Central England NERC Training Alliance (CENTA)

The CENTA programme will train the next generation of environmental scientists across a consortium of UK universities and research organisations. This matters because the UK faces a shortage of skilled researchers who can tackle complex environmental challenges—from climate change and biodiversity loss to pollution and natural resource management. Traditional PhD training often works in isolation, but many environmental problems cross disciplinary boundaries and require expertise in geology, ecology, atmospheric science, and data analysis working together. CENTA addresses this gap by creating a structured network where students access training, facilities, and expertise across multiple institutions rather than working within a single department. If successful, CENTA will produce PhD graduates who are better equipped to work across scientific disciplines and with policymakers, industry, and environmental agencies. These researchers could improve how the UK monitors flood risks, manages water resources, models climate impacts, or restores degraded ecosystems. The programme also strengthens the pipeline of fundamental environmental science talent—the kind of curiosity-driven research that underpins long-term understanding of Earth systems, even if its practical applications may take years to emerge.