Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/L002434/1
GW4+ - a consortium of excellence in innovative research training
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Professor P Valdes, University of Bristol, Earth Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Bristol, Earth Sciences
- Science Area:
- Atmospheric
- Earth
- Freshwater
- Marine
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Atmospheric
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- None
- Abstract:
- This proposal is for an ambitious, multidisciplinary DTP for NERC science-a consortium of excellence in innovative research training-designed to train tomorrow's leaders in environmental science. The GW4+ DTP is configured on a scale that provides intellectual and infrastructural critical-mass across a comprehensive breadth of NERC science by combining the strategic alliance of the "Great Western Four" research-intensive universities (Bristol, Exeter, Cardiff, Bath), with six leading research organizations (British Geological Survey, British Antarctic Survey, Natural History Museum, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Meteorological Office) and 26 associate partners that cover the full range of non-academic graduate employers, including policy and legislation, media, industry, environmental research and public engagement: Welsh Government, Cynnal Cymru (Sustain Wales), National Resource Wales, Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS), Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), Cornwall Council; Environment Agency (EA), Marine Biological Association (MBA), National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL);National Museum of Wales, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Taylor and Francis Publishing, Astra Zeneca, Thermo-Fisher Scientific, Willis Insurance, URS Corporation, Syngenta, Southwest Water, Sellafield, Wessex Water, Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB). Novel aspects of this proposal include a system of student-managed training credits (to access bespoke training courses and international opportunities) and step-change levels of employer engagement (including development of training strategy and workplace secondments). The level of partnership with "users" of NERC research is a means to enhance capacity to deliver impact from research done within the DTP. GW4+ seeks a total of 40 studentships per annum, a figure commensurate with the breadth of research excellence and infrastructure, current NERC funding and training capacity across the partnership. Training will be arranged around the following eight NERC-science themes: 1. Climate Change and Impacts 2. Atmospheres, Oceans and Ice 3. Genomes and Evolution 4. Solid Earth and Planetary Geology 5. Natural Hazards, Resources and Sustainability 6. Ecology, Conservation and Biodiversity 7. Water 8. Biogeochemical Cycles Environmental sciences graduates progress to an array of demanding careers, in academia and beyond. This DTP will develop training programmes to equip our students for that diversity. Students will choose primary supervisors from a broad range of disciplines, and co-supervisors in complementary fields to promote interdisciplinarity from the earliest stage of their training. This DTP will address recognised critical-skills gaps for new PhDs across NERC science. Students will acquire key transferable skills (including quantitative and modelling, data handling and management, communication, leadership, critical thinking) concurrently with their core development of research-specific skills. Consequently, graduates of GW4+ will be highly employable across the environmental sciences sector and beyond. GW4+ will also form part of a larger Wessex doctoral training network (DTN) with DTPs led by the universities of Oxford and Southampton. This brings even greater breadth and depth of expertise, enhances networking, and creates further opportunities for training, utilizing specialized resources, and careers development. An annual congress will draw together more than 300 PhD students from across the DTN to provide a unique, student-led regional showcase for NERC science. International DTN summer schools will expose and engage students in scientific topics of pressing societal importance.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/L002434/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Doctoral Training
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- DTP 2013
This training grant award has a total value of £12,882,593
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - DSA | Total - Other Costs | Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £13,356 | £338,740 | £2,510,236 | £1,540,000 | £8,480,260 |
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