nottingham | Scholarship for Nigerians and Africans

PhD Studentship in Consumers and Possessions: A Cross-Disciplinary Exploration of Sustainable Practices, UK

The School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University has an ambitious development strategy which allows us to offer an exciting opportunity for a PhD Studentship. The studentships will pay UK/EU fees and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (£13,590 per annum for 2011/12) for up to three years. The need to enhance understanding of human behaviour in order to progress towards sustainable patterns of consumption is well recognised, as is evidence that design of our possessions and surroundings locks us into particular forms of behaviour. This is a cross-disciplinary studentship involving research into how people use their possessions and the built environment with regard to sustainability and the implications of this for design practice. One of its key elements will be to relate knowledge in sustainable architecture, sustainable fashion and sustainable product design.
Our past research has found evidence of inconsistent behaviour among consumers with regard to their influence upon the environmental impact of different products. Further research is needed to explain these inconsistencies and the University’s Sustainable Consumption Research Group is currently planning a series of cross-disciplinary seminars. These will explore the use of buildings, clothing, household goods and vehicles and consider factors that may lead them to be used in a sustainable manner and reasons for inconsistencies in user behaviour. Other research at the University has proposed a theoretical case for addressing the effect of the material form of products on people’s behaviour. The University’s OPEN Research Group (Objects, Practices, Experiences and Networks) is currently running a series of events through which different perspectives on materials and materiality are being explored. The output of these two initiatives will underpin this studentship, which is intended to enhance understanding of pro-environmental behaviour change.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 15 April 2011.

Further Scholarship Information and Application

PhD Studentship in Innovation in the UK Construction Industry, UK

The School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University has an ambitious development strategy which allows us to offer an exciting opportunity for a PhD Studentship. The studentships will pay UK/EU fees and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (£13,590 per annum for 2011/12) for up to three years. Whilst there is an established need to improve the efficiency and sustainability of buildings the adoption of innovative products and processes supporting this need appears to be at a relatively low level. There seems to be very little incentive in the supply chain to encourage innovation without regulation.
Compared with manufacturing industries investment in research and development in the construction industry is relatively small and appears to be restricted largely to the engagement by product manufacturers in product improvement. Whilst there appears to be an increasing range of valuable and impressive innovative products and/or processes which are developed, the level of integration of these products in new buildings seems limited. Many of these products relate to the work usually carried out by specialist firms who have limited access to, or engagement with, the design team for a project.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 15 April 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application

PhD Studentship in Innovation in the UK Construction Industry, UK

The School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment at Nottingham Trent University has an ambitious development strategy which allows us to offer an exciting opportunity for a PhD Studentship. The studentships will pay UK/EU fees and provide a maintenance stipend linked to the RCUK rate (£13,590 per annum for 2011/12) for up to three years. Whilst there is an established need to improve the efficiency and sustainability of buildings the adoption of innovative products and processes supporting this need appears to be at a relatively low level. There seems to be very little incentive in the supply chain to encourage innovation without regulation.
Compared with manufacturing industries investment in research and development in the construction industry is relatively small and appears to be restricted largely to the engagement by product manufacturers in product improvement. Whilst there appears to be an increasing range of valuable and impressive innovative products and/or processes which are developed, the level of integration of these products in new buildings seems limited. Many of these products relate to the work usually carried out by specialist firms who have limited access to, or engagement with, the design team for a project.

Scholarship Application Deadline: 15 April 2011

Further Scholarship Information and Application