About CDT SuMMeR

About the Centre for Doctoral Training in Sustainable Management of UK Marine Resources
Plymouth Sound - Foreshore looking out to sea

The Centre for Doctoral Training SuMMeR has been designed to deliver the next generation of innovative transdisciplinary engaged researchers, solution providers and practitioners needed to support governmental and non-governmental sectors to ensure sustainable management of our marine resources.

The research foci of CDT SuMMeR will be:

  • Building resilient marine and coastal social-ecological systems (example sub-themes: coastal protection, adaptation, nature-based solutions, marine risk and insurance);
  • Delivering Net Zero and energy security (mitigation, offshore renewables, blue carbon);
  • Integrating ocean and human health (marine pollution, blue health, blue food, food and nutritional security, coastal communities);
  • Enabling biodiversity gains (Marine protected areas (MPAs), restoration, rewilding, conservation of biodiversity outside of MPAs);
  • Future-smart marine governance, policy and law (inclusive institutions, scenarios, marine spatial planning, decision support tools, modelling, marine citizenship, human values into decision-making);
  • Fostering a sustainable and just blue economy (natural capital accounting, circular ocean economy, human rights, distributive justice, sustainable transitions and financing);
  • Marine technology and exploration (autonomy, monitoring, citizen science, media/communication).

Delivering excellent and integrated training and research

The CDT SuMMeR's bespoke programme leverages an excellent track-record in multi- inter- and transdisciplinary research and training across our partnership.

Challenging research
  • Resilient marine systems
  • Net zero and energy security
  • Ocean and human health
  • Biodiversity gains
  • Future-smart governance
  • Sustainable Blue Economy
  • Marine tech and exploration

Core training (years 1-2)
In our core training programme we have 3 modules that all students will take:
Module 1: Being inter-disciplinary: Students will develop a clear understanding of what it means to be an interdisciplinary scientist (conceptually, methodologically and in practice)
Module 2: Building evidence: Training will be provided in the of state-of-the-art frameworks and tools, including natural capital accounting and others, to develop expertise in building robust scientific evidence.
Module 3: Delivering impact: Students will build knowledge of how policy and governance work across the devolved administrations of the UK, and will develop competence in research engagement and impact.
Advanced training
The core training programme is enhanced through advanced optional training closely aligned with students’ doctoral research in the core challenge areas outlined. This ranges from training in applied marine spatial ecology to blue health to marine economics and law, and includes advanced methods and data analysis.
Data analysis, isotopes, biogeochemistry, marine spatial ecology, operational fisheries and aquaculture science, ecosystem services, health and wellbeing, marine economics, and law.

More information about SuMMeR

Aerial view of Plymouth Sound