About the Project
Supervisors: Dr Jess Davies (Pentland Centre/LEC), Dr Chris Boyko (Imagination Lancaster), Prof. John Quinton (LEC), and Dr Carly Stevens (LEC).
Cities, how we live them, and how they interact with nature, play an increasingly crucial role in the future sustainability of our societies and planet. Estimates suggest around 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2030, and that urban areas will expand by as much as 150% in this time. Therefore, much of our urban infrastructure is yet to be built, and great opportunities exist for creating more sustainable cities and lifestyles that are resilient to climate change.
In creating sustainable cities, there has been significant research on green and blue infrastructure – solutions that work with nature to provide ecosystem services. As suggested by ‘green’ and ‘blue’, much of the attention has been on vegetation (green spaces, green rooves) and water services (blue). Soils in cities underpin green and blue infrastructures by providing natural water storage and drainage and supporting green areas that provide urban cooling, recreation, and air pollution mitigation; whilst also providing other important ecosystem services such as local food, biodiversity and carbon storage. And yet, soil ecosystem services are almost ignored in urban planning and management.
In this studentship you will take an interdisciplinary approach to advance our knowledge of urban soil ecosystem services and their connection to communities and decision makers, and explore the potential to develop ‘soil smart cities’, where the benefits of urban soils can be realised and enhanced, now and under future climate change.
Through a mixture of spatial analysis, modelling, experimentation, and qualitative research this studentship will address the following three key research questions:
1) How does soil infrastructure currently provide ecosystem services in cities?
2) Are there trade-offs and synergies in urban soil ecosystem service delivery?
3) How resilient are urban soil infrastructures to future change?
Further information: http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/sci-tech/downloads/phd_318.pdf
Academic Requirements: First-class or 2.1 (Hons) degree, or Masters degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject.
Deadline for applications: Midnight 28 February 2017
Provisional Interview Date: TBC – Late March 2017
Start Date: October 2017
For further information or informal discussion about the position, please contact Dr. Jess Davies ([Email Address Removed])
Application process: Please upload a completed application form (download from
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/contentassets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_Funded_PhD_Application_Form.docx)
outlining your background and suitability for this project and a CV at LEC Postgraduate Research Applications,
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/lec/graduate-school/phd/apply-online/.
You also require two references, please send the reference form (download from
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/media/lancaster-university/contentassets/documents/lec/pg/LEC_Funded_PhD_Reference_Form.docx)
to your two referees and ask them to email it to Andy Harrod ([Email Address Removed]), Postgraduate Research (PGR) Coordinator,
Lancaster Environment Centre by the deadline.
Due to the limited time between the closing date and the interview date, it is essential that you ensure references are submitted by the closing date or as soon as possible.
Funding Notes
Full studentships (UK/EU tuition fees and stipend (£14,296 2016/17 [tax free])) for UK/EU students for 3.5 years or full studentships (International tuition fees and stipend (£14,296 2016/17 [tax free])) for International students for 3 years.
References
Birkhofer, Klaus, et al. "Ecosystem services—current challenges and opportunities for ecological research." Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 2 (2015): 87.
Mcphearson, Timon, et al. "Scientists must have a say in the future of cities." Nature 538.7624 (2016): 165-166.
Brevik, E. C., et al. "The interdisciplinary nature of SOIL." Soil 1.1 (2015): 117.