My research focuses on deepening our understanding of human well-being and the attributes of material interaction to support the circular economy transition.
Founded in 1837, the RCA is the world’s largest community of postgraduate art and design students. The RCA has been ranked the number one art and design university in the world in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for each of the last ten years, and was ranked the largest most research-intensive art and design institution in both REF2014 and REF2021. We have a track record of winning substantial UKRI grants and industry research contracts, and of demonstrable research excellence. Our Strategic Plan 2022-27 sets out our goals for providing new insights and leadership to global challenges in mobility and urbanism, the climate crisis and the circular economy, ageing populations and inclusivity, and design and AI, and showcasing evidence of the impact of arts and humanities research on enhancing and humanising our understanding of complex social, cultural and technological problems.
Dr Bruna Petreca is Reader in Human Experience and Materials at the Materials Science Research Centre (MSRC). She works in the integration of human experience into the new areas of materials development: circular economy, digital environments, on-site/on-demand manufacture, human health and wellbeing. Currently, she leads ground-breaking research to deliver new circular fashion-textile experiences and innovative digital tools as the Consumer Experience strand lead in the UKRI Interdisciplinary Textiles Circularity Centre and as Co-I in the EPSRC Consumer Experience Digital Tools for Dematerialisation for the Circular Economy project.