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Sustainable Cities and Communities
We’re making local and global cities and communities more sustainable through work that aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
The University of Dundee has a long track record of academic achievement on a range of topics closely related to the challenge of achieving environmental sustainability.
The excellence of our work has been widely recognised in science, law, and policy related to energy and water; in community-based sustainability initiatives; sustainable materials and engineering; and crop resilience bioscience. By bringing the teams working on these issues (and more) together, the Binks Institute for Sustainability will respect the complexity of the problems we face by drawing on insights generated from across the creative arts, humanities and social sciences as well as engineering and life sciences.
The Institute is engaging with local and global communities, government agencies, NGOs, and business to co-develop our capacity to live in environmentally sustainable ways.
Our focus is on four research areas:
- Food, Feed and Fibre
- Energy and Water
- Sustainable Design
- Engineering for Sustainability
In our quest to find solutions to the world’s biggest problems, we recognise the impact on sustainable practice of some of our activities. In order to mitigate against this, we are committed to embedding sustainability practices within our teaching and research. Learn more about sustainability in the School of Medicine and the School of Life Sciences.
Stories
Press release
Two teams given awards from Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) at 2024 ceremony, for research work carried out at the University of Dundee

Press release
International research led by the University of Dundee into how those living in refugee camps engage with their environment and shape it over time is to be awarded a medal of excellence from a leading engineering body.

Press release
The relationship between cityscapes and so-called “urban forests” is to receive a root and branch review as part of major conference hosted by the University of Dundee

Press release
A new University of Dundee design concept can help communities threatened by extreme weather events fight back in the battle against climate change.
Press release
A planning application for Eden Project Dundee is due to be submitted this autumn, following an extensive consultation process

Press release
It may be known as the basis of whisky but scientists at two of Scotland’s leading scientific institutions have been tasked with distilling a new future for barley.

Press release
A new economic impact assessment has highlighted the contribution that the University of Dundee makes to the local, national and international economy.

Press release
A University of Dundee student, inspired by a city initiative that allows healthcare professionals to prescribe time outdoors, has designed a seeded prescription form to encourage people to spend more time in nature.
Press release
Reclaimed stone from a historic Dundee jute mill is to find new purpose in pointing future University of Dundee students in the right direction

Impact case study
Widespread citizen engagement leads to Europe-wide action on climate change.

Guides
Guide
Use our cycle to work scheme at the University of Dundee to make savings on the cost of a new bike and safety equipment