Summer School 2025
In June 2025, over one of the hottest weeks of the year, 26 students took part in a week-long tour, showcasing all a research career in agriculture has to offer.
The undergrad and masters students faced tough competition to secure their place. They came from universities across the UK and disciplines across STEM and beyond - even including one on a performing arts degree. But what they all had in common was an interest in pursuing a PhD in food and farming.
The Summer School was part of AUC’s Future Agricultural Researchers programme, which focuses on nurturing research talent in agricultural disciplines. The programme was born from AUC’s 2023 Research Strategy, which identified that the numbers of PhDs trained across our sector had stalled in recent years, and how the sector needed diverse ideas and skills coming into research to meet the challenges agriculture is facing.
The hope is that these 26 students will go on to pursue impactful PhDs and careers, and influence their peers on the importance of food and farming.
The tour
The week was designed to expose students to the breadth of opportunities in food, farming, and agricultural research. Over the course of the intensive, immersive programme, students visited leading academic researchers and innovative farming businesses. A round-up of the tour is included below:
Day One
The Summer School launched at the Royal Society in London, before the group headed to Rothamsted for a tour of the world's longest running experiment Broadbalk, and their extensive sample archive, both dating back to the 1840s. The day ended with a pub dinner and introduction to regenerative agriculture with the founders of Groundswell.
Day Two
The second day focused on supply chain and innovation at scale with a tour of G’s Growers in the morning, and talks from AgriTechE and BBRO in the afternoon.
Day Three
The objective of this day was to dig into the link between science and the farm, with a tour of the Allerton Project in the morning and both the Hounsfield Facility and dairy farm at Nottingham’s Sutton Bonnington Campus.
Day Four
The penultimate day of the summer school was all about impact. It started with a farm walk of the practical innovation and learning happening at Green Acres Farm, followed by a talk from Harper Adams, and finished at the Royal Agricultural University discussing how farmers can work with scientists to generate relevant research and innovation.
Day Five
The final day of the tour gave the students an opportunity to share what they had learned. They gave presentations to an audience of AUC academics, funders, and their peers on the role of science in improving food security in the context of nature and climate crisis.
A resounding success
Every student who took part in the Summer School found it beneficial.
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100% of students said they would recommend the AUC Summer School to others.
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100% of students agreed (8%) or strongly agreed (92%) that being part of the group during the tour was of benefit to them.
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Crucially, many students described the experience as inspiring and influential in shaping their future career plans, and several expressed an increased motivation to apply for agricultural PhDs as a direct result of their participation.
Supported by
We are thankful to the Sylvia Waddilove Foundation UK and the AgriFood Charities Partnership for funding the Summer School.
The project was supported by CEIA with the Elizabeth Creak Charitable Trust.
