New Industrial Doctorate Centre for the Water Sector Launched

A new engineering doctorate centre focused on tackling critical issues in the water sector was recently launched.

The Stream Industrial Doctorate Centre for the Water Sector, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and contributions from industrial sponsors, allows exciting opportunities for collaboration between companies working in the water sector and the leading water engineering research groups at five UK universities – Cranfield University, the University of Exeter, Imperial College London, Newcastle University, and the University of Sheffield.

Each research project is proposed by a company based on their priorities and future vision for the sector; the company is then matched with the university research group that has the most relevant expertise to contribute. The research topics must be ambitious and aimed at tackling long-term major challenges of the water sector through the application of leading edge science, engineering, and/or management research. Nine collaborative projects were launched in October 2009 and a further fourteen projects were funded in October 2010. Research topics to date have included the impact of climate change on water infrastructure, chemical-free treatment solutions, and real-time monitoring and operational management of water supplies. Industrial partners have included water companies, consultancy firms, and equipment suppliers.

Research engineers enrol on a four-year engineering doctorate (EngD) degree programme and normally spend up to 75% of their time working directly with the industrial sponsor of the project. In the other 25% of their time the research engineers receive bespoke technical and transferable skills / engineering leadership training at the five participating universities, with the primary goal of the centre being to not only conduct important industrially linked research but to also produce the engineering leaders of tomorrow for the water sector.

Further information on sponsorship of projects and the doctorate programme can be found at www.stream-idc.net. New potential industrial sponsors of projects are encouraged to inquire.