This programme provides funding for up to eight early career researchers (ECRs) to identify a programme of work that can develop a roadmap for environmental solutions through a whole system approach.

The aim

To build a capability here at Cranfield to address a clearly-defined environmental challenge or set of challenges. The programme is expected to create an intra-organisation, solutions-orientated community that is working towards a common goal. 

Defining your challenge

Projects should drive new research to address challenges that are key to a sustainable and resilient environment and society such as decarbonisation of energy, creation of a circular economy, reversing biodiversity decline, socially and environmentally sustainable supply chains, and cleaner air.

In line with this, here at Cranfield we will focus on environmental and societal resilience to bring together ECRs to explore how natural capital – one of the five capitals of resilience – can be better protected, supported and understood in a changing world, and how it can be linked to other capitals of resilience to solve societal challenges aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

What activities can be supported?

We want to encourage our ECRs to think beyond the more common disciplinary alliances and to consider areas where the value of different, and less explored, insights can be understood and exploited.

Any of the following activities can be organised, with limited funding provided to underpin activities where required:

  • Embed researchers in themes outside of their own discipline area.
  • Share insights on priorities and search for synergies and new ideas that cut across theme boundaries. 
  • Organise meetings, seminars and workshops between departments and disciplines to share learning, understanding of key terms, concepts, language and tools to tackle problems.
  • Work with end users (e.g. businesses, policymakers, non-governmental organisations) to understand how their needs could be addressed through interdisciplinary approaches.

The challenges

Sustainable and resilient engineering system: a system approach

Nature-based solutions in a changing world: performance, policy, and management

Connecting the systems of interventions and controls to build resilient and healthy environments

Cultivating urban resilience from soil: propagating a route connecting natural, built, social, financial, and human capital

Resilient plantation systems

Challenges surrounding societal transformation to net zero

High-performance sustainable composites for the next generation of infrastructure

Resilience dividend: does investment on sustainability through natural capital pay off in the long-term at micro and macro level?