Research
Addressing social, economic and environmental sustainability challenges, both locally and globally.
Driving sustainable development through discovery, creativity and innovation
As a global intellectual hub in Canada's most enterprising city, the University of Calgary fosters a rich environment for sustainability research. These diverse bodies of work are contributing to enhancing the health and wellbeing of humans and animals, creating more resilient food systems, tackling climate change and creating more accessible, safe and inclusive communities.
Leveraging strengths and opportunities from curiosity-driven research groups, a refreshed institutional focus and applied sustainability research, UCalgary is striving to empower faculty and students to tackle society's big problems.
Research Groups
UCalgary hosts various institutes, labs and research groups in order to target wicked problems at different scales, responding to critical community needs.
Institutional Focus
UCalgary's framework for growth identifies four areas of focus - life sciences, energy transformations, city building and exploring digital worlds. These research themes align closely with sustainability while supporting the academic and research plans.
Campus as a Learning Lab
UCalgary using its campus as a lab to test and model innovative sustainability practices, leveraging its research, academic and operational functions.
Focus on research and scholarship
Our nationally and internationally recognized scholars are tackling sustainability research through priorities outlined in our strategic research themes.
Energy Innovations for Today and Tomorrow
Transforming the energy landscape for a cleaner, more efficient energy future.
Infections, Inflammation and Chronic Diseases
Finding sustainable solutions to global health concerns.
Human Dynamics in a Changing World
Developing sustainable, resilient communities and adapting to social ecological change.
Engineering Solutions for Health
Applying innovative and novel technology to improve healthcare delivery and efficiency.
New Earth-Space Technologies
Utilizing technology to improve environmental monitoring and inform decision-making.
Brain and Mental Health
Promoting mental health and the connections to environmental, economic and social factors.
Child Health and Wellness
The University of Calgary is driving science and innovation to transform the health and wellbeing of children and families. Led by the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, top scientists across the campus are partnering with Alberta Health Services, the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation, and our community to create a better future for children through research.
One Health
One Health uses a transdisciplinary approach to address problems at the intersection of people, animals, and their environments.
Annual Sustainability Report
Our annual Institutional Sustainability Report highlights examples of research excellence in UCalgary's efforts to progress all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.