EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Engineering for the Water Sector (STREAM IDC)

英国水务部门正在经历一段深刻的变革时期，公共和私营部门的参与者都在寻求基于证据的应对措施，以应对人口、气候和土地利用变化以及更有效地提供服务的监管压力所带来的一系列新兴的全球、区域和国家挑战。尽管英国水务行业热衷于迎接挑战，并处于创新的有利地位，但它缺乏财政资源来支持长期技能和知识的产生。水务行业需要一支新的工程师队伍，不仅要使我们的社会更具可持续性和盈利性，还要为快速城市化的世界开发一套新的商品和服务。EPSRC博士培训中心提供了一种理想的机制，以弥补该部门在高级工程技能方面出现的短缺。特别是，为该行业培养下一代工程领导者需要在工业贡献和学术贡献之间取得微妙的平衡；呼吁建立一种优先考虑工业需要但为培训和研究提供重要学术投入的筹资机制。STREAM计划汇集了英国五个领先的水研究和培训团体，以确保未来在这个对英国至关重要的领域提供先进的工程专业人员。该联盟由克兰菲尔德大学水科学中心领导，还吸收了谢菲尔德大学和布拉德福德大学、伦敦帝国理工学院、纽卡斯尔大学和埃克塞特大学的专业知识。STREAM通过以下项目提供工程博士和博士学位：(i)通过参加硕士水平的培训课程获得先进的技术技能，（ii）在高级工程师的能力和能力方面的学费，以及（iii）博士水平的研究项目。我们的英语博士学生至少花75%的时间在工业或工业指定的研究问题上工作。该计划的学生要解决的研究课题包括：保证饮用水质量和保护公众健康；减少碳足迹；减少用水需求；提高服务弹性和可靠性；保护天然水体；减少下水道洪水，制定和实施综合水管理战略，并提供新的方法来描述、沟通和减轻风险和不确定性。每年将提供15名学生，为期5年，每个职位由来自水务部门的工业合作伙伴赞助。一系列共同出席的活动将巩固项目和团体的身份。这些措施包括：(i)在克兰菲尔德大学（Cranfield University）开展为期三个月的初始授课项目，（ii）公开邀请STREAM研讨会，以及（iii）每年夏天举行的挑战周，包括可转移技能培训和知名实业家和科学家的客座讲座。外展活动将扩大计划的参与，寻求与相关倡议的合作，提高工程博士资格的“品牌知名度”，并与广泛的利益相关团体（包括公众）接触，以促进对流活动的参与和理解。由专业团体、雇主和监管机构的代表组成的行业咨询委员会将为该计划制定战略方向。该机构将根据部门需要提供战略指导，审查教学和研究部分的运作方面，作为质量控制，并对有关研究领域进行前瞻性研究。一个小型的国际指导委员会将确保该方案的全球相关性。STREAM项目的总成本为900万英镑，其中280万英镑由工业界投资，180万英镑由五所合作大学投资。EPSRC要求的拨款不到440万英镑

The UK water sector is experiencing a period of profound change with both public and private sector actors seeking evidence-based responses to a host of emerging global, regional and national challenges which are driven by demographic, climatic, and land use changes as well as regulatory pressures for more efficient delivery of services. Although the UK Water Industry is keen to embrace the challenge and well placed to innovate, it lacks the financial resources to support longer term skills and knowledge generation. A new cadre of engineers is required for the water industry to not only make our society more sustainable and profitable but to develop a new suite of goods and services for a rapidly urbanising world.EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training provide an ideal mechanism with which to remediate the emerging shortfall in advanced engineering skills within the sector. In particular, the training of next-generation engineering leaders for the sector requires a subtle balance between industrial and academic contributions; calling for a funding mechanism which privileges industrial need but provides for significant academic inputs to training and research. The STREAM initiative draws together five of the UK's leading water research and training groups to secure the future supply of advanced engineering professionals in this area of vital importance to the UK. Led by the Centre for Water Science at Cranfield University, the consortium also draws on expertise from the Universities of Sheffield and Bradford, Imperial College London, Newcastle University, and the University of Exeter. STREAM offers Engineering Doctorate and PhD awards through a programme which incorporates; (i) acquisition of advanced technical skills through attendance at masters level training courses, (ii) tuition in the competencies and abilities expected of senior engineers, and (iii) doctoral level research projects. Our EngD students spend at least 75% of their time working in industry or on industry specified research problems. Example research topics to be addressed by the scheme's students include; delivering drinking water quality and protecting public health; reducing carbon footprint; reducing water demand; improving service resilience and reliability; protecting natural water bodies; reducing sewer flooding, developing and implementing strategies for Integrated Water Management, and delivering new approaches to characterising, communicating and mitigating risk and uncertainty. Fifteen studentships per year for five years will be offered with each position being sponsored by an industrial partner from the water sector.A series of common attendance events will underpin programme and group identity. These include, (i) an initial three-month taught programme based at Cranfield University, (ii) an open invitation STREAM symposium and (iii) a Challenge Week to take place each summer including transferrable skills training and guest lectures from leading industrialists and scientists. Outreach activities will extend participation in the programme, pursue collaboration with associated initiatives, promote 'brand awareness' of the EngD qualification, and engage with a wide range of stakeholder groups (including the public) to promote engagement with and understanding of STREAM activities.Strategic direction for the programme will be formulated through an Industry Advisory Board comprising representatives from professional bodies, employers, and regulators. This body will provide strategic guidance informed by sector needs, review the operational aspects of the taught and research components as a quality control, and conduct foresight studies of relevant research areas. A small International Steering Committee will ensure global relevance for the programme. The total cost of the STREAM programme is £9m, £2.8m of which is being invested by industry and £1.8m by the five collaborating universities. Just under £4.4m is being requested from EPSRC