Council UK
Summer School 2024
**Important notice**
We are sorry to announce that the AUC's Summer School's groundbreaking tour of agriculture has been postponed to 2025. Further details will be available soon.
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​What is the Summer School all about?
As part of our Future Agricultural Researchers Series, we are giving 25 bright students interested in agriculture the opportunity to experience a once-in-a-lifetime week long tour of food and farming. You'll meet researchers and entrepreneurs at the cutting-edge of innovation, and tours of farms seeing how they produce in the face of changing climate and policy environments.
Best of all, it's free! You'll just need to get yourself there for the start, and home again at the end.
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When and where
From Monday 9th to Friday 13th September 2024 (POSTPONED).
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The Summer School will start in central London and finish in Swindon near the train station to enable accessible travel home.
Details
The Tour
Starting on Monday at the beautiful historic Royal Society in London, you'll hear from policymakers and farming experts over lunch, before heading off to see and learn from:
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world-leading research institutions, including seeing the longest continuously running agricultural experiment
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the movements in regenerative and environmental farming
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real farms, across different systems, scales and approaches
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AUC universities such as Nottingham, Harper Adams and Royal Agricultural University, looking at smart farming, robotics, horticulture, and farmer-centred design of innovation
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policymakers and funders of food and farming research on the priorities and challenges faced by the sector
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expert evening speakers on a range of important topics
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Students will present what they have learned on the last day to an audience of experts, leaders from the UK's public funders, and policymakers, answering the question:
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‘What is the role of science in improving food security in the context of nature and climate crises?’
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Eligibility
Below are the eligibility requirements for those looking to apply for a place on the tour.​
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Applicants must be:
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either a) students approaching their final year of undergraduate/Bachelors study in September 2024, b) currently undertaking a Masters, or c) finishing their undergraduate/Bachelor/Masters studies in 2024.
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registered at a UK university or research institution in 2024.
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interested in food and farming, and enthusiastic to learn more.
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considering pursuing a PhD.
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able to complete the application form below and submit all the required supporting information (including a letter of support).
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expecting or obtaining grades consistent with eligibility for PhD programmes (usually Bachelor's (honours) degree at 2:1 or above).
The future of agriculture needs bright enquiring minds from across all areas of society to meet the challenges it faces.
Applicants for this immersive experience may apply from any discipline, and we welcome applications from across all higher education subjects.
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How to apply
Please complete the application form below.
Read the guidance carefully as it will help you gather all the information you need to be considered for this opportunity.
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Applicant guidance (pdf download)
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Deadline
Extended to 5pm 19th July (POSTPONED)
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Applicants will be notified in mid July.
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Enquiries
For informal enquiries about this opportunity, please use this contact form here.
Supported by
We are thankful to the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation UK and the AgriFood Charities Partnership for funding the Summer School.
The project is supported by CEIA with the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust.