Supporting Government through Research and Expertise: 2024–25

Policy Brief for the Government of Mauritius on the Chagos Islands

In July 2025, Keele published a policy brief for decision-makers in the Government of Mauritius on the future management of the Chagos Islands and their coral reefs, following the UK government's May 2025 agreement to transfer the islands to Mauritius. Developed with academics at North-West University, South Africa, the brief recommends keeping a business-as-usual approach in the near term while a purpose-designed environmental and social impact assessment framework is put in place to guide future decisions on development and settlement.

Key facts

Keele lead	Dr Adam Moolna, Lecturer in Environment and Sustainability
Partners	North-West University, South Africa
Government audience	Government of Mauritius
Reach	International
Focus	Environmental assessment and long-term decision-making for the Chagos Islands and their coral reef ecosystems

Find out more about the Chagos Islands policy brief

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24 Recommendations on Crop Disease Preparedness

In 2024–25, Keele led the UKRI-funded E-Prep project, which produced a report making 24 recommendations on detecting and containing viral and bacterial crop disease epidemics. The report was presented at a meeting of growers, academics, businesses, policymakers and industry bodies, reported in April 2025. Its recommendations include more funding for surveillance of crop diseases and their insect vectors, support for growers facing crop loss, a review of the Plant Health Risk Register, and investment in AI tools to forecast disease risk.

Key facts

Keele lead	Professor James Bell, Professor of Entomology
Funder	UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Audience	Policymakers, growers, industry bodies, businesses and academics
Reach	National
Outcome	24 policy and practice recommendations on crop disease detection, containment and recovery

Find out more about the E-Prep report

Climate Training for the Minister for Early Years

In April 2025, Stephen Morgan MP, Minister for Early Years and the Department for Education's lead on sustainability, completed training as the UK's 1,000th Climate Ambassador through the government-funded Climate Ambassadors scheme. Keele leads the scheme's West Midlands hub, and on the same day the hub held a regional outreach event at the University of Birmingham for Department for Education partners and staff from nurseries, schools and colleges.

Key facts

Keele lead	Professor Zoe Robinson, West Midlands hub lead
Policymaker	Stephen Morgan MP, Minister for Early Years, Department for Education
Partners	Climate Ambassadors programme (University of Reading), Department for Education
Reach	Regional and national
Focus	Climate upskilling for policymakers and education leaders

Find out more about the Minister's Climate Ambassador training

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MADAR Summit on Displacement in North Africa

In October 2024, Keele hosted a summit presenting the findings of Maghreb Action on Displacement and Rights (MADAR), a four-year, £2 million research programme on displacement in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. Led by Keele, the programme engaged over 1,500 stakeholders, including 1,400 displaced people, through 11 projects and 20 workshops and engagement events, and puts forward cultural and policy-based solutions. Funders, including the AHRC, and international partners took part.

Key facts

Keele lead	Professor Mariangela Palladino
Partners	Universities of Edinburgh, Liverpool and Manchester; partners in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia
Funder	UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund
Reach	International
Focus	Migration and displacement policy

Find out more about the MADAR summit

Community Recovery Research with Tamworth Borough Council

In 2024–25, Keele led a study funded by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's Community Recovery Fund, working with Tamworth Borough Council and community leaders after the July–August 2024 disorder. The project is designed to run workshops in local schools and colleges on challenging online hate, and with local businesses on inclusion and resilience, to strengthen community cohesion. Tamworth Borough Council expects the work to inform its community engagement strategy.

Key facts

Keele lead	Dr Tolu Olarewaju, Lecturer in Management
Government partners	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (funder); Tamworth Borough Council
Who benefited	Young people and small business owners in Tamworth, particularly from minority and migrant backgrounds
Reach	Local
Outcome	Evidence to inform Tamworth Borough Council's community engagement strategy

Find out more about the Tamworth study

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Collaborating in Climate Policy Implementation

In 2024-25, Dr Rosa Fernandez-Martin worked with Cannock Chase District Council and Stafford Borough Council to strengthen local climate policy development and implementation through evidence-based decision-making. The project informed recommendations on climate policy monitoring, resilience planning, stakeholder engagement and the use of data to measure progress towards climate objectives. The work also contributed to the councils' Climate Change Strategy, which highlights collaboration with Keele University to review and develop climate strategies, carbon calculation methods and climate action plans, while supporting climate knowledge and capacity building for council decision-makers.

Key facts

Keele lead	Dr Rosa Fernandez-Martin
Government partners	Cannock Chase District Council; Stafford Borough Council
Reach	Regional
Focus	Climate policy implementation, monitoring and resilience planning
Outcome	Evidence-informed recommendations and support for local authority climate strategy development

Find out more:

• Collaborating in Climate Policy Implementation at Local Level
• Cannock Chase District Council Climate Change Strategy

Last reviewed: 3 November 2026