Sustainability is the crucial factor in the future of the UK's chemistry-using industries with all companies sharing the vision of lower carbon footprints and reduced use of precious resources. However this sustainability can only be achieved if industry can recruit the right people. This CDT addresses the shortage of PhD graduates who have the skills needed to implement sustainable technologies. We will provide co-ordinated interdisciplinary training to produce a new generation of innovative PhD scientists and engineers with the skills needed by industry. Using the strong collaboration between Chemistry and Engineering at Nottingham as a springboard, we will launch a much wider integrated partnership involving chemistry, engineering, food science, and business to create more sustainable processes and compounds for the chemistry-using industries. This approach is strongly endorsed by our industrial partnerships, developed over many years, including companies from the major chemistry-using sectors.
The demand for chemistry knowledge, skills, technologies and training will grow dramatically in the period 2015-2030 to meet the global challenges of healthcare and better medicines for an ageing population, safer agrochemicals to aid food production for an increasing population, and the need for ever smarter advanced materials for new and energy efficient technologies.
However, chemical manufacturing is demanding in terms of use of energy and natural resources, as well as its impact on the environment, and consumes far more resource than is sustainable. Hence there is a need to develop new chemical and manufacturing solutions that are safe, efficient and, above all, sustainable. Sustainability is the issue facing the entire global chemicals industry, and our vision is to train a new generation of scientists to find innovative "green" resource and energy efficient solutions that have the lowest possible environmental impact, demonstrate social responsibility, and make a positive contribution to economic growth.
Our proposed EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Sustainable Chemistry at Nottingham, will be highly interdisciplinary. It will not only capitalise on the strong links between Chemistry and Engineering, but will also reach into the Biosciences, Food Science and the Business School. The CDT builds upon our international track record in green chemistry, and will develop Nottingham's unique combination of skills and technologies in synthetic methodology, green chemistry, materials science, biotransformations, microwave technologies, food science, supply chains and business development, combined with high level commercial input through our very significant industrial involvement.
Our CDT will provide world class training and our PhD graduates will have a full understanding of the sustainability impact of their work, with consideration for its wider environmental, societal and economic benefits. Our training framework, will produce "industry ready" PhDs who will have an excellent understanding of sustainability for the chemicals sector. These industries are well aware of the major issues, and they need new solutions and a new generation of trained researcher to deliver those solutions. By engaging with industry from an early stage, the CDT will deliver PhD training that addresses these concerns.
The CDT will be based in an iconic new building, the UK's first Carbon Neutral Laboratory. This unique facility will provide a sustainable and energy efficient working environment that we hope will help inspire, motivate and ultimately deliver PhD graduates with a much better set of skills to minimise environmental impact and build sustainability into their work. The CDT will also serve as a global hub to visiting researchers wishing to develop expertise in sustainable chemistry, and to engage the public through Nottingham's unrivalled outreach activities such as the The Periodic Table of Videos.
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