ENVISION Doctoral Training Partnership

NERC is funding a new cohort of doctoral students to train the next generation of environmental scientists. This grant establishes a Doctoral Training Partnership, a structured programme that provides postgraduate training across multiple research organisations. The problem it addresses is a shortage of skilled researchers equipped to tackle complex environmental challenges—from climate change to biodiversity loss to natural hazards. Without sustained investment in training, the UK risks losing its capacity to understand and respond to these pressing issues. If this succeeds, the partnership will produce a steady pipeline of PhD graduates with expertise in environmental science. These researchers will go on to work in academia, government agencies, and industry, where their knowledge can inform policy, improve environmental monitoring, and develop practical solutions for managing natural resources. The impact is long-term: better-trained scientists mean better decisions about the environment that sustains everyday life, from clean water to stable weather patterns. This is primarily a training and capacity-building initiative, not a single research project. Its value lies in creating the human capital needed for future discoveries.