The University of Nottingham is proud to support Futureproof 2026, a major national sustainability forum taking place in Nottingham this February. The university will play a pivotal role in the programme, showcasing its extensive expertise in sustainability.
Delivered by Nottingham Partners and supported by a stellar line-up of sponsors and industry collaborators, the event will take place on Wednesday 25 February at Broadway Cinema, bringing together over 60 speakers across more than 40 sessions on four stages. The programme features expert insights, panel discussions and active audience engagement, designed to support businesses and organisations to navigate the transition to a greener, more resilient future.
The University of Nottingham is among the world's leading higher education institutions commited to supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This global recognition reflects the university's dedication to world-leading research and partnerships that advance sustainability. The university is also a global top 40 university in the 2026 QS World University Rankings: Sustainability.
The first event of its kind in the region, Futureproof brings together national policymakers, global industry, local leaders, academics and SMEs to explore solutions across seven interconnected sustainability themes, including energy, travel, buildings, finance and mindset, aligned with the UN SDGs.
Muhammad Ali, Director of Environmental Sustainability at the University of Nottingham, will deliver a keynote address at the event. Speaking ahead of Futureproof, he said: "I'm delighted to be a keynote speaker at Futureproof. At the University of Nottingham, sustainability is central to everything we do, and events like this provide vital spaces to listen, contribute, and help shape conversations that matter – locally, nationally and globally."
"We're committed to addressing the complex challenges facing our planet and making meaningful contributions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Our world-leading research places us among the global Top 100 for a number of these goals, and we work closely with civic and business partners to create places where people can live, work and thrive. Futureproof offers a powerful opportunity to turn ambition into action.
Representing the university's breadth of knowledge and research, several academic experts will contribute across the event's key themes, including:
Marina Novelli, Professor of Marketing and Tourism, and Sharmila Sumsurooah, Assistant Professor in Electrical Power Systems Engineering, will participate in the Greener Travel discussion, focusing on Green Aviation.
Meryem Duygun, Professor of Banking and Finance, will share her expertise as part of the Greener Finance discussion.
Matthew Johnson, Professor of River Science, will feature on the Greener Cities panel, "Using nature to mend itself" with the Clean Rivers Trust.
Lucelia Rodrigues, Professor of Sustainable and Resilient Cities, will contribute to the Greener Buildings panel, "The future of green buildings – policy, practice and reality."
Speaking about her involvement, Professor Lucelia Rodrigues said "I'm thrilled to be contributing to Futureproof alongside academics, businesses and policymakers. As Deputy Director of the Energy Institute at the University of Nottingham, leading our communities and built environment agenda, I'm deeply aware of the urgent challenges posed by rapid urbanisation, climate change and lack of resources. These pressures strain infrastructure and demand a transformation of our aging built environment.
Communities are central to this challenge and part of the solution. Together, we can raise awareness, influence policy and accelerate the shift to sustainable urban spaces. Events like Futureproof bring diverse voices together to share insights and drive real progress towards a greener built environment.
Seamus Garvey, Professor of Dynamics, and Chief Technology Officer and Founder of the University of Nottingham spin-out company Keep Energy Systems, will deliver a spotlight presentation on how the company's technology is revolutionising energy storage.
Delegates will be invited to experience Terra Nova, a virtual reality installation presented by the University of Nottingham's Virtual and Immersive Production (VIP) Studio. Created by artists Dr Richard Ramchurn and Usha Mahenthiralingam, and produced by the VIP Studio with funding from the AHRC Impact Accelerator Award, Terra Nova uses cutting-edge immersive technologies to transform climate research into a powerful VR experience. Blending art, science and storytelling, it reimagines how our built environments can better support nature and inspires new ways of thinking about sustainable futures.
Alongside this, delegates can get hands-on with City as Lab's award-winning Projection Augmented Relief Model (PARM). With Dr Gary Priestnall, PARM lead, on hand, visitors can explore how this large-scale, interactive 3D model combines physical terrain with projected data and scenarios to visualise change, test ideas – from green spaces to flood risk – and discover how different decisions could shape Nottingham's development over time.
Futureproof comes at a time of strengthening regional commitment to collaboration and inclusive growth. The University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and the University of Derby have each signed a University Compact with Mayor Claire Ward and East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), pledging closer collaboration on issues that matter to people, communities and businesses across the region.
The university is a key civic and innovation partner for Nottingham. Our signing of a University Compact with Nottingham Trent University, the University of Derby and the East Midlands Combined County Authority underlines our shared ambitions for education, skills, innovation and inclusive growth. Through world-leading research and knowledge exchange, and activities like Futureproof 2026, we're turning research into real-world impact for our city and region.
