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Attendees at the 2024 SSRP Annual Symposium

SSRP in Transition  July, 2025

The Â鶹ӳ»­ Sustainability Research Programme is undergoing a transition. SSRP was established in 2017 and has been facilitating research across all four faculties and schools at Â鶹ӳ»­ for over 7 years. In 2023, it was also designated a Centre of Excellence, with an authorisation from 2023 to 2028.  SSRP has been guided by its motto “Science for the SDGs” and has supported interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research with seed funding, bid support, an extensive communications programme, numerous science-based events, and policy engagement. Its >80 projects have produced many new and innovative ideas, had extensive impact in the Global South and UK, and generated substantial research income.

Up to July 31, 2025 SSRP was centrally funded by the University’s Strategic Development Fund and mandated to serve the entire Â鶹ӳ»­ research community.  This funding has been discontinued and not replaced.  As a result, the SSRP is moving from a centrally funded model to one based in a faculty (the Social Science Faculty). Other University Centres of Excellence are similarly organised. Despite the change, our intention is still to serve the entire Â鶹ӳ»­ sustainability research community as we’ve been doing for over 7 years.

Depending on the availability of administrative support, SSRP will continue to deliver core events and activities to foster a collaborative sustainability research culture on campus. As a Centre of Excellence, we will, as best we can, continue to facilitate cutting-edge research through bid development, our annual symposium, and other events and initiatives.

The FAQs below provide information about how the transition will be managed, what to expect, and how to keep in touch with the team.

What is changing?

Over the last 7 years, SSRP has provided seed funding for interdisciplinary research with a core support staff offering a holistic research environment for the Â鶹ӳ»­ sustainability research community. This financial support will be discontinued, and the final awardees will conclude their projects on 31 July 2025.

Next steps?

With over 80 research projects, many of which have gone on to receive external funding, SSRP will continue to provide a platform for researchers to connect, engage and collaborate via events and our annual symposium.

Will the partnership with IDS be maintained?

SSRP expects to continue to facilitate inter- and cross–disciplinary research that includes researchers from IDS.

Where can I find further information?

The SSRP website remains the one-stop shop for all information about our programme. In addition, a report summarising SSRP highlights from the past seven years will be published on the website soon.  The report will be launched on 24 July 2025, and join us for the event!

How to contact us:

Please use ssrp@sussex.ac.uk to reach SSRP, and someone will get back to you. Please expect some delays in response during the transition. 

Further information: