Exciting PhD Opportunity in Marine Planning Across Borders – University of Swansea

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Exciting PhD Opportunity in Marine Planning Across Borders – University of Swansea.

PhD Title – Navigating the Politics of Cross-border Conservation of Coastal habitat (C3) 

Description

Conservation and restoration of coastal habitat boosts flood protection, food security, and the wellbeing of communities. Unlike humans, coastlines do not abide by political jurisdictions. Coastal habitats are naturally dynamic, capable of expanding and contracting in response to both natural and human drivers that operate across scales of space and time. This dynamism challenges conservation planning, where rigid socio-political and flexible ecological borders intersect. Like the drivers of coastal change, socio-political borders also intersect local, national, and international scales, and may be more or less visible (such as ones between nations versus ones within communities). Understanding how coastal dynamics and socio-political borders positively and negatively affect coastal environmental planning remains an important research gap.

This timely PhD project will identify bottlenecks to effective cross-border conservation planning of coastal habitat in the large estuaries that span national borders in the British Isles (namely the Scottish-English border [Solway Firth], Welsh-English border [Severn and Dee estuaries], and the Northern Ireland-Republic of Ireland border [Carlingford Lough]) to support people and nature.

Research in practice placement: WGSSS funded students are required to complete a funded Research in Practice placement of 3 months in total. All students will have the opportunity to complete a placement in academia, policy, business or civil society organisations. 

Click here for more information about this fully funded PhD – The studentship funded by the ESRC covers tuition fees, an annual tax-free living stipend of in line with UKRI minimum rates (currently £19,237 for 2024/25).

The deadline for submitting an application is 19th April with a start date of 1st October. The studentship is open to UK and international students, and is based in Swansea.