Natural Resources Department

Increasingly, it is understood that better management of natural capital is fundamental for the achievement of local, national and global sustainability agendas and is critical to future social and economic well-being. This is reflected in a rapid extension of the legal framework for environmental management and in the emergence of new technology for enhancing natural resource performance. These developments are driving a growing demand for related research and professional education.

Natural Resources at Cranfield develops and exploits knowledge about natural systems to meet current and future social and economic needs for ecosystem services such as the production of food, fibre and bio-fuels, protection and enhancement of the environment, attenuation of floods and re-charge of aquifers, conservation of biodiversity and carbon storage and management.

A trans-disciplinary department, we are focused on four academic centres:

The Head of Department is Professor Mark Kibblewhite. Our core strengths are in relation to:

  • social sciences, covering land and water management, environmental economics, operations research and policy
  • biophysical and information sciences, particularly in relation to soils, river basins and biodiversity
  • land engineering, including soil and water engineering, off-road vehicle dynamics and sports surfaces

Natural Resources works closely with the Sustainable Systems Department here at Cranfield, which leads on the technology and management of built-infrastructure, industry and services to deliver smarter, more efficient use of water, energy and materials.