The Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD), which is based within the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes University, was established in July 2004. OISD, which has six main research groups, is the largest academic research institute in the UK dedicated to research on sustainable development in the built environment.
The mission of OISD, which has a multidisciplinary focus, is to help create a sustainable future by undertaking research on sustainability in the built and natural environments. OISD is currently carrying out a range of funded research for the research councils, industry and the public sector.
Postgraduate study
Our research informs all the postgraduate courses offered by the School of the Built Environment, in Architecture, Planning, Real Estate and Construction.
Research
A recent HEFCE report into sustainable development in higher education in England suggests that the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) is one of the key players in sustainable development research, and the School for the Built Environment, which includes OISD as its primary research vehicle, was recently ranked fifth in the UK in terms of 'Research Power' within UoA 31 (Town and Country Planning) in the RAE 2008.
OISD's research links strongly with the School of the Built Environment's teaching and CPD programmes, which both include a strong sustainability element.
OISD research addresses the multiple dimensions of sustainable development (social, economic, environmental and governance) and the synergies and processes that link them. Each group has a distinct identity and research strategy, but there are also synergies between them and multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary working is an important element of our activities. We have an annual turnover of approximately £800,000 per annum from research councils, government, industry and charities.
Facilities
OISD is located in the Buckley building on the Gipsy Lane site. We also have a brand new (in 2010) Technology Laboratory in the John Payne building.
In partnership with business, OISD has pioneered many developments in modular and light frame construction, innovation in cladding and building envelope solutions and developments in many other related areas. It also has a long standing research programme aimed at improving the energy performance and sustainability of buildings, building performance monitoring and post occupancy evaluation.
The laboratory will increase OISD's capacity to support the off-site sector with which it has historically strong links. In particular the facility will be seeking opportunities for product development, accreditation and performance testing in relation to existing and forthcoming standards. This complements existing strengths in the application of predictive computational analysis, now used extensively to analyse and improve buildings and for certification and compliance purposes.
The new facility will help bridge the gap between leading edge research and real building performance. Testing capabilities include structural performance, robustness, air-tightness, and thermal performance.
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