ENVISION: Developing next generation leaders in environmental science

NERC is funding a new cohort of doctoral students to become the next generation of environmental science leaders. This matters because the UK faces mounting environmental challenges—from climate change to biodiversity loss—that require skilled researchers who can translate complex science into practical solutions. The current pipeline of environmental scientists is not keeping pace with demand. This training programme fills that gap by providing structured, high-quality postgraduate education across multiple research organisations. If successful, this programme will produce a steady stream of environmental scientists equipped to work in academia, government, and industry. These graduates might improve how we monitor air and water quality, develop more accurate climate models, or advise on sustainable land use. They could strengthen the infrastructure that underpins flood forecasting, agricultural resilience, and natural resource management—systems most people take for granted until they fail. This is primarily a skills and capacity-building initiative rather than a discovery-driven research project. Its impact will be measured in people trained, not in specific scientific breakthroughs. However, the fundamental science these students will later pursue could lead to unexpected advances in understanding Earth systems, much as past environmental training programmes have produced researchers who went on to develop satellite monitoring or pollution control technologies.