About MUERF

Climate changes threaten the fabric of our planet, and the quality of air, water and biodiversity that sustains us. Addressing this challenge requires new knowledge about its operation and solutions to its impacts, and accessing knowledge previously ignored or marginalised.

MUERF commits to pursue research and educational projects that aim for a better-informed understanding of the nature and impacts of climate change on our environments and lives, for enhanced capabilities to engage with these impacts in our work and our lives, and for new ideas and solutions about how we might prevent or mitigate detrimental effects and produce enhanced quality in our natural and created environments.

Disruption is occurring to established institutional orders across nations and within nations. In the 21st century we are witnessing mechanisms for international security being undermined; some conflicts and their consequences for national, ethnic and religious groups become seemingly intractable; digital disruption felt within and across borders; and trust in institutions and processes, which once bound people across nations, seemingly being eroded.

MUERF commits to address these challenges to the peace and security of our communities through international and collaborative initiatives that recognise and unpack the complexity of international and national relations, from the role of alliances to the regulation of borders, as well as the global principles required to support refugees and those that recognise the obligations of armed conflicts.

Thriving communities hold the promise of the ‘good life’ we seek. This is the challenge of how we live well, and how we live well together. There are medical and health issues about the individual, family and population burden of disease, but also systemic social issues of inequality and disadvantage, intolerance, discrimination and violence requiring understanding and solution. The quality of lives ranges across medical and social issues from maternal health to ageing, often at a scale not previously experienced. Equally, the challenge of building cohesive and tolerant societies that support the ability of their populations to access adequate shelter, sustenance and education remain key to addressing global disruptions and inequalities.

MUERF commits to tackle these issues through creative and innovative research and educational initiatives that develop transformative responses built not for, but with, communities locally, nationally and internationally.