UOW's Global Challenges Program is a strategic research initiative designed to harness the diverse expertise of researchers to address real-world problems. We are driven by our values of adventure, collegiality, inclusivity and support. As a program, we aim to cultivate research excellence while improving equality & diversity to support the next generation of research leaders.
Global Challenges Program
Research with impact
Global Challenges research teams address problems beyond the scope of a single discipline, in collaboration with industry, government and wider community. We have 100 external investigators across all projects. Over half of our teams in 2020 are led by women and 41% are led by Early Career Researchers.
The University of Wollongong’s Global Challenges Program is a strategic research initiative addressing real-world problems.
The program harnesses the expertise of world-class researchers, to solve problems beyond the scope of a single discipline. Interdisciplinary research is fundamental to ensuring that every project and problem is investigated from a variety of perspectives to find a holistic solution.
The magic happens when unlikely collaborators find a focus, and work toward a shared challenge. The Global Challenges Program supports research projects under four challenge areas, including:
‘Building Resilient Communities’, targeting inequality, vulnerable populations, and disaster resilience.
‘Living Well, Longer’, with a focus on ageing and dementia, mental illness, and therapeutic and personal recovery;
‘Making Future Industries’, investigating emerging technologies, new product development and the future of work.
AND
Sustaining Coastal and Marine Zones’, investigating climate change, protecting coastal and marine habitats and resource security.’
Global Challenges funds unconventional projects, with teams who work across different fields of research.
With a focus on diversity and gender equality, and the development of Early Career Researchers, the program invests in the next generation of research leaders.
Global Challenges supports research project teams to grow into self-reliant and sustainable initiatives, through brokering connections with industry, government and communities.
As a result, researchers produce both scholarly outcomes, and make real-world impact, transforming lives and regions.
2020 Annual Report
The 2020 Annual Report showcases stories and podcasts of research excellence and milestones of our researchers, with a strong focus on women and early career researchers. Thank you to our research community for their commitment and collegiality throughout a challenging year.
READ THE REPORT
UN Sustainable Development Goal Report
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provide a shared global framework of development priorities. The UOW Global Challenges Program has almost one hundred interdisciplinary projects working toward the goals.
READ THE UOW SDG REPORT
Global Challenges brings together diverse groups of specialists stretching beyond disciplines. The magic happens when these unlikely collaborators find a shared focus for their passions. Global Challenges research teams work toward at least one of our four challenge areas.
Our keystone projects
Antimicrobial Resistance
Tackling the challenge of antimicrobial resistance, by developing and testing interventions to stop, or at the very least slow down, rates of resistance.
Blue Futures
Blue Futures positions the NSW South Coast as a national leader in the development of blue economies, drawing on ocean and coastal resources for economic development, in an ecologically and economically sustainable way.
Connections for Life with Dementia
With no effective treatment or cure in sight, there is an increasing urgency to support the social health & wellbeing of people living with dementia & those at risk of developing it.
Future Makers
The Future Makers team has been investigating how makerspaces can impact and contribute to the local economy as a stimulus for new business generation and STEM education.
