Project title: Evaluating arts-science collaborations for nature recovery
SENSS/CAM Institution: Anglia Ruskin University (with Goldsmiths, University of London)
Primary supervisor: Dr Sarah Royston, Senior Research Fellow, Global Sustainability Institute.
Second supervisor: Dr Ros Gray, Reader, Fine Art, Critical Studies.
Collaborative partner(s): Natural England, Cordelia Spalding,
Senior Specialist for Public Engagement.
SENSS/CAM Theme: Sustainability & Climate Emergency
Degree structure: The structure of the studentship offered will depend on your personal training needs. However, the minimum duration of a SENSS-funded studentship will be 3.5 years: this covers a PhD and a mandatory placement of approximately 3 months. The maximum duration of a studentship will be 4.5 years: this covers a Masters degree followed by a PhD, as well as the mandatory 3-month placement.
Project aims and objectives
This project addresses the question: What rigorous methods can be developed to evaluate the impacts of arts-science collaborations for nature recovery in England?
Addressing this question could involve objectives (specific questions) such as:
What types of arts-science collaborations are currently addressing nature recovery goals? Who are their key funders, participants and audiences?
What types of evaluation evidence are (not) valued by these key actors? What gaps in “legitimate” evidence currently limit the long-term sustainability of these collaborations?
What new evaluation methods can be developed to meet key actors’ evidence needs, and to expand their understandings of valid evidence?
What lessons can be drawn to strengthen policy and practice in the field of arts-science for nature recovery (for example, to support sustainable business models for arts-science collaborations?)
However, the postgraduate researcher will be actively involved in co-designing the objectives based on their own priorities and interests.
Project background
Arts-science collaborations can have transformative impacts, challenging norms and holding space for different ways of working to interact. When used as part of nature-recovery initiatives, they can support people’s nature-connectedness and wellbeing, including for marginalised groups.
There is fast-growing interest in arts-science collaborations for nature recovery, with creative projects implemented by the Arts Council, NHS, Wellcome Trust, and Forestry England, among others.
However, evaluation of these kinds of projects is often patchy, with artists, scientists and other participants having very different understandings of “legitimate” evidence. Better evaluation methods would help initiatives demonstrate their value, and support more sustainable business models for arts-science programmes.
In exploring arts-science initiatives for nature recovery, this project builds on exciting work by LEAP Lab: Living Experiments in Arts-Science Practice and Natural England (see: A role for the creative sector in protecting environmental sites).
Essential and/or desirable attributes/skills
We are seeking a postgraduate researcher to play an active part in our inclusive and supportive research community. This includes practising our values of:
Inclusion
We welcome and learn from different perspectives, creating opportunities for everyone to belong and succeed. We celebrate the diversity of our students and staff, recognising that inclusion - where everyone is seen, heard and respected - strengthens how we learn, work, and lead.
Integrity
We act with honesty, fairness, and kindness, guided by clear principles and a deep sense of responsibility for people and the planet. We remain committed to doing what’s right, even when it is not the easiest path.
Collaboration
We work in genuine partnership across our communities, connecting students, staff and partners to share ideas, make decisions, address challenges and shape our collective future. By working closely together we strengthen outcomes and impact and build a more connected university.
Ambition
We are motivated by progress and a commitment to excellence. Through innovation, curiosity, and determination, we drive positive change for our students, our university, and the communities we serve.
The supervisors especially encourage people from groups who are under-represented in academia to apply.
Training opportunities
A comprehensive package of training will be agreed in consultation with the supervisors. Elements of training will be provided by the supervisors, Natural England and by other providers.
As well as introductory training at ARU, the postgraduate researcher will have access to advanced training via the Cambridge Research Methods programme (for example on Case Studies in Research; Qualitative Interviewing; Collaborative Research; and Elite and Expert Interviews in Social Science).
The postgraduate researcher will be based within ARU’s lively Global Sustainability Institute, which offers many informal development opportunities; e.g. a lunchtime seminar series; a monthly writing day; two annual team away days and occasional funded residential retreats.
The postgraduate researcher will be offered a placement within Natural England, to develop professional skills and networks in the environmental sector.
Entry requirements
You will need a Bachelor degree or equivalent with first or upper second-class honours, in a related subject area.
If English is not your first language, you will require a minimum IELTS score of 6.5, with a minimum of 5.5 in each component (or equivalent test). If you do not meet our English language requirements, ARU offer a range of courses which could help you achieve the level required for entry.
You will need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your research programme.
About the studentship
An ESRC-funded PhD studentship with SENSS and CAM-DTP provides:
Tuition fees for the duration of the studentship up to the value of the home fee rate for all students; international students are welcome to apply and will not be expected to use their own resources to pay tuition fees at the international rate.
Please note that international students applying to Anglia Ruskin University must have additional scholarships in place to cover the difference between home and international fees before the SENSS-CAM interviews take place in early February 2027;
An annual tax-free stipend (salary) at the UKRI rate (£21,805 in 2026-27 for full-time students), and a contribution towards research and training costs;
A personalised training programme, to develop research, communication, employability and personal skills;
Support to carry out a required three-month placement with an academic or non-academic partner during the course of the studentship.
The studentship award will be a minimum of 3.5 years up to a maximum of 4.5 years. The length of the award will depend on whether the successful applicant has appropriate skills for the project, as well as general social science research methods training as set out in the ESRC Postgraduate Training Guidelines.
ESRC’s academic and residential eligibility requirements will apply for this scheme.
Studentship details
Studentships are advertised as being between +3.5 and +4.5-year (1+3.5, 2+2.5, +4.5) awards. The standard length of an ESRC-funded studentship is +3.5. This includes the standard +3 PhD, plus an +0.25 (one term) for the integrated placement which you must take as part of your studentship, and a further additional +0.25 (one term) to enable you to undertake training relevant to your research project (including career progression). All studentships are offered on either a full-time or part-time basis.
The studentship award covers your university fees up to the home rate and provides you with a stipend (£21,805 for 2026/27). You will also be able to apply for additional funding via the SENSS Research Training Support Grant to support your training needs.
Residential eligibility
All applicants, whether Home or International, are eligible for a full award, that is, you will receive a stipend (salary) and you will not have to pay any university tuition fees during your studentship award.
How to apply for this studentship
To be considered for this SENSS-CAM studentship, candidates should apply via HEIApply by 9am GMT on Wednesday 6 January 2027. No extensions to this deadline will be permitted.
For a studentship within a CAM-DTP institution, candidates will also need to have applied for a place to study at the host university by the same deadline, in order to be eligible for consideration of funding. Please go to Sustainability PhD for information on how to make your application for a place to study at Anglia Ruskin University.
Applicants must read the SENSS-CAM Collaborative Studentship Application Guidance notes before completing the HEIApply application form and these are available on our websites: https://www.senss.ac.uk/senss-cam-studentship-competition and https://www.cam-dtp.ac.uk/senss-cam-dtp-studentships/.
Enquiries:
For enquiries about this research project, please email: Dr Sarah Royston, Anglia Ruskin University, sarah.royston@aru.ac.uk.
For enquiries related to your eligibility for this studentship, and/or the application process, please email the ARU Research Admissions team at research-admissions@aru.ac.uk.
About SENSS
The South and East Network for Social Sciences (SENSS) is a consortium formed of eight leading UK universities, all of which are engaged in cutting-edge social science research and training. The SENSS consortium members are:
City St George’s, University of London
Cranfield University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Middlesex University
University of East Anglia
University of Essex (the co-ordinating institution)
University of Lincoln
University of Roehampton
SENSS offers a world-class inter-disciplinary PhD research and training environment. It is committed to supporting its internationally recognised researchers and to producing the next generation of talented social scientists. SENSS has been accredited as a prestigious Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), the national body which funds research and training in economic and social issues.
We pride ourselves on our rigorous doctoral training programme, making the most of our members’ diverse specialisms and offering our students a wide array of subject specific as well as advanced training opportunities. SENSS offers high-calibre supervision, driven by our members’ emphasis on formal training and research culture.
For further information about SENSS, please visit the SENSS website
About CAM-DTP
The CAM Doctoral Training Partnership [DTP] is a consortium between Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), the University of Bedfordshire (UoB) and the University of Cambridge (UoC).
Its collective environment of excellent research and impact is an ideal complement for the interdisciplinary training of diverse social scientists. CAM-DTP PhD students will join a hub for regional change addressing key societal challenges and the DTP is keen to attract talented doctoral researchers from a wide range of backgrounds. www.cam-dtp.ac.uk