Our research
The School of Computer Science and the Environment supports a wide range of multidisciplinary, high-quality research work and shares with the rest of the University an emphasis on strategic applicable research.
Intelligent and Distributed Systems (IDS)
Led by Associate Professor David Reid, this group aims to build computational models for understanding biological and social intelligence found in nature, with particular interest in neural information processing in the brain and the organising principles of neural and morphological development from the evolutionary perspective. The group is also concerned with developing efficient computational algorithms, inspired from natural intelligence and built on mathematical models, for solving complex real-world problems, targeting problem spaces in high value-added engineering domains as well as domains in autonomous systems such as swarm robotics, healthcare and bioengineering with strategic societal impact.
Spatial Computing and Robotics (SC&R)
Led by Dr Emanuele Secco, the expertise of this group overlaps with IDS, utilising Immersive Technology (AR/VR) and Robotics, with a growing focus on Spatial Computing and Embedded Intelligence (SEI). Example outcomes of this research activity include: High Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) for the provision of broadband and internet services especially in rural, underserved and disaster areas; Haptics for Immersive Technologies (Tactile Internet); and a Portable Pollution-Monitoring Internet-of-Things (IoT) system. This group is involved in a set of multiple branches of Robotics, such as insights on Human Robot Interaction (HRI), Bio-mimetic Robotics (BM), miniaturized haptic-based sensors and actuators, and Haptics.
Mathematical Sciences (MSR)
Led by Dr Pavlos Xenitidis, this group aims to encompass research from pure and applied mathematics. The skills within the group are wide and far-reaching but complement each other. Themes within the group include Complexity, Singularity Theory, Differential Geometry, Dynamical Systems, Integrable Systems, Theoretical Physics, and Particle Physics/Quantum Computing. With many of the research areas overlapping, there has already been collaborations within the group and with the other groups (e.g. complexity analysis for self-organised HAPS).
Dr Jennifer Clear
Jen's research focuses on long-term environmental change, in particular, understanding anthropogenic activity and climate variability as drivers of past changes. Jennifer used applied palaeoecology (e.g. pollen) and stratigraphy (e.g. charcoal and geochemistry) to quantify past disturbance events (e.g. storms, fires, pathogens) from terrestrial, lacustrine and marine environments. Jennifer then combines these long-term geological (sedimentary) records with short-term (e.g. instrumental and dendroecological records) to model present and future scenarios in environmental change to inform conservation and management policy.
Dr Kevin Crawford
Kevin is a geologist and geomorphologist by training whose research interests, not only include glacial environments (e.g. landforms, sediment associations and processes), but also Geoconservation and Environmental Legislation (particularly in relation to Geoconservation)
Dr Victoria Kennedy
Victoria is a lecturer in tourism in the Department of Geography at Liverpool Hope University. Victoria holds a BA (Hons) degree in Tourism Management and a PhD in Management from The University of Hull. Victoria’s research interests include stakeholder theory and engagement, tourism policy, power, destination management and seaside tourism.
Dr Alessandra Lotteri
Ale is a geologist by training. She holds a PhD in Geography and Environmental Science. Her research interest focuses on studying the people living in areas exposed to natural hazards, their vulnerability and resilience elements and how they have evolved over time.
Rev Paul Rooney
Paul is an environmental geographer with expertise in the ecology, geomorphology and conservation management of coastal sand dunes, researching, publishing and providing practical advice in this field. Paul formed and leads the Dune Network, an initiative established in 2009 that aims to conserve dunes as dynamic landscapes. He is a co-investigator leading the Ministry Research Project. This project aims to improve the strategic planning and evidence based decision making relating to the deployment of permanent deacons in the Archdiocese of Liverpool and to evaluate the Archdiocesan Pastoral Associates Pilot Project.
The membership, areas of interest and expertise of these groups are not mutually exclusive, and collaborative research occurs frequently between them, together with other Schools/Departments in the University and with national and international partners.
All of Hope's researchers apply and obtain ethical clearances for all types of research. Find out further details about our Research Ethics.
We are proud of the research work in the The School of Computer Science and the Environment. All of our staff contributed to the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 assessment exercise, and 70% of our research outputs have been rated internationally excellent or internationally significant. Research Excellence Results 2021.
We have been consistently highly rated (92% and above) in our NSS score for overall student satisfaction. Our research expertise and world-leading academics in the School is important to us for the quality of our teaching and the student focused approach that we provide for enhancing the learning experience and environment for imparting education to our graduates and researchers.
For more information please visit our research webpage.