Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet

NERC funds postgraduate training through Doctoral Training Partnerships, which support PhD students across UK research organisations and consortia. This funding structure addresses a critical gap in the UK's environmental science workforce. Without coordinated training programmes, the country would lack the skilled researchers needed to tackle complex environmental challenges—from climate change impacts to biodiversity loss, pollution control to sustainable resource management. The partnerships ensure that doctoral students receive not just specialist knowledge but also broad skills in interdisciplinary collaboration, data analysis, and science communication. If the training succeeds, the impact will be felt across multiple systems that quietly underpin daily life. Better-trained environmental scientists improve flood prediction models, refine climate projections used by infrastructure planners, develop more accurate pollution monitoring for water treatment plants, and inform agricultural practices that affect food supply chains. They also strengthen the UK's ability to meet net-zero emissions targets and adapt to a changing climate. This is primarily a skills and education investment rather than a specific research project. The value lies in building the next generation of environmental scientists who will produce the fundamental and applied research that keeps society's environmental systems functioning.