Global Environmental Futures

Creating solutions for a sustainable, thriving planet

A partnership between

Overview

Our environmental futures theme addresses planetary-scale challenges—biodiversity loss, climate change, and sustainability—through frontier science and policy-driven research. We unite ecological, social, and political perspectives to shape just and resilient environmental outcomes.

Focus Areas

Climate science and adaptation
Biodiversity and conservation
Water and land systems
Environmental justice and sustainability transitions
Policy frameworks and implementation

Flagship Projects

Clean Water and Sanitation
Affordable and Clean Energy
Sustainable Cities and Communities
Responsible Consumption and Production

Climate Action
Life Below Water
Life on Land

Projects are aligned to UN Sustainable Development Goals

Opportunities

The QUEX Institute provides diverse funding opportunities to foster collaboration between the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland.

These include support for joint workshops, high-impact research and education projects, and professional services fellowships. Each initiative aims to strengthen interdisciplinary partnerships, drive strategic priorities, and deliver meaningful, lasting impact aligned with the Institute’s key themes.

UQ-Exeter Accelerator Grants

Opens September 2025. UQ-Exeter Accelerator Grants are intended to support larger scale initiatives with the aim of securing external funding and/or producing high level outputs and impact.

Call for PhD Projects

Opens January 2026. Building on a platform of active collaboration and academic exchange, the UQ-Exeter Institute is continuing to build capacity and jointly invest in enhancing the opportunities for our researchers through UQ-Exeter PhD projects.

UQ-Exeter Professional Services Staff Fellowship

Opens March 2026. The fellowship program is designed to provide professional development opportunities and to share best practice and experience between professional colleagues at UQ and Exeter.

UQ-Exeter Institute Workshop Grants Scheme

Currently opens until 17 June. The UQ-Exeter Institute Workshop Grants are designed to broaden academic and research collaboration between UQ and Exeter and are intended to support the delivery of, and attendance at, joint workshops and symposia.

UQ-Exeter Institute Strategic Grant Scheme

Opens August 2025. The scheme is intended to support teams that can demonstrate world-leading research at both institutions, strong strategic alignment and clear plans to attract and leverage external funding to achieve long-term collaborative research goals.