 |
 |
PhD Studentship Air Quality and Environmental Justice in the North East Transport Operations Research Group Newcastle University This PhD research programme is embedded in the SECURE (Self Conserving Urban Environments) project funded by EPSRC within their Sustainable Urban Environment (SUE) programme. The SECURE project is a collaborative project between the Universities of Newcastle, Loughborough and Sheffield and has the vision: ...............to deliver a step change in thinking by enabling integration of resource-supply-demand-waste systems across city-to-regional scales to create scientifically informed, strategic, integrated policies and planning driven by efficient transport; use of land as a resource; using waste as an asset; microgeneration of energy and upscaling Systems management from a local/city to regional level. SECURE will foster a region where its people gain optimal benefits from their natural environments, reduce their demands and unsustainable consumption patterns and thus move to a low carbon high efficiency economy. This PhD is a complementary research programme which will address the wider social and economic aspect of air quality to deliver environmental justice of the integrated policies emanating from SECURE. The research student will be fully engaged with the SECURE research team and will contribute to the formulation and use of the model frameworks and scenarios designed to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by year 2050 from the 1990 levels. The research, more specifically will quantify across the North East the environmental impacts of the Base Case scenario 2011 and the Local Transport Plans for 2016 and subsequently to consider an interim transition for 2030 in consultation with the stakeholders. The topic necessitates interaction between disciplines such as transport, air quality and social sciences. The candidate should be positive about multi-disciplinary research and have a strong interest in sustainability and the motivation and interest to explore the linkages between environment, social and economic impacts. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate an appetite for research and potential to develop a range of research methods and skills. This PhD project is expected to produce a robust air quality model framework to test the environmental justice of planned land use and transport scenarios across a region. The ability to assess social and environmental justice of the proposed SECURE Integrated Policies will provide the dimension of equity to be addressed in Government policies (e.g. DaSTS – Delivering a Sustainable Transport System). Start date: As soon as possible or by 1st January 2011 Application deadline: 20th October 2010 Funding Eligibility: Tuition fees will be paid at current UK/EU rates. A maintenance grant will also be paid for 2010/2011 which is £13,590. The studentship will be fully funded by EPSRC (www.epsrc.ac.uk). Supervisors: Dr Anil Namdeo, Senior Lecturer in Trans and Sustainability ([log in to unmask]) Professor Margaret Bell, Science City Professor of Transport and Environment ([log in to unmask]) Transport Operations Research Group (TORG) School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Newcastle University Cassie Building Claremont Road Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU