University of Hull to lead major partnership addressing coastal resilience

The University of Hull is leading a new doctoral research partnership to help build healthier, more water-resilient coastal communities, in the face of environmental and climate change.

The Living Well with Water Doctoral Focal Award from UK Research and Innovation will see the University partner with the University of Liverpool, the National Trust, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) (RGS) and Tate Liverpool. It builds on the University’s reputation for research supporting the resilience of UK coastal communities.

Living Well with Water will host 39 PhD studentships over the next seven years. Doctoral researchers will tackle water-related risks including flooding, pollution and coastal erosion to improve community wellbeing and water resilience, and will work with partners to widen access to and understanding of coastal culture and heritage. The award represents a significant investment in the future of challenge-led arts and humanities research.

Stewart Mottram, Professor of Literature and Environment at the University of Hull is Consortium lead. He said: “Water is central to life, but living with water is becoming increasingly challenging for many communities on the coast, or near major rivers and estuaries. Our work with these communities, and with our partners, will improve wellbeing, water resilience, and the cultural and heritage economies of some of the most disadvantaged UK regions. 

Each partner will bring specific strengths: the National Trust cares for over 890 miles of UK coastline; the Royal Geographical Society holds archives from centuries of coastal exploration and research; and Tate Liverpool has an iconic dockside location on the river Mersey and an artistic programme that frequently speaks to the history and present-day reality of their site.

Harry Bowell, Director of Land and Nature at the National Trust said: “With 43% of rivers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland flowing through land in our care, and over 890 miles of coastline, our relationship with water plays a key role for the National Trust. This award weaves together our interests in people, history and nature and means we can work with the next generation of researchers to draw on the rich heritage of our places to develop new ways of understanding, looking after and sharing the waterscapes in our care as we work to restore nature, inspire millions and increase access.”

The new Living Well with Water Consortium will equip the next generation of researchers for careers within and outside of academia. The National Trust and RGS will co-host studentships to address specific challenges. With additional input from Tate Liverpool, the training programme will also include placements and residencies for all students.

Dr Catherine Souch, Director Research, Education, Professional at the Royal Geographical Society said: “Through placements and research on our historic Collections, this is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the heritage of communities living in the UK’s green-blue regions today. For the RGS, this is central to our work to open up our Collections in ways that are collaborative, creative, and culturally meaningful for the communities involved.”

The Living Well with Water Consortium is the only Doctoral Focal Award supported by both the Arts and Humanities Research Council and Natural Environment Research Council, recognising that environmental and climate change are complex challenges which need joined up solutions.

Arts and Humanities Research Council Executive Chair, Professor Christopher Smith said: “The Focal Awards exemplify AHRC’s approach to doctoral training and our ambition for a sustainable portfolio providing support for training, investigator-led research, strategic direction and building the infrastructure necessary for people and ideas for the future of arts and humanities.”

Recruitment will begin in Autumn 2025 for our first cohort of doctoral students, who will embark upon their research from September 2026.