New doctoral programme - global life and environmental challenges

A new doctoral training initiative, the Interdisciplinary Life and Environmental Science Landscape Award (ILESLA), has been launched to address pressing societal and environmental challenges. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) are funding the programme, which will run from 2025 to 2033.

Led by the University of Oxford, the programme brings together an esteemed consortium of academic and research institutions, including The Open University (OU), Oxford Brookes University, The Pirbright Institute, and the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. The initiative aims to foster a new generation of researchers capable of tackling critical challenges at the intersections of biological and environmental sciences.

A vision for interdisciplinary impact

ILESLA is designed to provide comprehensive interdisciplinary training, bridging gaps across diverse fields such as cellular biology, crop science, climate change, and dynamic Earth processes. The programme will focus on five key thematic areas:

• Climate and Earth: Advancing understanding of climate and Earth systems.
• Biodiversity and Sustainability: Promoting sustainable solutions for food, feed, and energy security, alongside biodiversity conservation.
• Animal and Human Health: Innovating approaches to improve animal and human health outcomes.
• Rules of Life: Exploring fundamental questions about biological organisms and ecosystems.
• Transformative Technologies: Developing cutting-edge tools and technologies to support biological and environmental research.

Prof Francesco Crea of The Open University, who will co-lead the programme, highlighted the importance of this initiative. “This is excellent news for our academics and for our students. We look forward to participating in this inclusive and interdisciplinary research training programme, which will address some of the most pressing societal and environmental challenges.”

Broad access and diverse opportunities

The ILESLA programme is set to accept its first cohort of doctoral students in October 2025, with applications opening in December 2024. Over its eight-year span, it will accommodate five intakes, offering aspiring researchers the opportunity to work across a wide array of disciplines and institutions.

Prof Neil Edwards of The Open University underscored the inclusive nature of the initiative, stating, “ILESLA promises to provide fantastic opportunities for interdisciplinary training and research collaboration. The OU’s involvement will help expand its reach, making the training accessible to students from a much wider range of backgrounds.”

This accessibility aligns with the programme’s broader mission of fostering diversity in research and ensuring that underrepresented groups have pathways into cutting-edge scientific careers.

Building the future of science

ILESLA’s collaborative framework, which integrates the expertise of multiple leading institutions, positions it as a model for modern research training programmes. By equipping researchers with interdisciplinary skills and fostering innovation across biological and environmental sciences, the programme aims to drive progress in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and health crises.

As preparations begin for the inaugural cohort, the ILESLA initiative signals a transformative step forward in interdisciplinary education and research. Prospective students and collaborators are encouraged to monitor upcoming announcements and opportunities tied to this landmark program