Research Topics

Research and academic activities aligned with every Sustainable Development Goal

Topics Header Photo
The University shall devote its work to research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations and its agencies.
Charter of the United Nations University

People — topics on improving lives of people everywhere

Planet — topics on preserving and improving our environment and natural resources

Peace and partnerships — topics on fostering peaceful, just, and inclusive societies

Showing 1-10 of 9846 results

UNU Council Member UNU Council Member; Raffles Professor of Social Sciences, National University of Singapore

Prof. Brenda Yeoh

Professor Brenda S.A. Yeoh is a Singaporean scholar and expert in the fields of migration, social geography, and the politics of space in colonial and post-colonial cities.

Expert Junior Research Fellow

Bavo Stevens

Bavo Stevens was a Junior Research Fellow at the UNU Institute on Globalization, Culture and Mobility (UNU-GCM).

Report 25 Aug 2026

Conflict Economies and Peace Operations: A Case Study on Peace and Security and Development Responses to Conflict Minerals in Eastern DRC

What eastern DRC’s conflict minerals reveal about the challenges of addressing regional conflict economies – and the role peace operations can play.

Article 24 Aug 2026

5 Hard Truths about the Air We Breathe

Air pollution is easy to miss. What if the air around us is affecting our health more than we think?

Media Coverage 24 Aug 2026

Lisa Hartmann Featured in Mongabay Article on Indigenous Communities in the Philippines

UNU-EHS researcher Lisa Hartmann speaks to Mongabay about Indigenous communities’ deep connection to nature and the impacts of biodiversity loss.

News 24 Aug 2026

UNCCD COP17 Event Highlights Need to Finance Landscape Governance

An event at the UN desertification conference in Ulaanbaatar urged investment in governance to achieve effective and sustained landscape action.

Person Training & Educational Officer

Lin Lin

Lin LIN is the Training and Education Officer at the United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau), where she leads the design, development, delivery and evaluation of the Institute’s capacity development programmes. She is also responsible for the Institute’s contributions to degree programmes developed with UNU hub universities, working closely with partner universities on curriculum design and joint programme development.

News 24 Aug 2026

UNU Macau and the Blue Institute Sign MOU on Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development

The partnership brings digital technologies and marine conservation together to advance the Blue Economy.

Journal Article 24 Aug 2026

Behavioural Change Interventions to Promote Climate Action: An Umbrella Review Protocol (Version 1)

This umbrella review protocol provides a systematic approach to synthesising accumulated knowledge.