UGPN Annual Conference 2024
Monday 13 May - Wednesday 15 May
University of Surrey - Stag Hill Campus
Securing a Sustainable Society: new approaches and inclusive practices
About the UGPN Network
The University Global Partnership Network (UGPN) is an academic consortium bringing together some of the world’s leading universities in the field of sustainability: the University of Surrey, North Carolina State University (NC State) and the University of São Paulo (USP).
The UGPN provides a global platform for collaborative research and education initiatives to address the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and support sustainability transitions across diverse global regions and communities, including in Brazil, the UK and the US.
Flagship activities include the Research Collaboration Fund (RCF) – an annual seed-fund for joint research to catalyse bilateral and trilateral research teams – and the UGPN Academy, which connects our students and promotes innovations in learning and teaching.
About the UGPN Conference 2024
As the current Chair of the UGPN, the University of Surrey is honoured to host this year’s UGPN Annual Conference on our campus in Guildford, UK.
Under the theme of “Securing a Sustainable Society: new approaches and inclusive practices”, the conference will bring together all three member universities to showcase our commitment to sustainability, share best practice and connect academic colleagues to collaborate and foster impact and innovation globally.
Join us to network with our partners, meet potential collaborators, and find out how you can engage with new opportunities within the UGPN network and beyond.
Event highlights include:
- Research workshops on “Planetary Health” and “Technology for an inclusive society” to develop joint projects and prepare funding proposals for the RCF fund and external grants.
- A UGPN Academy session to support colleagues in designing innovative formats for global experiential learning, including opportunities to engage with the next UGPN COIL Academy.
- A UGPN showcase celebrating impactful projects and insights on building successful partnerships in the network.
- A Sustainability showcase for partners to share institutional best practice and strategic sustainability initiatives for academic and societal impact.
As the UGPN moves into its next phase, we invite our partners and all students and staff at Surrey to join us for this event, celebrate the network and develop future activities for a partnership that is truly transformative and impactful - in academia and society - to achieve a healthy planet and sustainable living for all.
Agenda
Monday 13 May
09:00 - 12:00 Opening session & networking
13:30 - 15:00 Research workshops (parallel sessions)
15:30 - 17:00 Sustainability showcase
17:30 - 20:00 Reception & conference dinner
Tuesday 14 May
11:30-12:30 Research funding session
14:00 - 17:30 Research workshops (parallel sessions)
Wednesday 15 May
09:30 - 10:45 Research workshops (parallel sessions)
Opening session & networking
Monday 13 May, 09:00 - 12:00
Venue: Innovation for Health Building (02IFH01)
Join us for the conference opening session with a warm welcome from Professor GQ Max Lu, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Surrey, and Professor Amelia Hadfield, UGPN Chair. Be inspired by our keynote speakers, learn more about the impact the UGPN has delivered through innovative global research and education projects, and take the opportunity to network and connect with academic colleagues and partners across the University of São Paulo, North Carolina State University, and the University of Surrey.
Chair: Prof. Amelia Hadfield, UGPN Chair
09:00-09:30 Welcome remarks
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Surrey
Prof. Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior
Rector, University of São Paulo (USP)
Vice Provost for Global Engagement, North Carolina State University
UGPN Chair & Associate Vice-President of External Engagement, University of Surrey
09:30-10:30 UGPN Showcase
The UGPN Academy
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology & Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Surrey
Professor of Communication & Dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences, NC State
Tackling global cancer inequalities: a multidisciplinary research collaborative
Professor of Psychology and Lead for Cancer Care, School of Health Sciences, University of Surrey
Bamboo for sustainable construction & communities: a UGPN research and education project
Associate Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Surrey
Professor of Structural Engineering and Mechanics, NC State
Moving the needle in WaSH R&D and impact
Senior Lecturer, Centre for Environment and Sustainability, University of Surrey
Prof. Tadeu Fabricio Malheiros
Professor, School of Public Health, USP
Converting microplastics into carbon nanomaterials
Senior Lecturer in Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey
10:30-11:00 Coffee break & networking
11:00-12:00 Keynotes
Director, Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey
Director, Sustainable Futures Initiative, North Carolina State University
Scientific Director, Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation, University of São Paulo
12:00-13:30 Lunch & networking
Sustainability Showcase
Monday 13 May, 15:30 - 17:00
Venue: Innovation for Health Building (02IFH01)
Join us for the Sustainability Showcase to learn more about Surrey's pan-University Institutes and hear from colleagues at Surrey, USP and NC State how universities can network globally to build civic partnerships, foster a systems approach, and break the silos of disciplines.
Chair: Prof. Amelia Hadfield, UGPN Chair
15:30-16:30 Sustainability at the University of Surrey
Institute for Sustainability
Institute Director
Director, Institute Operations, Innovation and Partnerships
Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI - Our AI and Sustainability Programme
Institute Director
Associate Professor (Reader) in AI & Programme Lead of AI and Sustainability
Civic engagement & policy networks
Associate Vice-President of External Engagement & Head of Department of Politics, University of Surrey
16:30-17:00 Panel discussion
Prof. Lorenzo Fioramonti, Director, Institute for Sustainability, University of Surrey
Prof. Adrian Hilton, Director Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI, University of Surrey
Dr Erick Sperandio Nascimento, Associate Professor (Reader) in AI & Programme Lead of AI and Sustainability
Dr Christopher Galik, Director of Sustainable Futures Initiative & Professor in the Department of Public Administration (Sustainable Energy Systems and Policy), NC State
Prof. Julio Romano Meneghini, Scientific Director, Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation, USP
UGPN Academy
Tuesday 14 May, 09:30 - 11:00
Venue: Teaching block (Ground floor, 06TB00)
About this session
- Are you interested in learning about the benefits of international collaboration between students?
- Would you like to find out about innovations in global learning & teaching practices, including practical models and case studies on how to connect students in the global classroom?
- Are you looking for potential collaborators at Surrey, NC State or USP to design or implement a new global learning activity?
Come and join us for this interactive seminar and networking session to meet your peers from UGPN partner universities and develop ideas for a truly transformative global experience for your students.
Conveners
Associate Professor, Department of Sociology & Associate Dean (International), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Surrey
Senior Lecturer in Learning Development, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Surrey
About the UGPN Academy
Developing the UGPN Network's global classroom, the UGPN Academy was launched in 2020 as an exciting forum for student engagement and experiential learning across all degree levels.
Led by Dr Alex Seal and Nayiri Keshishi at Surrey, the Academy runs an annual 3-week interactive, virtual seminar – or COIL: Collaborative Online International Learning – to connect students at Surrey, NC State and USP to work together on shared sustainability projects and challenges. Fostering global cultural competence for diverse cohorts of students, recent COIL courses have received sector recognition, including second place at the 2021 Pearson HE Innovate Awards and being a finalist at the 2022 PIEoneer Awards.
The next UGPN Academy will take place in October 2024 and we look forward to working with colleagues at this session to co-design the themes and activities.
The UGPN also continues to catalyse innovations in the curriculum through collaborative research among our academic staff.
A joint project on nature-based, sustainable building materials, led Dr. S. Alireza Behnejad at Surrey with academic colleagues in Brazil, has resulted in several master classes, short courses and student-led feasibility studies, including an integrated design module that has enriched USP’s undergraduate civil engineering degree since 2022. Surrey and USP are launching a "Multi-National Sustainability Project", a jointly delivered and assessed module linking Surrey's BSc in Environment and Sustainability with USP's undergraduate degree in Environmental Management, which will provide students at both universities with the opportunity to study together in the virtual classroom and benefit from new cultural perspectives and regional insights.
We are keen to grow and expand the scope of collaborative education in the UGPN partner network and look forward to engaging colleagues across all three partner universities in this session to develop new activity formats.
Dr Alex Seal is Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology and Associate Dean (International) for the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Surrey, enjoying both his work in university management and his much loved role in the classroom. In his ADI role, he leads the international strategies for each of the nine Schools and Departments in the Faculty and is responsible for developing global partnerships and exciting opportunities for students and staff, including research-led collaborations, study abroad and exchange experiences as well as new educational pathways and programmes. As a scholar and educator, he also has a particular interest in the research and practice of global experiential learning, including especially opportunities for ‘Internationalisation at Home’ (IaH) and ‘Collaborative Online International Learning’ (COIL). In 2020, he established the UGPN Academy as an annual COIL Academy that connects students within the UGPN network.
Nayiri Keshishi is Senior Lecturer in Learning Development in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Surrey. She has over a decade's experience in the design, development and delivery of engaging learning programmes, focusing on academic and professional skills development. Her research focuses on how higher education institutions are supporting students to develop the skills and qualities of the Inner Development Goals (IDG) framework, both in the curriculum and via co-curricular activities. These include self-awareness, empathy, communication, intercultural competence and creativity.
Research workshops
Monday 13 May, 13:30 - 15:00
Tuesday 14 May, 14:00 - 17:30
Wednesday 15 May, 09:30 - 10:45
Venue: Teaching block (First floor)
Workshop I: Planetary Health
Workshop II: Technology for an inclusive society
Research funding session
Tuesday 14 May, 11:30 - 12:30
Venue: Teaching block (Ground floor, 06TB00)
Presenters
Research Development Manager, International Research Development, University of Surrey
Director of Faculty Global Engagement, Office of Global Engagement, NC State
Program Manager, Scientific Directorate – Research Collaborations, FAPESP
Dr Tina Schilbach
International Partnerships Manager, International Engagement Office, University of Surrey
Registration for Surrey colleagues for both workshops (including the funding session) is being coordinated by the workshop conveners.
About the Research workshops
Convened by an interdisciplinary team of Surrey researchers, the workshops invite academic colleagues from Surrey, USP and NC State to discuss their research under the umbrella themes of "Planetary Health" and "Technology for an inclusive society" and develop new, collaborative research projects within the UGPN framework and beyond.
Addressing sustainability challenges across diverse global regions and through an interdisciplinary lens, the workshops aim to forge new bilateral or trilateral research teams connecting the UGPN partners and to nurture impact and innovation with stakeholders in industry, policy and the community. We especially encourage projects that support early-career researchers in building their global networks and that enable the inclusion of PhD students for enhanced research training.
Workshop participants are invited to prepare proposals for the UGPN Research Collaboration Fund (RCF), our annual seed-funding call, or focus on other external grant opportunities, which will be shared during the workshop.
The UGPN Research Collaboration Fund (RCF)
Providing an annual seed-fund for joint research addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UGPN has been instrumental in catalysing research teams to work together on global challenges, foster emerging talent, and nurture impact and innovation with stakeholders in industry and policy.
In the academic year 2023/2024, UGPN partners have awarded funding for 8 new project teams to undertake cutting-edge research on a range of topics including health, clean energy, and gender equality. Projects are addressing challenges such as the use of AI for sustainable healthcare and precision medicine, access to menstrual health and hygiene in low- and middle-income regions, and animal welfare in livestock production.
Supporting early-career researchers in building their global networks, awardees also include two Surrey Future Fellows, Dr Monika Kreitmair and Dr Nikolas Makasis (School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering). They will work with colleagues at USP to map the potential of geothermal heating and cooling for sustainable and resilient energy supply in the cities of London and São Paulo.
The next RCF call opens on 15 April 2024. For more information, please visit the RCF webpage.
Research workshop I: Planetary Health
Workshop themes
- Nature-based solutions
- One health, one medicine
- Lifelong health & healthy ageing
- Sustainable food security, nutrition & food cultures
- Bioeconomy & natural resource governance
- Planetary health & global governance
Prof. Monique Raats is a founding Co-Director of the pan-University Institute for Sustainability at the University of Surrey, where she represents the Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences. A leading expert in the area of public health and nutrition, she is also Director of Surrey’s Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health (FCBH) Research Centre, which conducts multidisciplinary, translational research on food, diet and health in public policy and behaviours as well as the biological science underlying them.
Dr Alireza Behnejad is Associate Professor in the School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Director of the Spatial Structures Research Centre at the University of Surrey. He previously worked as an architect and company director in design and construction. His engagement with the UGPN has sparked successful research, teaching and industry collaborations in Brazil, Australia and the USA, with a particular focus on harnessing the potential of nature-based, sustainable building materials.
Research workshop II: Technology for an inclusive society
Workshop themes
- Environmental engineering for inclusive development
- Renewable energy and sustainable energy transitions
- AI applications & solutions for sustainability
- Technology and global governance
Dr Erick Sperandio Nascimento is Associate Professor (Reader) in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Clean Air Systems at the Surrey Institute for People-Centred AI. He leads the Programme Lead of AI and Sustainability, a joint initiative with the Institute for Sustainability, which researches and develops solutions aiming to make AI development more sustainable (sustainability of AI), and to develop AI solutions to tackle sustainability challenges (AI for sustainability).
Dr Stelvia Matos is a Reader (Associate Professor) in Social Innovation & Sustainability Management, Head of the department of Strategy & International Business and Co-director of the Centre for Social Innovation Management at the Surrey Business School. Her research focuses on innovation dynamics, entrepreneurial behaviour and policy development, including the difficult process of responding to technological and social change through innovation.
Find out more about our workshop conveners in short interviews with UGPN Chair Prof. Amelia Hadfield
Interview with Prof. Monique Raats
Interview with Prof. Monique Raats
Interview with Dr S. Alireza Behnejad
Interview with Dr S. Alireza Behnejad
Interview with Dr Erick G Sperandio
Interview with Dr Erick G Sperandio
Interview with Dr Stelvia Matos
Interview with Dr Stelvia Matos
Delegates
University of São Paulo (USP)
Prof. Carlos Gilberto Carlotti Junior, Rector
Prof. Rodrigo Tocantins Calado, Provost for Graduate Studies
Prof. Sergio Persival Baroncini Proença, Provost for International Collaboration
Prof. Julio Romano Meneghini, Scientific Director, Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation
Prof. Roberta Consentino Kronka Mülfarth, UGPN Executive Group representative & Professor, School of Architecture and Urbanism (FAU-USP)
Daniel Barcelos, Manager of Strategic Partnership and Networks, USP International Cooperation Office
North Carolina State University (NC State)
Dr Amy Conger, Vice Provost for Global Engagement
Dr Leah Peck, Director of Faculty Global Engagement, Office of Global Engagement
Workshop I: Planetary Health
USP
Dr. Flávio Hourneaux Junior, Professor of Management, School of Economics, Business, Accounting and Actuarial Science (FEA-USP)
Dr. Lislaine Aparecida Fracolli, Professor in the Department of Public Health, School of Nursing (EE-USP)
NC State
Dr KC Busch, Associate Professor, Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education, College of Education
Dr Robert Scheller, Associate Dean, College of Natural Resources & Professor of Landscape Ecology
Dr Megan Lupek, Assistant Teaching Professor & Co-Director, Environmental Sciences Program, Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Natural Resources
Dr Seth Murray, Teaching Professor; Director of Undergraduate Programs, Interdisciplinary Studies & Director, Program in International Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Dr Moe Pourghaz, Professor of Structural Engineering and Mechanics, Department of Civil Construction and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Dr Nicola Singletary, Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Food, Bioprocessing and Nutrition Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Dr Colleen Doherty, Associate Professor, Department of Molecular and Structural Biochemistry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences & PI, Doherty Lab
Dr. Jason Bocarro, Owens-Shelton Distinguished Professor of Leadership with a Global Perspective and James Buzzard Leadership Development Program Director, Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management, College of Natural Resources
Workshop II: Technology for an inclusive society
USP
Dr. Tadeu Fabricio Malheiros, Professor, School of Public Health (FSP USP)
Prof. Roberto Marcondes Cesar Junior, Institute of Mathematics and Statistics (IME-USP)
Prof. Valentina Martelli, Associate Professor, Institute of Physics (IF-USP)
Dr. Simone Vasconcelos R Galina, Associate Professor of Innovation and Internationalization, School of Economics, Business and Accountancy of Ribeirão Preto (FEA-RP/RAD), USP
NC State
Dr Christopher Galik, Director of Sustainable Futures Initiative & Professor in the Department of Public Administration (Sustainable Energy Systems and Policy)
Dr David Hinks, Dean of Wilson College of Textiles & Cone Mills Distinguished Professor of Textile Chemistry
Dr Deanna Dannels, Dean of College of Humanities and Social Sciences & Professor of Communication
Dr Tiegnag Fang, Professor, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
Dr Soolyeon Cho, Associate Dean of Research, Doctoral Programs and Global Engagement; Professor of Architecture; Director of Building Energy Technology Lab (BETlab), College of Design
Dr Benjamin Rachunok, Assistant Professor, Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, College of Engineering
Dr Ge Yang, Professor, Department of Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering
Closing session
Wednesday 15 May, 11:00 - 12:30
Venue: Innovation for Health Building (02IFH01)
Chair: Prof. Amelia Hadfield
11:00 - 11:15 Closing remarks
11:15-11:30 Report from the UGPN Academy
UGPN Academy co-lead & Senior Lecturer in Learning Development, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Surrey
11:30-12:00 Reports from the Research workshops
Planetary Health
Co-Director, Institute for Sustainability & Director, Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health (FCBH) Research Centre, University of Surrey
Technology for an inclusive society
Associate Professor (Reader) in AI for Clean Air, Institute for People-centred AI, University of Surrey
12:00-12:30 Looking ahead: shaping the future UGPN Network
UGPN Chair & Associate Vice-President of External Engagement, University of Surrey
Vice Provost for Global Engagement, North Carolina State University
Logistical information
Accommodation
The Conference Hotel is the Mandolay Hotel
36-40 London Road, Guildford, GU1 2AE
How to get to Guildford
From London Heathrow Airport (LHR) delegates can take the RailAir coach (route RA2) which connects London Heathrow Terminals 2, 3 and 5 to Guildford main railway station every hour from early until late, seven days a week.
Alternatively, a taxi from the airport to the Mandolay Hotel in Guildford may cost roughly £100 (one way).
For arrivals at alternative airports, and other directions to the University, please consult the University of Surrey’s ‘How to Get Here’ webpage.
Transfers during the Conference
During the conference, a coach will collect delegates from the Conference Hotel every morning and deliver them back to the hotel every evening (the timings of these transfers will depend on the day – delegates will be able to refer to their conference programme for further details).
Welcome Informal Drinks Reception
All incoming partner delegates are invited to join Surrey colleagues for an informal drinks reception ahead of the conference:
Sunday 12 May, 18:00-20:00
Venue: Mandolay Hotel
Catering during the conference
Morning coffees, lunch and afternoon refreshments will be provided during all three conference days.
All incoming partner delegates are also invited to join us for the formal Reception & Conference dinner on the evening of Monday 13 May and the informal networking dinner by the Surrey campus lake on the evening of Tuesday 14 May.
Contact
For any questions please contact the team in the International Engagement Office at the University of Surrey.
Dr Tina Schilbach, International Partnerships Manager
Email: ugpn@surrey.ac.uk or t.schilbach@surrey.ac.uk
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