their research and funding activities; discuss how best to support the School's research environment and thematic clusters building; and to consider CPD opportunities for external partnerships.

IGSD team members have been successful in a series of funding opportunities, including British Academy, EU Horizon, and UKRI (1-stage applications). IGSD team also noted a growing success of their partnerships with the Sustainability Spotlight - a research network of 1000+ across Warwick - and external partners including with China and India HEIs, EUTOPIA HEIs, and more.

The conference 'Disastrous Pasts and Sustainable Futures' organised by the Global History and Culture Centre (GHCC) with the support from IGSD and the Sustainability Spotlight, brought together a truly interdisciplinary cohort of scholars and practitioners, ranging from historians, architects, political and social scientists to life sciences and disaster studies.

Led by Dr Pierre Purseigle (GHCC) and IGSD/SCFS colleagues (Vangelis Pitidis, Camila Audia, and Marta Guerriero) the conference focused on the experience of devastated communities, and the process of urban recovery and on the manifold legacies of disaster, with a view for more sustainable futures. Speakers came from a range of UK HEIs (Loghbourgh; Oxford and Kings College London), Europe (Copenhagen, Torino, Fribourg, Tartu, Athens )and beyond (Columbia; Ghana, KwaZulu-Natal and Dakar).

We hope this important thematic initiative will continue to grow and result in relevant publications, and funding initiatives!

Delighted to have been invited by Professor to be part of the parliamentary roundtable: Supporting disabled Ukrainians in the UK. The panel is sponsored by Matt Western MP and focuses on the key challenges that the Ukrainians face in times of war, including disability, housing, welfare & employment, mental health, and settlement. Both Robin and reported on the results of their project (policy brief) and discussed future plans.

While being closely involved in research and support of Ukrainians and Belarusians, my heart always bleeds every time when I hear about the pain and problems these courageous and tenacious peoples face. At the same time, I know that justice will prevail, although pain and trauma will linger for decades on, and that's why we need to be ready to offer even more help and support as Prof Robin Goodwin reports.

#Ukrainians #war #trauma #Disability #militaryveterans #community #Support