Our research in social and spatial sciences

We’re transforming our understanding of people, place and policy to create a fairer, safer, more sustainable world.

Our expertise is recognised globally and rated highly for quality, with work that spans:

• place-based inequalities
• security crime and justice
• health, social care and education
• science, technology and risk
• cities, regional development and urban governance
• sustainable transitions in the food, transport and waste sectors
• digital transformation and participation
• migration and mobilities.

Our research approach is multi-scale, spanning collaboration with Cardiff’s communities, deep knowledge of Wales’s devolved policy landscape, and engaged with a range of international networks. With a strong and specialist focus on social and spatial justice, we’re using knowledge to tackle societal challenges and working to build thriving communities on a thriving planet.

This work is anchored by major research centres - WISERD, the Security, Crime and Intelligence Innovation Institute (SCII), DECIPHer, CASCADE and CARE - and delivered from sbarc|spark, a hub of social scientists and partners driven by creativity, curiosity and entrepreneurship.

With an excellent track record of impactful and engaged research, informing policy development, stimulating debate and developing innovative practice, we’re Wales's principal social science and spatial research community.