Applied Sustainability Projects

Applied Sustainability Projects give you the chance to make a difference by helping organisations within the sustainability sector. There are hundreds of organisations working to make the area a greener, happier and healthier place to live and as a University we have a huge role to play. Students at the have expertise in a range of relevant subjects and around 7.5 million hours of coursework time that could be used to help make the world around us more sustainable.

The Applied Sustainability Projects are set by a range of organisations, from NGOs and the University to large businesses and SMEs, to help them address the key challenges that they face. The project ideas are free to use however you want. They could form the focus for an essay, or an entire dissertation. It is up to you. The projects are not intended to provide a step-by-step template, but rather give you the freedom to focus on specific aspects that interest you.

All we ask is that you fill in your details here to let us know who you are and what topic you are doing. This also means that we can make sure that your finished work gets back to the organisation so that they can make use of it. If you have any questions or feedback about the process, please drop us a line at [email protected].

The rest of this document presents the Applied Sustainability Projects that are available. They are listed under the organisation that has set them, and a brief introduction to the organisation precedes the project descriptions.

Contents The University of Manchester ...... 5 1. Energy Use and Consumption at The University of Manchester ...... 5 2. Biodiversity Conservation at the University of Manchester ...... 6 3. Sustainable Travel at the University of Manchester ...... 7 4. Measuring student engagement with sustainability on campus ...... 8 5. Universities and Sustainable Development Goals ...... 9 6. Sustainability impact of research ...... 9 Transport for ...... 9 7. The wider impacts of Greater Manchester bus priority investment ...... 9 8. Changes to education and employment catchments subsequent to the bus priority investment ...... 9 Corridor Manchester ...... 10 9. Electric Vehicles and EV charging, utilization and growth ...... 10 10. Interstitial spaces ...... 10 11. Animating the Space ...... 10

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12. App development for wayfinding ...... 10 13. Green Infrastructure and Greenspace ...... 11 14. ...... 11 15. Street Markets ...... 11 16. Wellness and Wellbeing ...... 11 My Wild City ...... 11 17. Students and Nature – Are they connected? ...... 12 18. What can Manchester learn from the world’s best Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans? 12 19. Does Social Media motivate people to volunteer and take action? ...... 12 20. Wildlife in Manchester – how can we increase the number of wildlife records submitted? 12 Friends of the Earth Manchester ...... 13 21. What options are available for Local Authorities to fund climate change action? ...... 13 22. Airport departure taxes and development fees ...... 13 23. A Climate Change Tourist Tax ...... 13 24. Estimating the cycling sector in the Greater Manchester Low Carbon Economy ...... 13 25. Environmental footprint of car parking space(s) ...... 14 26. How fast can your granny run? ...... 14 27. Impact of pool bikes ...... 14 28. Visualising air pollution ...... 15 29. Availability and effectiveness of air quality sensors for citizen science ...... 15 30. Options for incentivising sustainable modes of transport ...... 15 ...... 16 31. What is the international impact of Manchester's 'Soft Power' ...... 16 32. Digital transformation pilots at Manchester City Council ...... 16 33. Impact of climate change and planning policy on population health outcomes ...... 16 34. Urban Energy and fuel poverty ...... 17 35. Civic innovation models ...... 17 36. Open data in the public sector ...... 17 37. Identifying and mapping the quality of housing ...... 17 38. Impact of the urban environment on resident's health and well-being ...... 17 39. Effect of quality of primary and social care services on secondary care health use ...... 18 40. Family poverty strategy ...... 18

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41. Understanding Manchester's population using Small Area Estimation ...... 18 42. Better understanding Manchester’s homeless hotspots ...... 18 43. Zero Carbon 2038 ...... 19 44. Buses Service and Manchester ...... 19 45. Inclusive growth ...... 19 46. Welfare reform ...... 19 47. Neighbourhood Health ...... 20 48. Sharing Community Intelligence...... 20 49. Housing Benefit Sector ...... 20 50. City Centre renters ...... 20 51. HMO/Sharing sector ...... 20 52. WiFi coverage in Manchester city centre ...... 20 53. Wifi coverage in other localities ...... 20 54. What advantages are there to the Public sector from Internet of Things ...... 21 55. Benefits of software defined networking (SDN) to the public sector...... 21 56. How do you drive up commuting by bike? ...... 21 ARUP ...... 21 57. The health and wellbeing gap in Natural Capital ...... 21 58. Social value of day-lighting hidden rivers ...... 21 59. Mersey Tidal Power and fuel poverty ...... 22 60. City of Trees impact and evaluation ...... 22 61. Wellbeing outcomes in the public realm ...... 22 62. Citizen impact on air quality ...... 22 63. Digital inclusion / exclusion ...... 22 64. Smart cities and local authorities ...... 23 65. Special educational needs and disabilities transport ...... 23 Manchester Climate Change Board ...... 23 66. Devolved climate change policy and implementation: city case studies ...... 23 67. Devolved climate change policy and implementation in Manchester: citizen views ...... 23 68. Devolved climate change policy and implementation in Manchester: what will you do? . 24 69. What does it all add up to? From projects to transformation ...... 24 Manchester Medical - Health Centre ...... 24 70. Developing a Green Space - Moss Side Health Centre ...... 24 e-Forum ...... 24

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71. Sustainable urbanisation: transferring lessons from Europe to China ...... 24 72. Northern Powerhouse and JingJinJi: identifying knowledge needs for metropolitan mega- regions ...... 24 73. Blockchains and urban challenges ...... 25 The Old Abbey Taphouse ...... 25 74. A feasibility study of bee keeping ...... 25 75. Stakeholder mapping of community organisations ...... 25 76. Scoping the circular economy for small enterprises ...... 26 77. Incubating Disagreement ...... 26 Collaboratory for Urban Resilience and Energy ...... 26 78. Smart City of Sensors ...... 26 79. Over Hulton Neighbourhood Forum ...... 26 80. Air pollution on the move ...... 27 81. City Footprints ...... 27 Learning Loops in the Public Realm (LOOPER) ...... 27 82. Parking in Brunswick ...... 27 83. Traffic speed ...... 28 84. Residents’ perceptions and feelings about their neighbourhood ...... 28 85. Safety ...... 28 86. Changes in the lives of individuals ...... 28 87. Changes at the community level ...... 28

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The University of Manchester The University of Manchester currently has the opportunity to offer a series of themed sustainability projects. These projects, or Sustainability Challenges as we refer to them, are set by colleagues across The University ad are open to all levels of students. These challenges cover a wide-range of themes such as energy, biodiversity and travel; they are based on a local level, studying the effects on the university or across the City of Manchester. The challenges set will be dependent on what data-sets are available. Currently the datasets areas available include utilities, transport, air quality and weather.

1. Energy Use and Consumption at The University of Manchester The University of Manchester annually consumes 246 million kWh in electricity and 143 million kWh in gas. The cost of this consumption is £8.9 million and £3.7 million respectively, costing a total of £12.6 million annually. The environmental impact of this energy use is also significant with a total of 67,000 tons of CO2 being released due to the production of energy that we consume. By 2020 The University of Manchester must see a 39% decrease in its CO2 emissions, set from a 2007/08 baseline. The University electricity system operates at 6.6kV and distributes power from a substation owned by Electricity North West to substations situated across the campus. In these substations the electricity is converted to mains voltage and is metered to allow us to understand the energy use on a building by building basis. Electricity is not usually used for heating purposes but supplies loads that include lighting, ventilation systems, pumps, cooling and the essential services required by users to power office and laboratory based equipment. The University also operates a number of heat networks that use gas to heat hot water / to generate steam. This hot water or steam is then circulated across the campus through the heat networks. Within individual buildings, these heat networks supply the users with hot water and central heating. Both heat and electricity data is gathered through a series of metering systems based across campus. With the £1 billion Campus Masterplan there is a series of potential projects based on how to make builds more sustainable.

 Future Grid Emissions: We would like to understand what the likely grid emission intensity (i.e. kg

of CO2 produced per kWh of electricity) will be in the future. The project should consider the current energy schemes being developed across the UK and the relevant social, political and economic factors.  Influencing Energy Use: The role of users in determining how much energy is consumed on the Estate is vital. How do we best encourage users to carefully manage the way they consume energy and incentivise behaviour, particularly that relating to the purchase and use of high energy intensity capital equipment.  Weather Dependence: It is clear that our energy use fluctuates as a function of weather conditions but the level of variation varies across the building stock. We would like to understand whether we can adjust our energy use in a manner that gives us a robust understanding of the underlying demand irrespective of weather conditions.  Energy Management Through Automatic Data Interrogation: With access to sensors and settings from building management systems on the Estate is it possible to automatically determine systems which are using energy in a sup-optimal manner through the interrogation of present and historic data.  Future Technologies: What changes in technology could reduce the amount of energy used by the University Estate and/or which technologies are likely to see the type and amount of energy we use increase over time?

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 Post-Construction Assessments: We have a range of technologies that have been installed as part of a number of capital schemes. One example is the installation of earth pipes that are used within the for cooling / heating purposes. A number of projects could be offered in this area.  Controlled Energy Environments: Previously a PhD project saw the implementation of temperature boxes, allowing respondents to feedback the overall Temperature of their areas. This scheme could be replicated and updated, although catered towards a higher level student (MSc – PhD).  Energy Intensive Areas: Certain building types, such as laboratories, require a high amount of energy-intensive equipment. We would like to understand particular zones of overly high consumption. An analysis of these spaces would be supported through utilities data and visual analysis.  Minimal Building Requirements: As with most other Russel Group Universities there are a number of older, inefficient buildings on campus. We want it to be determined whether the energy used within these buildings can be wholly attributed to what the building needs to use, or are people the cause?  Future Technologies v2: Within budgetary constraints what future technologies would UoM be able to implement? Additionally, what areas on campus are highlighted as severely inefficient and thereby rely on the implementation of future technology?

DATA: https://www.manchester-i.com/ University of Manchester Environmental Sustainability Strategy: http://www.sustainability.manchester.ac.uk/strategy/ UK Government Low Carbon Transition Plan UK Government Annual Report On Carbon Budget

2. Biodiversity Conservation at the University of Manchester The University of Manchester has a set of aspirational environmental sustainability targets including the 2020 40% CO2 emissions reduction. As part of these strategies is the implementation of a Living Campus plan, which is due in the next upcoming months. The key Environmental Sustainability objectives cover four key areas: research with impact, socially responsible graduates, responsible purchasing and engaging our communities. Across campus there are over 240 University buildings situated across 270 hectares, containing differing levels of environmentally friendly structures. Different Green walls and roofs are placed across campus, and can be used to improve local biodiversity. These Green Roofs are located at the Whitworth Art Gallery, Graphene Building, Sam Alex Building and the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons. Different areas across campus target enhancing local biodiversity such as the Michael Smith quad, which is established as a biodiversity garden. There are also a variety of beehives and renewable energy projects that cater towards improving local biodiversity. With these greenspaces on campus there is variety of potential student projects available. Biodiversity challenges are likely to require data-collection, primarily through visual analysis and survey allocation.

 Monitoring Pollinators: We would like an analysis of the types and numbers of pollinators on campus. We would also like the positive (or negative) side-effects of implementing pollinators on campus. Access to the Tree Trail, types of pollinators on campus and numbers of bee-hives are available.

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 Greenspace and Biodiversity: Through the completion of a visual analysis and literature review, we would like to understand the effect greenspace has on local biodiversity. Suggestions as to how greenspace should be altered to suit local biodiversity should also be made. The campus Tree Plan could be analysed here.  Green Infrastructure: We would like some analysis of how building design implementation is allocated due to local biodiversity. A study of local green walls, green roofs and wildlife gardens can be made. The Campus Masterplan can be used as part of this project.  Evolution of Local Biodiversity: We would like someone to study the effects of the Manchester urban environment and look at how wildlife evolves to suit this environment. One example would be the taming of urban foxes. Another could be how plant life has evolved to survive in areas with substandard air quality.  Historical Biodiversity: This would be a historical analysis of how biodiversity has changed within perhaps 30 years. This could be on a building scale, a campus scale or a Manchester scale.  Comparative studies: A comparative study of different wildlife areas on campus could be implemented. A habitat area study can be created using the campus biodiversity index. We would like an analysis of different biodiversity areas across campus.  Positive Biodiversity: A survey to be completed that will analyse the overall improved wellbeing biodiversity and greenspace has on staff and students. Can link in to wellbeing strategy.

DATA: https://www.manchester-i.com/ University of Manchester Living Campus plan: http://www.sustainability.manchester.ac.uk/strategy/ Biodiversity site locations: Beehives, Green Roofs, biodiversity conservation areas Biodiversity Data Journal National Biodiversity Network Global Biodiversity Information Facility

3. Sustainable Travel at the University of Manchester The University of Manchester is aiming to increase the amount of sustainable travel by promoting different methods of sustainable travel. In 1999 51% of staff travelled to work by car – this number has now decreased to 30% (2010). Various schemes have been put in place to help reduce overall travel emissions, such as the Cycle to work scheme, the Low Emission Vehicle Scheme and the University Electric Pool Car. The University of Manchester is heavily involved with reducing Scope 1 & 2 emissions. Whilst Scope 3 emissions are harder to calculate, due to classification as indirect emissions, themes such as Travel fall within this category. There are methods to measure the amount of CO2 emissions; for example Cargo bikes are also being implemented at The University of Manchester. This again reduces a dependence on diesel engines and reduces Scope 3 emissions. Information such as CO not emitted, overall speed and cost to charge are all included. This links in to TfGM data which indicates occupancy, state and capacity. A primary dataset source for transport is the University Electric Pool Car (EV). The EV runs at 2-4p per mile and runs up to 100 miles. The car is 100% electric and markedly reduces the amount of CO2 emitted within Scope 3. The EV is monitored and collects travel data which could be used within students’ projects. From the data sources available there are a variety of student projects potentially on offer.

 Shelter Occupancy: We would like to understand the levels of bike shelter occupancy across campus to ascertain a growing trend in bike users. TfGM could offer data in regards to numbers of daily cyclists on the Oxford Road corridor.

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 Local Environmental Impact: It is clear that a bike journey uses less CO2 than a car journey or public transport. We would like this environmental impact to be measured and calculated across the University (using average bike users numbers). We would also like an analysis of potential future uptake in bike commuter intake.  Health Effects on Bike Commuters: This study should rely on previous work within this field whilst combining the UoM local air quality datasets  Transport Feasibility Factors: We would like a survey-based study ascertaining why people choose to use the transport they do. What factors obstruct them from using public transport? Or using a bike to commute? If business travel is analysed what forms of travel are most commonly used?  Hazard Perceptions: A potential survey would be what hazards students believe can affect themselves in regards to Transport. This should be aimed towards bike safety, pedestrian safety and potentially car safety. A list of potential hazardous areas could be complied. Training could be provided if bike/car safety is a concern. TfGM have a Speed Camera Locations / community concerns / road causality accidents datasets.  Weather Correlation: We would like to know the correlation between commuter travel and weather. If a period has markedly bad weather will this thereby mean an increase in the amount of car commutes? Assumedly bike commutes will decrease, however we want to know how this primarily affects public transport. Weather datasets and Aquatic Centre datasets should be used here.  Hazard Perceptions: A potential survey would be what hazards students believe can affect themselves in regards to Transport. This should be aimed towards bike safety, pedestrian safety and potentially car safety. A list of potential hazardous areas could be complied. Training could be provided if bike/car safety is a concern. TfGM have a Speed Camera Locations / community concerns / road causality accidents datasets.  Weather Correlation: We would like to know the correlation between commuter travel and weather. If a period has markedly bad weather will this thereby mean an increase in the amount of car commutes? Assumedly bike commutes will decrease, however we want to know how this primarily effects public transport. Weather datasets and Aquatic Centre datasets should be used here.

DATA: Live-data gathered from CargoBikes, including Geolocation datasets and Journey information datasets https://www.manchester-i.com/ Car park datasets gathered through TfGM University of Manchester Sustainable Travel Plan: http://www.sustainability.manchester.ac.uk/strategy/ Data.gov.uk

4. Measuring student engagement with sustainability on campus The University of Manchester has recently released its Environmental Strategy, which aims to engage the academic community (staff and students) more closely with sustainability issues on campus. This project could explore current levels of student awareness about key sustainability challenges and initiatives on campus, and ideas for how to engage more effectively. It could also examine or evaluate initiatives and good practice elsewhere to distill potential lessons that could be applied here.

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5. Universities and Sustainable Development Goals The SDGs, launched in 2015, comprise 17 goals and invite all organisations to measure their progress against them. The University of Manchester is currently considering how best to do this. This project would look at how other organisations, including universities, are meeting this challenge and make recommendations to the University of Manchester.

6. Sustainability impact of research Universities produce research that has a range of real world impacts, not least in sustainability terms. This project would involve analyzing the University of Manchester’s 2014 research impact cases that were submitted as part of its Research Excellence Framework to capture and evaluate its sustainability impact. This could involve benchmarking against other university returns, or against the SDGs, or producing summative assessments that capture the cumulative impacts across projects. It should also pay some attention to relative contributions from different disciplines. Contact: Emma Gardner, [email protected] Data: http://impact.ref.ac.uk/CaseStudies/Results.aspx?HEI=163

Transport for Greater Manchester Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) is the public body responsible for co-ordinating transport services throughout Greater Manchester. TfGM is currently making one of the largest investments in Greater Manchester’s bus network for decades. Over 25 miles of the bus network are being either created or improved as part of a £122 million ‘bus priority package’ to improve bus connections on three key corridors into the city centre.

7. The wider impacts of Greater Manchester bus priority investment This challenge requires you to investigate the impacts of the bus priority programme in Greater Manchester. You might consider the different types of impact upon business, retail and development activity on the corridors where recent investment has been made in bus priority. These corridors are out to the west (Leigh and Atherton, plus Tyldesley and other locations on the guided busway); the south (Oxford Road); and, the north (Middleton).

The research could take the form of case studies of organisations affected by improved bus access, interviews with stakeholders representing businesses and other organisations on the corridors, including housing developers, analysis of datasets that stakeholders are willing to share, or a combination of these methods. CONTACT: Mary-Jane Stuart, Research Officer, TfGM [email protected]

8. Changes to education and employment catchments subsequent to the bus priority investment TfGM are curious to understand whether education and employment catchments have changed since the priority scheme has been implemented. They recognise it may prove too soon to identify movement of workforce per se (e.g. hospital employees), but as students represent a transient group there may be more immediate patterns emerging. With regards to employees it may be valuable to understand whether the bus priority has served to impact their work travel time, horizons, and chosen mode. The corridors where recent investment has been made in bus priority are out to the west (Leigh and Atherton, plus Tyldesley and other locations on the guided busway); the south (Oxford Road); and, the north (Middleton). CONTACT: Mary-Jane Stuart, Research Officer, TfGM [email protected]

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Corridor Manchester The Corridor Manchester partnership was established in 2008 between Manchester City Council, the University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and the Hospital Trust. The Partnership’s core objective is to maximise the economic potential of the area by harnessing the investment currently being made by key institutions, by stimulating future improvement and growth at key locations within the area, and by capturing economic benefit from this investment for disadvantaged local residents in the wards surrounding the area and in the city as a whole. The Oxford Road corridor is slated to become a ‘physical global exemplar of knowledge-based growth’ through strategic capital investments based on five integrated themes: transport; environment and infrastructure; research and innovation; employment, business and skills; and sense of place. Over the coming years, the corridor will receive significant upgrades to the transportation and communication networks, high tech business activities, cultural amenities, and effectively double the number of workers in this part of the city. The economic potential of the corridor is promoted as being critical to the fortunes of Manchester, the North West and the UK as a whole; it is recognized as having ‘the most significant concentration of knowledge-based assets and potential for growth in the UK today’ (Corridor Manchester, 2010).

9. Electric Vehicles and EV charging, utilization and growth The corridor suffers from poor air quality and the partner institutions have begun to invest in electric vehicles as part of their environmental strategies. This challenge would involve understanding the reasons for adoption and levels of use of electric vehicles on the Corridor. Primary data may be available from the Triangulum project to support this work. CONTACT: Claire Igoe, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust [email protected] DATA: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kn1j3izjcu3ymlp/D2%205%20Impact%20Report%20MASTER.docx?dl=0 https://www.manchester-i.com/

10. Interstitial spaces Within the Oxford Road Corridor, there are a multiplicity of organisations, with well-managed campuses and estates however the success of the area as an innovation district depends on the cross connections and overall appeal of the area. How can the ‘spaces between the places’ be developed and enhanced to create an improved perception of place? CONTACT: Estates Directorate, University of Manchester [email protected]

11. Animating the Space Successful places attract residents, workers, businesses, visitors and tourists. Within the Oxford Road area there is a wealth of activity, however most could be said to be ‘hidden’. How can we create activity within the area which is obvious and invites others to interact, discover and engage? CONTACT: Debbie Bell, HOME, [email protected]

12. App development for wayfinding Pedestrian routes are essential for ensuring the area functions effectively. These routes need to be promoted and easily accessible – what opportunities are there for app development for wayfinding, and what other complementary features could be added. How would a wayfinding app integrate with other aps developed specifically within in the area (e.g. through the CityVerve project) or those generally accessible (e.g. Walk-it) CONTACT: Marie Saddoo, Oxford Road Partnership, [email protected]

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13. Green Infrastructure and Greenspace A number of changes have been made to Green Infrastructure in recent years. The Cross City Bus Priority has led to changes on-street, with tree removal, replanting (3:1) and new planting areas adjacent to bus stops. The scheme as a whole has enabled a new park to be created – Brunswick Park, and there are significant GI interventions through other development works. The study could be to look at measuring the social/economic/ecological value of the space CONTACT: Estates Directorate, University of Manchester, [email protected]

14. Retail There are a number of key new retail destinations within Oxford Road Corridor: HATCH under the Mancunian Way beside Manchester Technology Centre, Circle Square (coming soon), University Green (coming soon). What gaps are there in the retail and Food & Beverage provision within the Oxford Road Corridor? This challenge could involve an analysis of the retail or F&B outlets with consideration of target markets. CONTACT: Marie Saddoo, Oxford Road Corridor, [email protected]

15. Street Markets Levy Market operates a street-food market on a Tuesday lunchtime during term-time on Bridgeford Street, close to the Manchester Museum. An analysis of the opportunities for market activity within the area would be useful, including different types of markets and areas these could be potentially sited. It must be noted that Oxford Road (except for the pavement area immediately in front of Grosvenor Park (Also known as All Saint’s Park) is designated as a ‘prohibited street' CONTACT: Estates Directorate, University of Manchester, [email protected]

16. Wellness and Wellbeing Manchester’s Oxford Road Corridor is on course to be a world leading innovation district is also working towards having one of the healthiest workforces. There a number of health and well-being assets available to staff, students and the general public within Corridor. How can we increase the total % of participation? How can we encourage the highest risk students and workforce of Corridor to participate in health and well-being activities? What is the best approach for successful health and well-being implementation in the area of Corridor, an area that has lots of different institutions such as; hospitals, universities and Art Galleries? Can a “one size fits all” approach be adopted or would drawing on a personalised approach render a better result? How can all the many institutions and facilities available upon Corridor contribute to an innovative approach to health and well-being for the residents, staff and students of the area? CONTACT: Helen Ashworth, PA to Professor Jackie , University of Manchester, [email protected]

My Wild City Wildlife Trust is a local charity working to ensure this region is rich in wildlife for all to enjoy. The Wildlife Trust works by supporting and enhancing wildlife and wildlife rich places; by campaigning to protect wildlife; and by inspiring people to take action for wildlife.

The Wildlife Trust and Manchester City Council have launched My Wild City – a project which aims to excite and inspire people about the importance of nature in Manchester and galvanise activity to enhance and improve areas for nature in the city. The first phase of the project is focused on engaging residents and stakeholders about nature in the city – barriers to engagement, celebrating special spaces and why many people have such pride in the wildlife of Manchester. The second, and main

11 phase of the project will commence in 2020 and will see us pushing practical action at an individual, neighbourhood, wildlife corridor and city level.

17. Students and Nature – Are they connected? A disconnect with nature has major implications for people’s lives in many ways: people are poorer culturally, educationally and also their health and wellbeing can be adversely affected. We believe that contact with nature is vital in cities like Manchester. Students are a key part of Manchester’s population. Do they feel connected to nature in Manchester, or not? Did they have positive childhood connections with nature, or not? Do they think they will reconnect with nature when they are older? Have they developed a new connection since their childhood, if so how? Useful background research collated here: http://depts.washington.edu/hhwb/ Contact: Hilary Wood, Lancashire Wildlife Trust [email protected]

18. What can Manchester learn from the world’s best Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans? My Wild City, (the Wildlife Trust and the City Council) plus other partners, will be producing an ambitious new 10 year Biodiversity Strategy for Manchester. People across the whole city will be inspired and enabled to take action for nature in Manchester, making the city famous for its nature conservation activities - alongside its music, football and rain.

We need to know if there are other Biodiversity Strategies across the world, especially in cities and city regions, which have engaged communities at their core. How have these strategies been developed? What lessons can we learn from them? Have people and biodiversity benefitted and if so, how? How have they involved diverse communities? And crucially, have the strategies been successful in sustainably achieving their objectives?

Manchester’s previous Biodiversity Strategy: http://www.wildaboutmanchester.info/www/index.php/biodiversity-strategy Contact: Hilary Wood, Lancashire Wildlife Trust [email protected]

19. Does Social Media motivate people to volunteer and take action? My Wild City needs volunteers to take positive action for nature. Manchester’s wildlife will only be conserved and enhanced by mass participation where it becomes the new normal for people to take actions for wildlife - in their streets, offices, schools, universities, churches, mosques etc - as well as in their local parks and greenspaces. We are engaging people through social media channels and hope to gain a mass audience, who will then be inspired to take action.

How have other mass participation initiatives, (not necessarily nature based, although they could be), used social media? Has social media been a key factor in encouraging and enabling people to make the switch from being interested to being active, or not? What else has been a factor? How do we know? What lessons can we learn to help take My Wild City forward? Contact: Hilary Wood, Lancashire Wildlife Trust [email protected]

20. Wildlife in Manchester – how can we increase the number of wildlife records submitted? Local Records Centres provide wildlife information which informs decisions about site management, designations, and building developments. Whilst initiatives like Bioblitz, Big Garden Birdwatch, and the development of various wildlife recording apps have grown in scale and number over the last decade, the submission of regular species records to Local Record Centres has remained low and in the domain of wildlife diehards.

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What are the key barriers stopping people from recording and submitting wildlife data? Are there any cities, regions or countries which have bucked this trend, and if so, how did they do so? Which wildlife recording apps are currently most popular and why? Do these apps link up well with Local Records Centres? Are people incentivised to regularly submit any other types of records (non-wildlife) for other purposes / to other organisations, and does this work?

Greater Manchester Local Records Centre: https://www.gmwildlife.org.uk/ Contact: Hilary Wood, Lancashire Wildlife Trust [email protected]

Friends of the Earth Manchester Friends of the Earth Manchester is an environmental group, creatively campaigning on local, national and international issues. Friends of the Earth work on a diverse range of issues including food, sustainable transport, climate change, biodiversity, resource use and justice. The group are closely aligned with city-level policy change. They campaign for Greater Manchester, lobbying for action, and they work closely with Manchester: A Certain Future, the city’s Climate Change Action Plan and stakeholder steering group.

21. What options are available for Local Authorities to fund climate change action? Under the context of austerity, local authority purses are pinched. Simultaneously, the need for them to act on climate change is greater than ever. What options are available to fund climate change action? This might require desk based research, interviews, learning from best practice or creative thinking (see the below challenge on the tourist tax for an example)

22. Airport departure taxes and development fees For this challenge you should explore the impact of departure taxes / development fees at regional airports (e.g. Norwich & Durham Tees) and whether this could be replicated at .

23. A Climate Change Tourist Tax What are the implications and practicalities of introducing a tourist tax, this has recently been mooted in Edinburgh but not explicitly connected to climate change. How could this be used? What are the opportunities / limitations? How would it be received.

24. Estimating the cycling sector in the Greater Manchester Low Carbon Economy The 2016 report "Deep Dive: 06 Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services" attempts to provide an overview of the ‘The Low Carbon and Environmental Goods and Services’ (LCEGS) sector in Greater Manchester. However, the report used a definition of LCEGs which doesn’t include active travel (walking and cycling). Greater Manchester has a growing number of cycle-related businesses involved in cycle training, cycle logistics, cycle shops, sports and recreational cycling and cycle tourism. This project would aim to examine the scale of the cycle-related sector within Greater Manchester. Report available here: https://www.greatermanchesterca.gov.uk/download/downloads/id/242/deep_dive_report_low_car bon_and_environmental_goods_and_services.pdf

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25. Environmental footprint of car parking space(s) A car parking space typically takes up a minimum of 12 square metres for each car. Across the UK 7 million front gardens have been concreted over for car parking. [1] Surface parking lots create “heat islands” and are sources of polluted storm water runoff. [2] View the Centre on Google Earth to see how much space is taken up with the 11,500 car-parking spaces. [3] And yet, for up to 96% of the time the car sits unused and empty [4] and we do not calculate (or charge) the true costs of parking. Yet, there is no such thing as free parking – the true costs are borne by society. This project will seek to estimate the environmental and climate change footprints of parking space in Greater Manchester. [1] http://www.racfoundation.org/research/mobility/spaced-out-perspectives-on-parking [2] How Parking Spaces Are Eating Our Cities Alive https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2014/07/how-parking-spaces-are-eating-our-cities- alive/374413/ [3] https://intu.co.uk/traffordcentre/centre-information/parking [4] the average car is parked at home for 80% of the time, parked elsewhere for 16% of the time and is only on the move for 4% of the time. http://www.racfoundation.org/research/mobility/spaced-out- perspectives-on-parking [5] http://www.racfoundation.org/research/mobility/spaced-out-perspectives-on-parking

26. How fast can your granny run? Congestion is often only seen as a problem that affects motorised traffic. Indeed the introduction to the Greater Manchester ‘congestion conversation’ noted that congestion “costs our economy, increasing the time people spend commuting to work by car or bus, delaying deliveries and increasing business costs.” Although the Traffic Management Act describes the duty of the local authority in these terms, the definition of ‘traffic’ has been widened to include cyclists and pedestrians. But all too often it appears that many local authorities interpret their duty under the Traffic Management Act to secure the ‘avoidance, elimination or reduction of road congestion’ and securing and facilitating the “expeditious movement of traffic on road networks’ as only applying to motorised traffic. This can directly contradict the wider goal of making roads suitable for all users and encouraging modal shift towards public transport, walking and cycling. Widening roads and increasing speeds result in communities being severed, higher noise levels and insufficient time for people to cross roads. An example of the social impact of road widening policies is the difficulty some people may face when crossing roads. A 2017 study reported that “most older people do not walk fast enough to cross the road in time. Even the majority of the wealthiest and healthiest people aged 60 years and older do not walk fast enough to cross pedestrian crossings in the allocated time.’ It recommended that ‘crossing times should be increased to allow for older people’s slower walking speeds or other policies considered to improve walkability, and to help avoid injuries and social isolation.” In the UK, Living Streets are calling on national Government and Local Authorities to increase crossing times by “three seconds more” to give older people or people with impaired mobility adequate and comfortable time to cross roads. This project will examine the crossing times provided in Greater Manchester and whether they are aimed at facilitating motorised traffic or pedestrians and cycles.

27. Impact of pool bikes Some businesses have provided their employees with a pool of bikes to use for work activities, such as travel to meetings and site visits. This is generally a part of wider initiatives to promote more sustainable travel behaviour. The bikes provide an alternative to private car use, therefore helping to reduce the number of single-occupant car trips during working hours. In some cases such a facility can reduce the perceived need for staff to bring their own car into work, therefore opening up other travel-to-work options such as walking, cycling or public transport. In promoting modal shift for journeys for work and to work, such a facility can help towards a company’s Corporate Social

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Responsibility goals, reduce its operational carbon footprint, give employees opportunity for healthy exercise, and cut expenditure on the provision and maintenance of car parking. Examples of businesses providing this facility include Creative Concern in Manchester, which has a pool of folding bikes; University of Manchester, which has a pool of cargo bikes; and Forster Communications in , who provide pool bikes and free ‘cycle confidence’ training. This research project aims to identify and explore case studies in these and other organisations and to assess the impact of such schemes. This impact may include, but not be limited to: the level of use of the pool bikes; the effect of the scheme in causing modal shift – i.e. providing an alternative to car journeys; the impact upon the employees’ perceptions of cycling and their levels of confidence on the road.

28. Visualising air pollution This project would examine how we can make air pollution more visible. The EU legal limit for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) of 40 micro grammes per m3 and 25ug/m3 for PM 2.5 means very little to most people. Some of the questions that this project could examine include: how we can we make air pollution visible, technical information and representations, representation of pollution levels inside cars/vehicles, representing how air pollution varies with height, and communicating perceptions of air pollution.

29. Availability and effectiveness of air quality sensors for citizen science What air quality sensors and data are available? The GreatAir Manchester website provides data from 16 (13 operational) air monitors across the whole Greater Manchester area. There are a range of DIY and commercial monitoring devices available such as Air Quality Egg , Citisense , Iphone/ISpex , NO2 Diffusion tubes etc. This project would examine what air quality monitors are available, suitable and cost effective for citizens and community groups to use to undertake citizen science and other data gathering activities. Some of the questions that this project could examine include: Do these devices function effectively? How accurate are they? Are these devices available to community groups with limited funding? What situations can they be used in – e.g. can they measure air quality inside cars, prams etc.? Links: DATA: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/unmasked-story-air-youre- breathing-103872.pdf http://www.greatairmanchester.org.uk/ http://www.londonair.org.uk/london/asp/publicdetails.asp?region=0 http://airqualityegg.com/ http://inhabitat.com/citisense-is-a-portable-air-pollution-monitoring-device-that-sends-data-to- your-smart-phone/1-smallportabl/

30. Options for incentivising sustainable modes of transport Encouraging people to make more sustainable travel options benefits not only the health and finances of an individual but wider society with improved air quality, reduced road congestion and improved health outcomes. The provision of adequate storage for cyclists, and discounted annual travel passes are two examples of positive incentives used by businesses to encourage a shift away from car use. In contrast, the removal of free or discounted car parking is a 'negative' incentive. This research project aims to identify and explore case studies of businesses and organisations in Greater Manchester using incentives / or disincentives to increase active travel (cycling or walking) and public transport, and to assess the impact of such schemes for the effect of each incentive in contributing to modal shift.

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Manchester City Council The City Council are interested in issues of governance and leadership of cities in the context of sustainable and smart cities. In particular, this involves finding exemplars of effective leadership and municipal structures to inform strategic policy objectives, targets and structures for delivery, which enable genuine transformation of public services and the economy.

31. What is the international impact of Manchester's 'Soft Power' Much of Manchester's international work can be categorised as 'soft power'. Manchester City Council and other partners strive to present the city as open, international, welcoming and progressive. Although difficult to measure, it is assumed that this has a significant impact in relation to developing partnerships, attracting investment and leading to high profile delegations such as the visit of President Xi Jinping in 2015. Examples of activity include hosting inbound political, educational and sports delegations; hosting international cultural events. The questions for this work are: Is it possible to make a link between the level of international activity in the city and its economic performance? What other examples are there of cities undertaking this activity and what have been the outcomes? Contact: David Houlistan, Policy and Partnerships Manager [email protected]

32. Digital transformation pilots at Manchester City Council Manchester City Council have (via the Cityverve project) commissioned 3 digital experiments using to support city centre management. The key questions that this project might address include: understanding the impact of the solutions for the city based on an established Key Performance Indicators / evaluation framework; and whether relevant key data sources - data will be available via the systems / apps / suppliers. Contact: Martine Tommis [email protected]

33. Impact of climate change and planning policy on population health outcomes Greater Manchester has significant health inequalities and life expectancy is below the national average, as is poorer levels of healthy life expectancy. Greater Manchester has the third most significant NO2 concentrations after London and the West Midlands. A correlation has been observed nationally between high pollution levels, poorer public health outcomes and poorer neighbourhoods. Key questions: How does current climate change and city planning policy influence population health outcomes? How could these policies positively impact population health outcomes and what improvements could be made? DATA: Greater Manchester Population Plan - http://www.gmhsc.org.uk/assets/GM-Population- Health-Plan-Full-Plan.pdf Manchester Air Quality Reports http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/download/4166/air_quality_reports Greater Manchester Air Quality Plan - https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/airquality Public Health Wider Determinants of Health - https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/wider- determinants Public Health England Wider Determinants of Health data - https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/profile/wider-determinants/data#page/0 Public Health Manchester Annual Report - Manchester City Council 2016-17 http://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/download/6794/public_health_annual_report_2016- 2017 Born in Bradford - https://borninbradford.nhs.uk/ CONTACT: Rosie Rees-Bann (Reform and Innovation Manager) - [email protected] Vicky Clark (Strategic Lead - Reform) - [email protected]

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34. Urban Energy and fuel poverty Urban areas are now producing local energy, but what impact can these local energy assets have on addressing fuel poverty? This project might examine a new energy asset such as the Birley Fields Energy Centre and local City Council assets to examine how they can support each other and also distribute energy surplus to the community. It could also examine how energy efficiency improvements for large organisations could be linked to Corporate Social Responsibility and distributed to address fuel poverty, or how energy on prescription could be used to promote behaviour changes through offering homes access to energy credits.

35. Civic innovation models Civic innovation involves opening up public service challenges to the private sector (from corporates through to start-ups) in order to develop new solutions. This often involves making data openly available and incentivising private organisations or individuals to develop ICT based solutions to challenges such as traffic management. That said a number of challenges exist, including how to convince data holders to share data openly, and how to develop an interested community of private entrepreneurs. There is seemingly no model in the UK of how this would / could / should evolve to protect the public interest and maximise the value of the data in both commercial and civic uses. Where does this approach work well and what could Manchester learn?

36. Open data in the public sector With increasing public pressure to be transparent in data use, a number of local authorities are developing data hubs to make data available and accessible to the public. To inform potential future investment in this area, it would be useful to understand what the current offer is, how they are used and whether there is a model of best practice which could be adopted. What kinds of functions are, or would be useful to current and potential future users and what subject areas would be most in demand? This should be explored in the context of the current Office of Data Analytics programme being run by NESTA, alongside any other relevant initiatives.

37. Identifying and mapping the quality of housing Poor quality housing has been identified as having a deterministic impact on people's health. Issues such as overcrowding, living in poor conditions are likely to have a negative impact on people’s health. This then has an impact on the planning and provision of public services especially around provision of health services to deal with the consequences of poor quality housing within an area. Does literature exist to identify methods and or datasets that can be used to assess housing quality. If so, can areas with high densities of poor quality housing be identified and mapped across Manchester?

38. Impact of the urban environment on resident's health and well-being The local environment such as parks, open spaces, pollution and availability of facilities or services are likely to have an impact on people's health and well-being. Urban planning and regeneration need to take these into account in order to have a positive impact on residents’ health and well-being. In the long term this could help to reduce demand residents place on health and social care services by having a better local environment.

What are the most important aspects of an urban environment that are likely to have an impact on people's health and well-being?

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39. Effect of quality of primary and social care services on secondary care health use The quality of services in an area (based on Care Quality Commission ratings) could influence whether people decide to use primary and social care services in the way they are designed for or choose to bypass these services and use higher cost secondary care services. This results in more pressure being placed on acute services and if this is the case does more need to be done to improve primary and social care services to reduce demand pressures on acute hospital services.

Does the quality rating of primary and social care services have an impact on secondary care health usage in an area?

40. Family poverty strategy Manchester City Council published its Family Poverty Strategy, https://www.manchester.gov.uk/downloads/download/6929/family_poverty_strategy_2017-22 which aims to buffer the impact of poverty across the city through various means. This has raised a number of questions; a) to what extent are food banks being implemented in the city? Where do they exist geographically? And therefore, what does the attendance figures look like? Are there gaps in need for provision? Are they underutilised? OR b) a similar task to a), but rather than food banks, assessing the extent to period poverty in Manchester. What is provision like? How is it employed and utilised by residents? Or, conduct practical research through surveys, focus groups etc, to understand from residents how we could best implement a strategy tackling period poverty, in the place.

41. Understanding Manchester's population using Small Area Estimation MCC are constantly striving to build on, and improve the way we engage with residents, through a listening, action and feedback approaches as well as building on our understanding of our population. An external research organisation (NatCen) has provided us with some recommendations on how we do this and we are proposing that one of the actions as a research project. In Manchester there is a need to develop local area information and it has been identified that Small Area Estimation is a method of using national-level survey data to generate local (small) area results/estimate. NatCen have provided MCC with a list of national surveys which are appropriate to use small area estimation and the research piece would be to use this method to produce some local estimates for Manchester. A guide of how to do this will be provided. CONTACT: Erica Roscoe, Manchester City Council [email protected]

42. Better understanding Manchester’s homeless hotspots Homelessness is a huge problem in the city centre and there are a number of initiatives in place to try to combat this growing issue. As resource becomes available through public, private and third sector initiatives, it is essential that those resources are being deployed in the places where they are most needed. Observations of key hotspots and patterns in the city at certain times would provide MCC and its partners with key information about homeless activity in these areas so that they could ensure individuals in need are supported in the best way.

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43. Zero Carbon 2038 The Council has made a commitment, on behalf of the wider city for Manchester to play its full part in meeting the requirements of the Paris Agreement by becoming a carbon neutral city by 2038. The Council needs to lead the wider community and business organisations in significant cultural and behavioural change if the objective is to be realised.

Questions that could be addressed include  What are the biggest changes that need to be made to achieve the objective?  What are the approaches that are being adopted by other cities to ensure that citizens and businesses are bought into the objective and what is working well  What changes should be made to planning and transport policy now if we are to achieve the objective in 20 years time?

Material on the Manchester Climate Change Agency website. CONTACT: Richard Elliott [email protected]

44. Buses Service and Manchester City Centre Bus services are vital to Manchester's economy and its people and carry more passengers than any other mode of public transport. They do though create some pollution and severance and have a major impact on some city centre streets. The Council and TfGM are refreshing the transport strategy for the city centre and we need to consider what if any changes may need to be made to bus access while at the same time making sure people have good access to jobs and the facilities they need to reach.

Questions work could consider are:  Are there examples of other cities in the UK and abroad where a different approach to bus access and management in the city centre is taken? What works well and what are the problems?  Could a map of the way buses impact on different parts of the city centre be produced highlighting key areas for potential improvement (perhaps informed by passengers and pedestrian's opinions?  What are the views of passengers about the way buses currently serve the centre?

CONTACT: Richard Elliott [email protected]

45. Inclusive growth Does economic growth in the city always improve the lives of residents? This challenge requires you to identify which areas are most affected by a gap in worker and resident wages and the reasons for this? What can be done to reduce that gap? CONTACT: Paul Holme, Manchester City Council [email protected]

46. Welfare reform Which areas are most adversely affected by welfare reform? What are the main drivers of this? In an environment of limited public sector resources, how can populations improve their resilience to negative impacts? CONTACT: Paul Holme, Manchester City Council [email protected]

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47. Neighbourhood Health This challenge requires you to compare best practice in measuring the resilience, health and sustainability of Neighbourhoods - what are the numbers that give a Local Authority the best 'reading' of a place (by Neighbourhood ideally Ward level or below). CONTACT: Paul Holme, Manchester City Council [email protected]

48. Sharing Community Intelligence This challenge requires you to compare of approaches to sharing community information - i.e how public sector and VCSEs understand and map their assets, connect and share information about their offer and publicise events, services and volunteer opportunities (ties in with the MPIG work). CONTACT: Paul Holme, Manchester City Council [email protected]

49. Housing Benefit Sector What is the 'customer journey' of a household searching for private rented accommodation on or below the Local Housing Allowance rate (how are these lettings advertised, how easy is it to find landlords willing to accept tenants who rely on Universal Credit/LHA or may be in zero hours/unstable employment - do tenants have agreements and secure tenancies etc). Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are used to calculate Housing Benefit for tenants renting from private landlords. CONTACT: Paul Holme, Manchester City Council [email protected]

50. City Centre renters Other than students what is the profile of city centre renting households, how many are sharing, we are particularly interested in young families living in the CIty Centre? What are the future housing aspirations of city centre renters? CONTACT: Paul Holme, Manchester City Council [email protected]

51. HMO/Sharing sector What is the profile of Households of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) in different parts of the city – which areas are studentified, professionals, migrants, workers, low income, young people, overcrowded or another factor of your choosing. CONTACT: Paul Holme, Manchester City Council [email protected]

52. WiFi coverage in Manchester city centre BusybeeMCR WiFi is available in many council buildings and gives you an unlimited time to surf in leisure centres, libraries, community centres and open buildings and cafes. For this challenge, you might consider what areas have public WiFi coverage in Manchester City Centre? Alternatively, you could consider how this correlate to need for wifi or economic growth. Is there any literature on the relation between WiFi and economic growth? CONTACT: Mark Duncan, Manchester City Council [email protected]

53. Wifi coverage in other localities WiFi coverage is uneven across Greater Manchester. For this challenge you might consider district centres across Greater Manchester and how this relates to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). CONTACT: Mark Duncan, Manchester City Council [email protected]

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54. What advantages are there to the Public sector from Internet of Things The Internet of things (IoT) is the network of devices such as vehicles, and home appliances that contain electronics, software, sensors, actuators, and connectivity which allows these things to connect, interact and exchange data. But what are the potential benefits to the Public sector? CONTACT: Mark Duncan, Manchester City Council [email protected]

55. Benefits of software defined networking (SDN) to the public sector. SDN is a new method of running your IT network. SDN is an architecture that aims to make networks agile and flexible. The goal of SDN is to improve network control by enabling enterprises and service providers to respond quickly to changing business requirements. We are planning to install it over the next two years. It would be interesting to see how it connects with IoT, smart buildings and digital cities. Is there any literature or case studies of its implementation? CONTACT: Mark Duncan, Manchester City Council [email protected]

56. How do you drive up commuting by bike? Chris Boardman, Greater Manchester’s Cycling and Walking Commissioner, has unveiled an innovative new plan to create a city-region-wide cycling and walking network made up of more than 1,000 miles of routes, including 75 miles of Dutch-style segregated bike lanes. But what can Manchester City Council strategically do to increase commuting by bike? CONTACT: Mark Duncan, Manchester City Council [email protected]

ARUP ARUP is a global Engineering Consultancy and a world leader in urban sustainability. These challenges relate to their current work helping Greater Manchester to develop a holistic and integrated approach to the digital agenda placing it on a trajectory to it becoming a leading global digital region, rivalling places like Barcelona, Singapore and New York. In these leading cities digital plays a critical role in: enhancing the lives of those who live and work there; enabling its citizen to live more fulfilling lives; creating the right conditions for growth and investment; and improving long term environmental quality and sustainability whilst at the same time delivering efficiencies.

57. The health and wellbeing gap in Natural Capital Natural capital is increasingly being used to structure decision-making in cities (see recent Greater London Authority strategy). It represents an approach for the consideration of broader value of the urban environment, including social and environmental benefits. However, health and wellbeing are commonly missed in these practices. Key questions include: to what extent are health and wellbeing missing from natural capital studies? Should they be included? How? What extra insight would it bring? Contact: Kelly Watson, Consultant, Arup: [email protected]

58. Social value of day-lighting hidden rivers The myriad, hidden water courses underneath our feet in modern day cities have considerable potential to add value in urban environments. Day-lighting is the technical engineering process of opening up these channels to create blue-green spaces in cities. There is considerable evidence for the environmental value of day-lighting, in terms of water quality, biodiversity, carbon storage, etc. However there is little research or evidence to understand the social value of creating new natural

21 spaces for people. Key questions include: what evidence exists for the social value of day-lighting? Who benefits/how can local communities benefit? Are there any examples where are social value perspective has been taken in a day-lighting scheme? Contact: Kelly Watson, Consultant, Arup: [email protected]

59. Mersey Tidal Power and fuel poverty The Atlantic Gateway strategy of the Liverpool waterfront took a holistic sustainable development perspective. More recently, detailed studies for Mersey Tidal Power have confirmed its technical, but not necessarily its economic, social and environmental feasibility. As energy security becomes increasingly vital to the UK economy, the Mersey remains a real asset for future exploitation as a renewable energy source. Key questions include: Can MTP produce sustainable development in the city region? What are the links between private wire schemes and regeneration? Are there any examples of using private wire schemes to generate social value? Could MTP tackle fuel poverty? Contact: Kelly Watson, Consultant, Arup: [email protected]

60. City of Trees impact and evaluation The case for green infrastructure in cities is clear, yet GI is inconsistently delivered on the ground. City of Trees is a partnership approach to GI in the Greater Manchester region, aiming to plant a tree for every resident of GM in a generation. Capturing and communicating the impact of City of Trees is crucial to demonstrate the value of investing in greener city environments. Key questions include: What is the economic, social and environmental impact of urban street trees? What methods can be used to capture the data required? What existing data can be used for a long term evaluation programme at a city scale? What bespoke approaches could be taken in local areas of interest? Contact: Kelly Watson, Consultant, Arup: [email protected]

61. Wellbeing outcomes in the public realm The impact of urban environments is increasingly being recognised as a significant driver of public health in cities. Health and wellbeing are important co-benefits of built environment schemes, yet capturing mental health impacts is difficult. Wellbeing valuation is an innovative new approach to understanding the ways that urban spaces and places can impact on the people that live, work and play there. Key questions include: how do green and blue spaces in cities impact on people’s wellbeing? Can we build an evidence base for wellbeing in cities? What form should this take and who will listen? Contact: Kelly Watson, Consultant, Arup: [email protected]

62. Citizen impact on air quality This project would examine how we can raise citizens’ awareness of their own impact on air quality, thereby encouraging positive behaviour change. Some of the questions that this project could examine include: how we can we make the everyday behaviours that create air pollution more visible, such as waiting in cars with the engine running? This project could also include exploring how emerging science around air quality, for example that suggests air quality inside cars is worse than outside, or that removing trees from front gardens increases pollution in the home by 50%, can be popularised and communicated to promote behavioural change.

63. Digital inclusion / exclusion Digital technology is significantly changing the ways in which people engage with government services and each other. This project could address the lack of digital confidence amongst the

22 elderly, with a focus on how the digitalisation of key services in our day to day life an how to mitigate digital exclusion. This topic could also examine the potential of technology to bring people together, specifically in terms of alleviating social isolation (for example through new video technology, or robots). Contact: [email protected]

64. Smart cities and local authorities Local authorities are encouraged to embrace smart city solutions, but struggle to identify the best way to do so. This project could focus on designing a performance (impact benefit) framework for evaluating the deployment of Smart City technologies in a local authority, or examine ways to introduce more innovation into local government procurement processes. In terms of procurement a key challenge involves how to equip local authority employees to understand the potential benefits of procuring smart services, and enabling SMEs to engage in the procurement process. Contact: [email protected]

65. Special educational needs and disabilities transport Local authorities in the UK spend an average of £1billion on SEND Transport, some of which could be directed to other frontline services. What smart technologies could be used to improve the efficiency of SEND transport? Is there a business case for Smart City technology in the delivery of SEN Transport? Contact: [email protected]

Manchester Climate Change Board Manchester City Council has adopted a devolved approach to climate change policy-making and implementation. This stakeholder approach informed Manchester: A Certain Future (2009), the city’s Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for 2010-2020. The City Council supported the establishment of Manchester Climate Change Agency in 2015 to facilitate the further development and implementation of stakeholder-led climate change policy. In December 2016 Manchester's Climate Change Strategy for 2017-50 was launched, built on the views of stakeholders from across the city. www.manchesterclimate.com/plan

66. Devolved climate change policy and implementation: city case studies The challenge is to identify other European cities that could form part of a network to share knowledge and lessons learned. Cities should be both 'frontrunners' i.e. those already implementing this approach, and 'followers' that are looking to adopt a devolved approach. The research will be used to inform a potential bid by Manchester to form part of an URBACT 'Transfer Network' http://urbact.eu/open-calls-networks

67. Devolved climate change policy and implementation in Manchester: citizen views In order to be successful, all citizens and organisations in Manchester will need to take action that contributes towards the 2017-50 strategy. There is evidence that a growing proportion of Manchester's citizens are taking action, but that it remains small in relation to the scale of the challenge. To bring about the scale of action needed, the 2017-50 strategy sets out the need for a comprehensive programme of education and engagement activities. The challenge is to undertake a critical appraisal of existing education and engagement activities and to identify good and best practice from other European cities that Manchester could learn from. The research will be used to inform the development of Manchester's programme of education and engagement activities, being led by Manchester Climate Change Agency.

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68. Devolved climate change policy and implementation in Manchester: what will you do? In order to be successful, all citizens and organisations in Manchester will need to take action that contributes towards the 2017-50 strategy. Action will, in many cases need to be initiated and delivered by empowered, self-motivating citizens and groups. The challenge is to test this approach. What can you do to make a measurable contribute to Manchester's climate change objectives? What barriers did you face? What barriers need to be overcome to scale-up your action? Which organisations need to be involved? This will be an action research project where you deliver action that brings about physical and/or behavioural change. You should consider the potential to work with a group of citizens from one of Manchester's diverse communities. The research will be used to inform the development of climate change engagement projects being led by Manchester Climate Change Agency

69. What does it all add up to? From projects to transformation Manchester has hosted upwards of 100 EU funded projects focusing on various urban challenges, from smart cities through to low carbon development. This projects would examine the legacy of some of these projects and develop an understanding of what wider impacts they did and did not have. In particular it would be useful to identify what needs to happen for the successes of these projects to become more widely adopted in Greater Manchester.

Manchester Medical - Moss Side Health Centre

70. Developing a Green Space - Moss Side Health Centre We are an innovative little GP practice working in Moss Side with an interest in green spaces and in working more closely with education and learning disability. There is a physical space behind us that we think is aching to be developed in an intelligent way that speaks to the need of the community education services and us. The politics of these relationships are substantial and try as we might getting an ear to explore is a real challenge. This challenge requires you to explore the micro issues that the practice are facing. CONTACT: Alisdair Honeyman, Manchester Medical [email protected] e-Forum The Forum for European e-Public Services (e-FORUM) e-FORUM is a “not-for profit” best practice network that has specialised in EU-China smart city and governance issues for many years. They coordinated the EU-China Smart Cities Dialogue, taking forward the EU urban agenda in relation to China.

71. Sustainable urbanisation: transferring lessons from Europe to China China is rapidly urbanising, and is funding various joint initiatives with the UK and EU. This project asks what lessons are there to be found in Manchester's experience of smart and sustainable urban development which could be shared with different types of Chinese cities. This project should focus on either smart energy or Nature-Based Solutions. An added element could consider whether there lessons which Manchester might take from the Chinese situation as well as what is of value to China. Contact: [email protected]

72. Northern Powerhouse and JingJinJi: identifying knowledge needs for metropolitan mega-regions Increasingly governments are endeavoring to create metropolitan super-regions that contain a number of tightly networked cities. In the UK the Northern Powerhouse seeks to improve transport and digital networks between Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, while in China the new JingJinJi region

24 aims to link Beijing, Tianjin and create an new city to house the governmental functions. This area will be home to ~100 million people. This project examines the challenges and specific knowledge needs involved with creating these metropolitan mega-regions. It could focus specifically on the JingJinJi region, or the Northern Powerhouse, or the potential parallels between the two. It may also want to focus on a particular sector, for example transport or digital infrastructure. Contact: [email protected]

73. Blockchains and urban challenges Blockchains are a form of Distributed Ledger Technology that improves the accountability of processes without the need for any central verification system. The most well-known examples are crypto- currencies like Bitcoin, but the technology is now being applied to numerous certification challenges, for example around sustainable supply chains. This project requires some creative thinking to assess whether bloackchain technology has any potential application within a smart city setting. What is existing best practice in its utilisation and could any of this be of value to Manchester? Contact: [email protected]

The Old Abbey Taphouse The Old Abbey Taphouse is a community-run pub located in the science park adjacent to the University campus. It functions as a ‘hub in a pub’, a space for events, creativity and learning with a focus on bringing together the knowledge institutions along Oxford Road with the local Hulme community. The pub also works as a Living Lab, testing out new technologies and collaborations, from e-bikes to school gardening days. As a small enterprise based on social values, the Old Abbey is an example of a grassroots actor within the wider urban governance landscape. The challenges reflect this position and relate to projects that are currently being discussed and developed.

74. A feasibility study of bee keeping Urban bee keeping has become an important means for supporting dwindling bee populations and raising awareness about the importance of green space and biodiversity in cities. This challenge explores the feasibility of installing a bee hive on the Old Abbey premises. It will require research into the existing capacities for additional beehives along Oxford Road, an understanding of the required conditions to set up a new hive and an identification of practical next steps. This could include green space mapping, research into favourable planting regimes, expert interviews and identification of interested stakeholders. Contact: [email protected]

75. Stakeholder mapping of Hulme community organisations The Old Abbey is situated in Hulme, one of the most deprived wards in Greater Manchester but also one with a great potential for innovation, creativity and community resilience. In order to support its socially engaged work and network building around creative learning, this challenge focuses on an in- depth stakeholder mapping of community groups and organisations in Hulme and Moss Side. The key questions are what kind of creative community-based initiatives exist, what are their aims and needs, and how do they connect to each other and bigger stakeholders in the city. Alongside a better understanding of the community landscape, this research could produce a visual representation to be shared among these organisations. Contact: [email protected]

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76. Scoping the circular economy for small enterprises The circular economy is an approach to consumption and production that is quickly gaining attention. It focuses on re-use, recycling and integrated systems that minimise waste and resource inputs. This challenge explores the potential of a circular economy approach for a small community-based enterprise such as the Old Abbey. It would consist of a literature review pulling together the key ideas and mechanisms, and would further investigate best practices amongst small businesses (in particular those related to food and drink). Contact: [email protected]

77. Incubating Disagreement Urban Studies and Geography has recently been host to an academic debate about whether we are in ‘post-political’ times that privilege consensus, paper over fundamental disagreements and privilege the incumbent elite. From the so-called ‘Arab Spring’, the uprisings in Greece and Spain, to the Occupy Movement, a whole host of lessons can be learned about repoliticisation. How might a pub be created as a space that might facilitate the emergence of dissensual politics? How can we enable different voices to come to the fore but also ensure a safe space for the entire community? This challenge requires you, firstly, to review literature (academic papers, news articles, blogs) about how alternative movements have come about and, secondly, to consider how they might be implemented in the Old Abbey Taphouse. Contact: [email protected]

Collaboratory for Urban Resilience and Energy The Collaboratory for Urban Resilience and Energy (CURE) forms part of the Manchester Urban Institute. Part funded by the European Research Council, CURE is home to more than 20 academics working on urban intelligence and innovation, urban living labs and urban sustainability. CURE was established in 2000 and collaborates extensively with local and regional authorities, public and private institutions in research projects and activities relating to urban sustainability and urban living labs. The challenges here relate specifically to current projects.

78. Smart City of Sensors Digital sensors are often promoted as a necessary infrastructure to help manage cities more smartly and sustainably. They range from energy monitors in individual buildings, or traffic and pedestrian sensors on lampposts, to air quality sensors on buildings. The streets and buildings of Manchester are home to hundreds of digital sensors, often the legacy of myriad funded projects, and yet there is no central intelligence concerning where they are, who owns them, or what they can do. Manchester is essentially a laboratory without a kit-list. This project would seek to map the sensor capacity across Manchester, including practical elements concerning ownership and access. It would form part of the scoping work for the £1m EPSRC funded project ‘CORONA: City Observatory Research platfOrm for iNnovation and Analytics’. Contact: James Evans, [email protected]

79. Over Hulton Neighbourhood Forum Neighbourhood planning gives communities direct power to develop a shared vision for their neighbourhood and shape the development and growth of their local area. Bolton Council has recently designated a Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum for Over Hulton. The community are in the process of developing their neighbourhood plan. There is a recognition of strong interconnections between natural and cultural heritage and of the need for their integrated management. This challenge is set in an area of both and involves reviewing the natural and cultural

26 heritage of this area, considering if there are any opportunities for development that also provides enhancement and protection. There is also opportunity to consider the natural capital of this area alongside proposed development and preservation/enhancement of natural and cultural heritage. Contact: Emma Gardner, [email protected]

80. Air pollution on the move Air pollution data is often collected at the side of the road and not from the perspective of a cyclist stuck behind a bus. This challenge would require a comfortable cyclist to attach an air pollution monitoring device to their bicycle and consider pollution from the cyclist’s perspective, or to complete a diary of perceived pollution hotspots.

81. City Footprints Cities mostly consider their point-source carbon emissions and the ones associated with energy. This challenge requires you to do desk-based research to consider any examples (including international examples) where cities have measured their footprints in a different way (for instance, emissions associated with the consumption of imported goods or from emissions associated with their waste). Contact: Joe Blakey, [email protected]

Learning Loops in the Public Realm (LOOPER) The aim of LOOPER is to build a participatory co-creation methodology to demonstrate ‘learning loops’, which are new ways of decision-making that bring together citizens, stakeholders and policymakers and incorporate visualisation technologies and experimentation. This process unfolds through the implementation of ‘Urban Living Labs’ here in Manchester (Brunswick) and also in Brussels and Verona with exchange and learning taking place across the three sites (looperproject.eu).

Over a period of two years LOOPER project participants from the Brunswick neighbourhood, local partner S4B and the University of Manchester in collaboration with Manchester City Council are moving through the learning loops. The process began with discussions of issues of concern in Brunswick and gradual framing of problems followed by participatory data collection and visualisation in order to fully understand the nature of the identified problems of air quality, traffic safety and community/green spaces. Based on collective understanding of the problems to be addressed, we began to co-design potential solutions, and evaluate their desirability and feasibility.

Based on the outcomes of this process, we are now developing and implementing the identified solutions. These interventions are understood as experiments. They consist of temporary or more long-term changes to the neighbourhood that will be monitored in relation to a range of potential effects. We are looking for students to work on projects related to monitoring a range of aspects.

82. Parking in Brunswick The LOOPER team is interested in a project that seeks to develop solutions for the social and environmental problems related to car parking, which is a source of long-standing frustration and conflict for the Brunswick neighbourhood. It is also an example of a frequent outcome of efforts to reduce cars in one area, such as the University of Manchester, simply displacing the impact to another area, such as neighbouring Brunswick. This reflects a wider challenge of urban transformation, i.e. how to truly transform practices rather than just sending the problem somewhere else. CONTACT: Janice Astbury, University of Manchester, [email protected]

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83. Traffic speed The LOOPER project is currently undertaking a greening initiative in Brunswick. The LOOPER team is interested in understanding how the greening (combined with a speed limit reduction) will have a perceptual effect on drivers causing them to slow down. Is there any evidence of this in Brunswick already? Are there examples from other places? CONTACT: Janice Astbury, University of Manchester, [email protected]

84. Residents’ perceptions and feelings about their neighbourhood This challenge requires you to consider how Brunswick residents view the place where they live and how change in their environment affects this. You might draw on the recent Brunswick Neighbourhood Survey and interviewing residents about LOOPER interventions. CONTACT: Janice Astbury, University of Manchester, [email protected]

85. Safety The challenge requires you to understand the perceptions of safety in Brunswick. You might draw upon interviews and the Neighbourhood Survey to assess residents’ perception of safety and compare these to crime statistics. You should note any changes and seek to better understand determinants. CONTACT: Janice Astbury, University of Manchester, [email protected]

86. Changes in the lives of individuals This challenge requires you to consider the well-being of citizens in Brunswick. You might draw upon interviews or surveys. Alternatively, the LOOPER team are interested in applying a health and wellbeing (pre- and post-intervention) assessment tool currently in use to assess effect (Please contact Janice if you would like to use this tool). CONTACT: Janice Astbury, University of Manchester, [email protected]

87. Changes at the community level The LOOPER project is currently undertaking a greening initiative in Brunswick. This challenge requires you to undertake a social mapping exercise to map relationships among people and how these might change as a result of the greening initiative. CONTACT: Janice Astbury, University of Manchester, [email protected]

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