Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment (ACCE)

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The ACCE DTP (Adapting to the Challenges of a Changing Environment) brings together the complementary academic strengths of world-class research groups from the Universities of Sheffield, York and Liverpool, combined with the unique scientific resources of NERC's Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). We bring broad cross-disciplinary expertise in biological and related environmental sciences, at scales from the molecular to the global. ACCE research excellence is focussed on (1) Securing ecosystem services and environmental resources; (2) Predicting and mitigating impacts ofclimate change; (3) Understanding the dynamics of biodiversity; and (4) Investigating mechanisms of evolutionary change.These research foci are supported by four cross-cutting training themes: (1) Quantitative methods and modelling, (2) Omic technologies, (3) Field methods, and (4) Impact: knowledge exchange, business and policy.Our aim is to train researchers of the future equipped to understand and solve fundamental and applied environmental and ecological questions of national and global importance. ACCE students will have access to state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies across the host institutes as well as training opportunities in a number of related disciplines, including archaeology, mathematics, environmental engineering, geosciences and analytical chemistry. The ACCE DTP thus provides a coherent multidisciplinary training environment enhanced by strong collaborations with 28 CASE partners (including international partners) who will contribute to student research and training and guide ACCE strategic development through membership of an Advisory Board.Our vision is that ACCE will train multi-skilled students with the capacity to move between NERC scientific fields, and other areas, relating the science they undertake to business, policy, public needs, and society. Key aspects of the ACCE training programme include:- A strong and supportive researcher community: We will foster this by whole-cohort training, cross-institutional activities and committees, peer-to-peer training, and online resources.- Fully integrated CASE partner contributions: We aim for 40% of studentships to be CASE with partners contributing to training and placements, and exposing all students to a range of diverse environments beyond universities, including NGOs, small businesses, public bodies and statutory agencies.- Innovative and integrated recruitment procedures: we will avoid pre-set project allocation to institutions to ensure that we select the best students on the best projects in the best training environments.- Cross-institutional supervision: Our aim is that 50% of projects will have cross-institutional co-supervision.Our programme will ensure ACCE students experience worldclass training, enabling them to become leaders of the next generation of environmental scientists.