In order to achieve truly interdisciplinary research The EICDT has recruited students from the fields of social sciences, data science and environmental sciences; then provided the training and support necessary to swiftly upskill in the other two areas. The 4-year training programme has been designed to empower students to explore different research domains and methods, before developing their own PhD research plan and assembling a multidisciplinary supervisory team. This has been achieved with the nurturing of a strong student community through a multi-disciplinary training environment to equip them with the core and soft skills required for a new generation of inter and trans disciplinary EI practitioners, alongside multi-cohort events and infrastructure.
Transdisciplinary approach
Our student projects span multi-themed foci of data through both the CDT training programme and the development of the Thesis – through a structure called the Thesis Formulation Review. This process supports development of the supervisory team and project to ensure that it is truly interdisciplinary and meets the EI agenda of the three columns of the CDT (data, environment and social).
Challenge focused
Examples include marine habitat mapping, tracking lions using AI-enabled camera traps, and ethnographic work with local people in Nepal to learn how they adapt to heatwaves. Our outputs range from producing documentaries to setting up successful start-ups – all focused on identifying and responding to the challenges facing our environment.