Training Leading Scientists of Tomorrow
By: News Archive
A multi-million pound bid led by UEA to fund new postgraduate research vital to the future of our planet has been successful, and applications are now open to PhD students looking to start in October 2019.
The funding will support at least 80 PhD students to carry out vital environmental research in areas such as:
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atmospheric and ocean science;
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biodiversity and conservation;
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geosciences and natural hazards;
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the application of microbiological and genetic science to environmental problems; and
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sustainability of water, energy and food supplies.
ARIES was one of 17 successful Doctoral Training Partnership bids. Its mission is to train postgraduate researchers who have excellent potential, equipping them with the necessary skills to become leaders in the science and business of the environment for the 21st century.
The Advanced Research and Innovation in Environmental Science (ARIES) Doctoral Training Partnership bid received more than £5 million pounds from the £100 million pound Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) fund.
ARIES forges a partnership with UEA, Kent, Plymouth, Essex, and Royal Holloway University of London, as well as more than 40 other major partners in research, industry and policy.
The partnership builds on, and more than triples, the size of the collaboration formed for its predecessor, the successful EnvEast Doctoral Training Partnership.
ARIES will enable partners to pool experience and resources to create rich training environments for students, to encourage knowledge-sharing to the benefit of all and to give students the opportunity to undertake internships during the course of their PhD.
Partners from industry, policy bodies, research organisations and charities add to the vitality of ARIES. They include Anglian Water, Balfour Beatty, British Antarctic Survey, Cefas, Defra, Environment Agency, John Innes Centre, Natural England, RSPB, UK Met Office, and the World Wildlife Fund.
Director of ARIES Prof Bill Sturges, from UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences said: “This is an exciting opportunity to bring together world-class expertise from a complementary set of research organisations to train scientists capable of making outstanding contributions to their discipline and able to apply their knowledge to the critical challenges facing the UK economy, the quality of life for its citizens, and the state of the global environment.”
UEA Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research Fiona Lettice added: “We are delighted to receive this funding for the ARIES Doctoral Training Partnership, building on the success of the EnvEast Doctoral Training Partnership. It enables UEA and our academic, industrial and policy partners to work collaboratively to develop the next generation of scientists to research and find innovative solutions to a wide range of environmental and ecological global challenges.”
Professor Tim Wheeler, Director of Research & Innovation at NERC, said: This investment will provide a bedrock for the environmental science community, fostering the next generation of highly skilled professionals that bring together specialist knowledge from academia, industry and beyond.”
Dr Nicki Whitehouse, Associate Professor (Reader) in Physical Geography at the University of Plymouth, added: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to work in partnership on some of the greatest environmental challenges facing our planet in the 21st century. It will unite early career researchers in new collaborations, but also create opportunities for our academics. The chance to work with industry, policy makers and social scientists means we can develop scientific solutions to real world issues that will be useful and relevant to society as a whole.”
Dr Terry McGenity, from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Essex, said: “There has never been a more exciting and important period in the field of environmental science. Thus, ARIES has been established to provide outstanding training and research opportunities, using cutting-edge techniques that range from molecular biology to remote sensing, to address some of the planet’s most complex and urgent challenges, such as global climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and water/food security.”
University of Kent Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation Professor Philippe De Wilde said: “This is an exciting partnership project from an exceptionally strong team which will help unlock the potential of our researchers to become the leading scientists of tomorrow, ready to tackle the enormous environmental and ecological challenges facing the world. It is a perfect example of what universities can achieve working together to make a difference for future generations.”
Dr. Alex Dickson, Lecturer in Geochemistry at Royal Holloway, University of London Earth Sciences Department said: "The huge breadth of expertise and interests represented within the ARIES partnership is extremely exciting, and opens the unique opportunity of doctoral students being able to tackle virtually every possible discipline represented within the remit of the Natural Environment Research Council. This breadth of expertise will allow ARIES students to gain experience and understanding in some of the most vital issues facing our society, and to forge their future as leading environmental scientists in the coming years."
PhD students can apply to join the ARIES Mission, starting in October 2019. Find out more about www.aries-dtp.ac.uk and on www.findaphd.com.
All enquiries should be directed to aries.dtp@uea.ac.uk
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