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Inspiration: Our Research

Safe Autonomy Research Group

The Safe Autonomy Research Group at WMG work to support the safe and effective deployment of automated transport technologies. Through close relationships with government, industry and transport partners, the group produces evidence, new methodologies and safety assurance approaches that inform decision-making. Through initiatives such as Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE UK) and the Safety Poolâ„¢ initiative, delivered in partnership with organisations including the Department for Transport (DfT), the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV) and Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), the group contributes expertise to national discussions on automated vehicle safety, governance and public acceptance.

Tackling plant pests and diseases in a changing world

From plant-destroying insects to devastating diseases, biological threats are crossing borders more easily than ever before. As climate change creates favourable conditions for their spread, safeguarding food supplies and tree health has become an increasingly urgent concern.

Dr Stephen Parnell's research is helping meet this challenge by enabling outbreaks to be detected sooner and allowing authorities to act quickly to stop pests taking hold. His collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has led to a harmonised plant surveillance framework that is now enshrined in law, helping European countries identify and tackle emerging threats before they spread.

The digital future of healthcare

As healthcare services become increasingly digital, concerns are growing about privacy, online safety and unequal access to care. Research led by Professor Sarah L. M. Davis (Meg) at Warwick's Centre for Interdisciplinary Methodologies (CIM) explored the experiences of young people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ communities and sex workers across four countries, revealing how stigma, discrimination and online abuse can limit access to vital health information and services.

Working with young people and civil society organisations, the project has informed work by the World Health Organization and global health funders, helping shape digital health policies that are safer, fairer and more inclusive.

Concerns about the future of the UK's cultural sector have been brought into sharp focus through the work of Dr Heidi Ashton and the Campaign for the Arts. Their 2024 report, The State of the Arts, provides a comprehensive assessment of arts funding, education, participation, employment and cultural provision across the UK. Launched at the House of Lords, the report reveals significant declines in public investment, arts education and local cultural provision, despite continued public engagement with the arts. By bringing together robust evidence and official statistics, the report has helped shape national conversations on strengthening support for the UK's creative and cultural sectors.

Development in a dynamic Labour Market

What exactly do we mean by ‘skills’? In a labour market increasingly shaped by AI and technological change, lack of shared language around skills contributes to a growing skills gap and limits developmental opportunities for individuals and employers alike, with recent research highlighting young people as worst impacted by this shift.

In response, Professor Peter Elias and the Warwick Institute for Employment Research team have pioneered the Standard Skills Classification and open access Skills Explorer tool to help people navigate career pathways, support workforce development and build a more responsive, skills-focused economy in Britain.