Research at Sussex

Thursday 20 November 2025

Welcome back to Research at Sussex, a fortnightly round-up of the latest research news, insights and discoveries at the University of Sussex.

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In this edition:

• Dr Caroline Lucas joins Sussex

• Can we wave goodbye to a scientific ‘blind spot’?

• Which Sussex researchers are among the world’s most highly cited?

• Colombia’s fossil fuel debate at COP30

Dr Caroline Lucas appointed as new Professor of Practice

Caroline Lucas smiling, wearing a taupe blazer and white top, standing against a plain light grey background with her hands clasped in front of her.

Dr Caroline Lucas, former leader of the Green Party and MP for Brighton Pavilion, has been appointed as the University of Sussex's first Professor of Practice in Environmental Sustainability.

Based in the new Sussex School for Progressive Futures, Dr Lucas will support the University with the implementation of the new strategy Sussex 2035: Creating Progressive Futures – flourishing, sustainability and progress for the whole world.

In her new role, Dr Lucas will play a key part in amplifying the University’s long-standing strengths in research, education and global and civic engagement in relation to environmental sustainability, and she will work with academics to strengthen their influence on policy and practice.

Dr Lucas said: “I’m honoured and excited to be appointed to this role. It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to collaborate with leading academics in their fields, and I look forward to engaging and working with colleagues, students, and the public to help amplify the hugely important work that the University of Sussex is doing on climate and environmental sustainability.”

Dr Lucas has a long-standing relationship with the University of Sussex. In addition to receiving an honorary degree at the 2025 winter graduation, she has hosted and chaired seminars and been involved in teaching and research activities across the University.

Wave goodbye to scientific blind spot

Artist’s impression of gravitational waves as curved ripples moving through a colourful cloud of gas and dust in space.

Sussex physicist Professor Xavier Calmet has helped develop a new detector for gravitational waves, which are ripples in spacetime first predicted by Einstein.

The proposed instrument could close what is currently seen as a scientific blind spot and enable greater understanding of black holes and other space phenomena.

Professor Calmet collaborated with University of Birmingham colleagues, Professor Giovanni Barontini, Dr Vera Guarrera, Dr Aaron Smith and Professor Alberto Vecchio on the new gravitational wave detector concept, which uses cutting-edge optical cavity and atomic clock technologies to sense gravitational waves in the mid-band milli-Hertz frequency band (10⁻⁵ – 1 Hz). Technology already exists to detect gravitational waves in high and ultra-low frequencies, but capturing those in the mid-band range has so far proved elusive.

Professor Calmet said: “This detector allows us to test astrophysical models in our galaxy, explore the mergers of massive black holes, and advance our knowledge of the early Universe.”

While future space-based missions are expected to offer superior sensitivity to detecting gravitational waves, their operation is over a decade away. The proposed optical cavity detectors provide an immediate and cost-effective means to explore the milli-Hz band.

Professor Calmet adds: “With this method, we have the tools to start probing these signals from the ground, opening the path for future space missions.”

Sussex academics amongst the most influential in the world

Aerial view of the University of Sussex Falmer campus, surrounded by trees and fields in the South Downs.

Four University of Sussex academics – Professor Felix Creutzig, Professor Dave Goulson, Professor Florian Kern, and Professor Benjamin Sovacool – along with Professor Ian Scoones from the Institute of Development Studies, have been named on the prestigious Clarivate list of the world’s most influential researchers.

Each researcher has made a significant impact in their field and beyond, authoring multiple research papers ranked in the top 1%, measured by the times they are referenced in other researchers' published work.

Professor Maria Fasli, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Research & Innovation, said: “The Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers list is widely regarded as one of the most significant indicators of research influence; therefore, I am delighted to see our researchers at Sussex and partners featured this year amongst the world’s most influential researchers. My congratulations to those listed."

Comment: Why ‘climate obstruction’ is a hot topic at COP30

Guy Edwards smiling, wearing a navy blazer and checked shirt standing on a grassy campus, with trees and a modern building in the background.

By Guy Edwards

Although Colombia’s government has pledged to stop granting new contracts for oil and gas exploration as part of its commitment to phase out fossil fuels, the decision has sparked fierce opposition in the national media.

Some of those opposing the pledge are using “discourse of climate delay”. These discourses accept climate change is real but downplay the need for action, citing imperfect policy options or no alternatives to fossil fuels.

Opponents to the contracts pledge frequently combine delay discourses with warnings of energy blackouts, lost jobs or economic collapse. And many Colombian media outlets fail to challenge these claims.

My recent article in Climate and Development examines how sections of Colombia’s national media are not neutral observers in the energy transition debate but actively enable, amplify, and circulate these delay discourses.

I presented these findings at COP30 in Belém, Brazil, at Colombia’s country pavilion. The event was organised with various experts, including a former Colombian minister of mines and energy and other civil society specialists. We discussed how these climate delay discourses can shape public debate on the energy transition and options to confront them.

Colombia is pushing for a global roadmap at COP30 to phase out fossil fuels, strengthen links between climate and biodiversity, and secure participation and financing for communities.

Alongside the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, it is also planning the First International Conference for the Phase-Out of Fossil Fuels to be held in Colombia in 2026.

These efforts are unfolding amid rampant climate obstruction in Colombia and around the world – a reminder that sophisticated networks of actors are working to undermine progress on climate action both inside the COP30 negotiation halls and within countries themselves.

Guy Edwards is a PhD candidate in International Relations, co-director of the LAC Research Network at Sussex and a scholar at the Climate Social Science Network.

Sussex in the media

Professor John Drury featured in The Guardian, challenging the idea of “bystander apathy”, highlighting research that shows people typically step in to help during emergencies.

On BBC Radio 4’s Curious Cases, Professor Winfried Hensinger discussed whether teleportation could become real, explaining the principles of quantum physics.

Finally, in The Guardian, Professor Alan Stewart commented on the decline of glow-worms and fireflies, urging faster conservation action.

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