Community and Communication Sharing the goal of energy, food and water security.
This is an opportunity to make a difference with likeminded colleagues.”
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he University of Sheffield is developing a worldwide profile for its commitment to taking a leading role in international debates about sustainability – how we create and maintain the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony. A major donation of £2.6 million by the US-based Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment has now established the Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures, which is connecting the science of sustainability with policy debate and advocacy. “This donation has given us permission to come out from under the academic carapace,” explained Professor Tony Ryan OBE, Pro-Vice-Chancellor – Faculty of Science and Director of the Grantham Centre. “In addition to the design and delivery of solutions for sustainability challenges, we are engaged in policy and opinion-forming, providing evidence-based views of what the world should look like in the context of a sustainable future.” The first cohort of 11 Grantham Scholars started their interdisciplinary PhD research projects in October 2014. They combine outstanding intellect with a strong commitment to public engagement, leadership and action, and are supported by a unique training programme, designed to equip them with the skills to become policy advocates and leaders. Monica Ortiz is from the Philippines and her PhD focuses on the impact of climate change on crop yields in Europe. She said, “The project I applied for at the Grantham Centre appealed to my interest in interdisciplinary work on food
18 YOUR UNIVERSITY | 2015/2016
security and climate change. I really enjoy being one of the first Scholars. This is an opportunity to make a difference with likeminded colleagues who I think will be my future research partners and collaborators.” James Thackery, whose PhD – The Big Seed Sunshine Project – concerns increasing seed yields in crops, commented, “All PhDs will teach you to communicate with your academic peers, but today this is often not enough, and researchers must be able to tell the public how their work can help. Grantham Scholars are trained in communication with both the public and with each other. In a sense we are learning several dialects, and it forces you to reconsider what you think is ‘basic knowledge’.” Professor Colin Osborne, Associate Director of the Grantham Centre, added, “All our Grantham Scholars take part in a weekly Journal Club, and our online blog gives them the opportunity to introduce topics to a wide audience. These provoke a great deal of debate and include subjects such as gender, climate change and food security, and a hearing of the Fabian Commission on Food and Poverty held at the University. Our Scholars are incredibly enthusiastic about this type of engagement. “We are going on this journey together – professors, lecturers and PhD students. We are all taking part in training in how to engage with parliament, provided by the University’s Crick Centre for the public understanding of politics, and we are all actively involved in discussing the strategy and direction of the Grantham Centre. It’s exciting to look forward to the next cohort
