We prepare the sustainability leaders of the future through the Grantham Scholar training programme.
There are many paths to a sustainable future, but they all require social, cultural and political change. New research is essential, but it’s not enough on its own. We need experts from across disciplines to be able to advocate for the environment.
And our aim at the Grantham Centre is to foster these advocates: the sustainability leaders of the future.
In order to do this, the Grantham Centre funds and creates a special training programme. This training provides Grantham Scholars with the expertise to advocate for evidence-based change.
We have identified key areas of expertise, for example research skills, policy engagement, and interdisciplinary working. These core areas form the basis of our training. We also cover business and enterprise, public engagement, media engagement, and leadership.
Overall, our goal is to offer a unique PhD experience and a range of interesting opportunities. As a result, Grantham Scholars graduate with a valuable set of skills for their careers in sustainability.
Here are some examples of the training we provide. If you have any questions about training at the Grantham Centre then please contact the programme creator Deborah Beck.
Methods@Sheffield introduces Grantham Scholars to the multidisciplinary perspective needed for a sustainable future. Over the course of a week early in their training, each Grantham Scholar will learn about and present a talk on another Scholar’s work. And the whole cohort meets to hear the presentations, giving them an overview of all the work going on around them and why it matters to sustainability.
Find out more: Methods@Sheffield
Grantham Scholars present their work in an informal setting. This is an opportunity for everyone to get together and talk about subjects of shared interest, and to see what everyone else is doing.
Find out more: Multidisciplinary knowledge exchange and cake
This is a monthly reading group led by supervisors and Grantham Scholars. Journal Club develops the ability to engage with research and researchers from other disciplines. Plus it trains Scholars in how to present their work in a way that can be understood by non-experts.
Find out more: Sustainable intensification of agriculture at Journal Club by Monica Ortiz
Our Annual Symposium is a conference to share sustainability research from across the University of Sheffield. Through talks, posters, external guests and TUoS academics, it is designed to challenge the audience with perspectives from multiple disciplines.
Find out more: Symposium 2022: Towards climate justice
The Young Entrepreneurs Scheme develops business awareness and entrepreneurship in UK postgraduates and postdoctoral researchers. With support from the Grantham Centre, entrants prepare a business plan for a hypothetical company. Previous Grantham Scholars have been members of both the winning team and runners up.
Find out more: Grantham Scholars win YES finance prize
Scholars organise a series of public discussions with Festival of Debate. Scholars are supported by Deborah Beck and Jana Green to organise, run and promote their talks. As well as giving experience in organising events, these sessions are an opportunity to hear what people outside the university think about sustainability issues.
Find out more: Festival of Debate 2022: Grantham Centre climate events
This training makes the case for an empathetic approach to lobbying MPs and introduces Grantham Scholars to key principles applicable in their own work. Local climate change charity Hope for the Future run this training.
Find out more: Hope for the Future: Grantham Centre training
Do you have a PhD student at the University of Sheffield who could be a Grantham Scholar?
Find out how to apply, what we offer, and what to expect.
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Main image is by Jana Green and shows Grantham Scholars and Centre Manager Deborah Beck during induction.