Inquiry That Matters
At Blackbridge, research is not a cloistered activity confined to the highest levels of academia. It is the lifeblood of the entire institution, a current of inquiry that flows through our postgraduate labs, our undergraduate seminars, and even our Sixth Form projects. Our mission is to foster an environment where bold questions are asked and new knowledge is created, applied, and shared. We are committed to research that is not only academically rigorous but also relevant to the complex challenges facing our world.
Our research is organised around several key interdisciplinary hubs, designed to break down traditional academic silos and bring diverse perspectives to bear on critical issues.
Our Research Hubs
- The Centre for Digital Futures & Society: This is a nexus for researchers from Computational Engineering, Political Economy, and Digital Media. The Centre’s work explores the profound social, ethical, and political implications of our accelerating technological world. Current projects include research into the governance of artificial intelligence, the impact of digital platforms on democratic discourse, and the future of work in an age of automation. The Centre provides a critical, and sometimes cautionary, voice in the often-overly optimistic narrative of technological progress.
- The Urban Innovation Collaborative (UIC): Bringing together architects, designers, engineers, and social scientists, the UIC is dedicated to reimagining the future of urban life. Its research is practice-led and solution-oriented, focusing on sustainable infrastructure, human-centric smart city design, and resilient communities. The Collaborative works closely with the municipality of Oslo and other international cities, using our local environment as a living laboratory for testing new ideas in housing, mobility, and public space.
- The Global Risk & Resilience Observatory: This hub is the analytical heart of our work in finance and governance. Researchers in Financial Mathematics and Global Political Economy collaborate to model and understand complex systemic risks. Their work covers everything from the stability of global financial markets and the threat of sophisticated cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure to the geopolitical implications of climate change and resource scarcity. The Observatory aims to provide clear-sighted analysis to policymakers and industry leaders navigating an increasingly volatile and uncertain world.
A Culture of Inquiry for All
We believe that the experience of research is a powerful form of learning. Our Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) provides a framework for Bachelor’s students to work directly with faculty members on their ongoing research projects, often resulting in co-authored publications or conference presentations. It’s a challenging but deeply rewarding experience that transforms students from passive consumers of knowledge into active producers. Even our Sixth Form students are encouraged to undertake independent research through the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), where they learn the foundational skills of academic inquiry—formulating a question, conducting a literature review, and presenting their findings—under the guidance of a dedicated supervisor. Research at Blackbridge is a shared enterprise, driven by the belief that the next great idea can come from anywhere.