Sustainability PhD projects in Industry | University of Surrey

Projects: Sustainability PhD projects in Industry

Sponsoring organisations: Heathrow Airport Ltd, Keller Group Plc, National Composites Centre UK,Surrey Nature Partnership

The Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability offers the opportunity to achieve a doctoral level degree while gaining invaluable research experience in a prestigious organisation.  Aimed at high-achieving researchers and graduates whose vision is to become a sustainability leader in industry, our unique programme combines in-depth industry experience with relevant academic study. 

Project Overviews

1. HEATHROW:

Heathrow has a bold ambition as it sets a direction towards a future of sustainable aviation. Its sustainability strategy – Heathrow 2.0 – sets out stretching objectives in diverse areas such as community wellbeing, climate change and the circular economy.  This project requires a holistic systems thinking approach to realise the challenges set out in the Heathrow 2.0 plans. In general, this approach will need to include the sustainable management of resources (including water and waste), the ability to identify and implement best practice for an expanding, complex multi-stakeholder environment and consideration of the whole life-cycle of Heathrow assets to ensure interventions are targeted at areas to capture the most appropriate  benefits.

2. NCCUK:

Fibre reinforced polymer composite materials have the potential to reduce through life environmental impact significantly, in particular due to reduced weight, resulting in lower fuel consumption and improved corrosion resistance, resulting in less maintenance and longer life.  A body of work is necessary in drawing together the key factors that affect LCA in products and more specifically composites and produce a series of guidelines that can be based on the ISO 14000 series. In particular, communication should focus on the different “entry levels” of LCA moving from the simplified client versions such as LCA Calculator or CES to the advanced database packages such as GaBi and SimaPro. This will be followed up by a series of talks and training events for the composites industry in order to enable this material to be widely implemented.

3. KELLER:

The Sustainable Development goals (SDG’s) have the potential to provide a framework for sustainability across all industry sectors.  For construction, the contribution towards carbon reduction, a key facet of the SDG’s, is well evidenced, but much of the research has focussed on what happens above ground.  This project will focus on the benefits that could be realised from the ground engineering sector; which includes geotechnical solutions such as heavy foundations and ground improvement.

4. SURREY NATURE PARTNERSHIP:

At Blackwell and through using the ancient woodlands as an anchor for a wider environmental project, we have a unique opportunity. This Practitioner Doctorate in Sustainability project will develop significant knowledge and insight, and publish results of environmental and social research for the benefit of the development and the (new and existing) local communities.  The post holder will engage with professional environmental bodies (local and national), local and regional government, research and academic colleagues at the University of Surrey and the nearby local community, who would also have full involvement and engagement with the project and its outcomes.

The deadline for applications is between 21^st May and end of July. 

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