International Centre for Infrastructure Futures (ICIF)
Infrastructure systems include things such as electric power, oil and gas, water and wastewater, communications, transportation, and the collections of buildings that make up urban and rural communities. These systems are increasingly relying on each other in order to operate – also known as interdependency. The University of Bristol is part of this centre which will enable social scientists, engineers, industrialists, policy makers and other stakeholders to research and learn together to understand how better to exploit the technical and market opportunities that emerge from the increased interdependence of infrastructure systems.
It is also recognised that the public needs to be involved in decision making to ensure business models and forms of regulation are socially robust. As a consequence, ICIF has a major focus on using its research to catalyse a broader national debate about the future of the UK's infrastructure, and how it might contribute towards a more sustainable, economically vibrant, and fair society.
Aims of ICI
To achieve a major improvement in policy making and commercialisation of future infrastructure provision, from design to operation, using a multidisciplinary approach to value capture and the generation of new business models
To use a systems thinking rationale applied to all relevant aspects of infrastructure provision, especially dealing with interdependencies
To accelerate and embed relevant learning in academia, in government and in commerce through deep engagement with participants networks.
To integrate research and learning across disciplines and between institutions building on existing methods but extended using novel structured methods of working.
The project has published reports and case studies on the development of an Interdependency Planning and Management Framework (IPMF) for Infrastructure UK. This will help future infrastructure developments to consider potential interdependencies at an early stage.
Read more about the International Centre for Infrastructure Futures at www.icif.ac.uk (website currently unavailable)
ICIF Researchers Ruth Deakin-Crick and Shaofu Huang at the Graduate School of Education and Systems Centre, University of Bristol and Australian research partners are shortly publishing a paper in the British Journal of Educational Studies. Called ‘Developing Resilient Agency in Learning: The Internal Structure of Learning Power’, this paper explores and models the qualities that individuals and teams need to develop to become resilient agents in their own learning journeys. Learning is important for industry leaders in a digital world because everyone's performance depends on it, we can't deliver change without it and it’s a key to leaders learning from experience. The paper was described by reviewers as deserving a wide international readership.
Dr Mike Yearworth, Reader in Engineering Systems, Faculty of Engineering
Professor Wendy Larner, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law
ICIF is a collaboration between the University of Bristol, University College London, University of Southampton, Cranfield University, University of Sussex, University of Brighton, ESRC and EPSRC.
