Research in the Surrey Centre for International and Environmental Law

Find out more about the research projects the Surrey Centre for International and Environmental Law are involved with.

Spotlight on our research

Our research has great impact, and we are proud to highlight our achievements through a series of short films, told by our research authors.

Impact in Conversation: Professor Rosalind Malcolm | University of Surrey
Impact in Conversation: Dr Arman Sarvarian | University of Surrey

Current projects

  • IAA (ESRC/Surrey Impact Acceleration Account: 'STOP Single-Use Plastics: using stories to improve the governance of plastics pollution' (2022-23) (c.£20,000). Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Dr Noreen O'Meara, Dr Itziar Castelló-Molina.
  • German Federal Ministry for Economic Co-operation and Development / Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): 'Circular Economy for Businesses in Ethiopia (CEBAT)' (2021-22) (c.€78,533). Awarded as a consultancy contract to Prof Rosalind Malcolm and Dr Noreen O'Meara. Collaborators - Prof Belay Simane (Addis-Ababa University, Ethiopia) and Dr Francis Oremo (University of Nairobi). 
  • British Academy: 'Fighting Fake News in Covid Times' (c. £70,000) (2021-22). Awarded to Dr Itziar Castelló-Molina (PI), Dr Noreen O'Meara (CI). Collaborators - Dr Marie Joachim (Essca School of Management - CI) and Dr Elanor Colleoni (Universitá IULM - CI). 
  • Global Challenges Research Fund (QR): 'Testing Tools: Eliminating Plastics Waste' (c. £15,000). Prof Rosalind Malcolm (PI), Dr Noreen O'Meara (CI) and Dr Itziar Castelló-Molina (CI).
  • Global Challenges Research Fund (QR): 'Building Collective Ownership of Single-Use Plastics in Youth Communities: case-studies from Kenya, Jamaica and Malawi' (c. £85,000). Professor Rosalind Malcolm, Dr Noreen O'Meara, Dr Itziar Castelló-Molina.
  • Global Challenges Research Fund / AHRC ‘Wicked problem of Plastic Waste’ (2020–22) (£60,000; and extension funding) (University of Surrey: Prof Rosalind Malcolm and Dr Itziar Castello-Molina and University of Nairobi, Kenya: Prof Nicholas Oguge).
  • Rethinking Plastics Pollution Post-Pandemic Dr Noreen O'Meara (PI), (2020–22), trilateral project involving the Universities of Surrey, São Paulo (USP) and Wollongong (UOW).
  • Global Challenges Research Fund / EPSRC ‘Global Engagement Network on Plastics Governance’, (2019–21) (£135,000; and extension funding) (University of Nairobi, Kenya: Prof Nicholas Oguge and University of Surrey: Prof Rosalind Malcolm).

Completed projects

  • Global Challenges Research Fund (QR): ‘A rapid, high level analysis of water safety planning in rural communities using groundwater sources in Uganda and Malawi.’ Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Joint Principal Investigator, (2019–20).SME Innovation Voucher: ‘Plastic waste - governance, business modelling and consumer behaviour, (2019) £1,083.60; University of Surrey Sustainability Theme: £3,238.79. (Prof Rosalind Malcolm; Dr Itziar Castello-Molina; Dr Noreen O’Meara; Dr Kayleigh Wyles with RECOUP Ltd).
  • Undergraduate Sustainability Research Opportunities Programme 2018–19: ‘Regulatory instruments around single-use plastics’

    (£2,000 UG student bursary awarded to Hifza Younis; Sponsor: Prof Rosalind Malcolm)
  • Workshop, ‘Rethinking Property Approaches in Resources for the Circular Economy’ (June 2019) with Prof Alison Clarke (Surrey) and Dr Katrien Steenmans (Coventry) Society for Legal Scholars Small Projects and Events Fund 2018.
  •  ‘Designing Law and Policy Towards Managing Plastics in a Circular Economy’ Workshop funded by Surrey, Essex and SOAS, 2 June 2018.
  • REDICLAIM: Understanding the impact of legislation on “REduction of DIsease risk” CLAIMs on food and drinks  (HEALTH.2013.4.1-2: Interactions between EU legislation and health research and/or innovation and the effects of its application and implementation on health research and/or innovation. FP7-HEALTH-2013-INNOVATION-1); (2013-2017); Co-Investigator: Prof Rosalind Malcolm
  • British Academy International Partnership and Mobility Scheme 2014:  ‘Diversifying Ownership: Communal Property in the UK and China, Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Member of the network of UK and Chinese scholars (2014-2017) Dr Ting Xu, (PI) Queen's University, Belfast; Professor Fengzhang Li, Shanghai University
  • D-BOX: Demining tool-BOX for humanitarian clearing of large scale area from anti-personal landmines and cluster munitions; FP7 programme (FP7-SEC-2011.1.3-3); (Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Co-investigator, 3 years; 2013-2016)
  • 3K-SAN follow on funding for comparative study on right to sanitation and the constitutional status of the right in Kenya and Uganda (PI) (with Co-investigator Dr Thoko Kaime (Leicester)) (2016)
  • 3K-SAN: Catalysing self-sustaining sanitation chains in informal settlements, European Water Initiative ERA-NET Splash. Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Co-investigator (2011–14)
  • “A Legal and Policy Roadmap for Linking Energy Security in Rural Areas with Sustainable Tourism”, Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Co-investigator, (URSF and SoM) (2008–09)
  • “The establishment of legal frameworks for independent water providers”, Leverhulme Trust. Prof Rosalind Malcolm, Co-Investigator with Robens Centre for Public and Environmental Health and the Centre for Environmental Strategy, UniS. (2006– 09)