geography phd oxford

DPhil in Area Studies

Do you want to learn how to ask and help to answer key questions about some of the most important and exciting regions of the world?

Looking beyond the big picture of globalisation and development, researchers at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies (OSGA) examine the interplay between the local, the national, the regional, and the global to offer a better understanding of the contemporary world. Exploring a broad range of area-specific issues such as urbanisation in China, gender in Japan, sovereignty in East Asia, ethnicity in South Asia, reconciliation in Africa, democracy in Latin America, security in the Middle East, and presidentialism in Russia and Eastern Europe, the School’s students and scholars closely engage with particular problems such as these to bridge gaps in the universalising theories of the social sciences.

If this sparks your interest then our DPhil in Area Studies might be right for you. The School’s DPhil (the name given to the PhD degree at the University of Oxford) is a full-time three year programme of doctoral study, offering the opportunity to undertake a project dedicated to researching a specific country, a particular region, or to examining more than one country or region in a comparative context, using social science approaches whilst also generating theories and propositions that are of value across regions.

How to Apply

• Selection Criteria
• University Application Guide
• Graduate Study at Oxford
• Frequently Asked Questions

Application Deadlines

Applications must be submitted by noon on  Friday 19th January 2024.

Fees and Funding

• ESRC Masters-to-DPhil Studentships
• Information and Search tool
• Fees and Funding webpage
• Aims and Objectives
• Course Overview
• Research Timelines and Milestones

The DPhil in Area Studies aims to empower you to achieve the following learning outcomes:

• Develop research skills in ways that are relevant to the study of areas and regions
• Build an interdisciplinary and/or comparative understanding of different regions
• Undertake original research which makes a significant contribution to the literature
• Communicate research to non-academic audiences in ways that ensure real-world impact
• Present a lucid and scholarly thesis for examination

Throughout your studies, you will be able to draw on the resources offered by the School’s vibrant research community as well as from across the Social Sciences Division and the Language Centre. You will have access to the University’s outstanding library resources and a connection to an unrivalled network of likeminded students, scholars, and practitioners that engage with the work of the School on a day-to-day basis. Complementing a dedicated Research Seminar series designed specifically to support the School’s DPhil cohort in their studies is a huge range of further lectures, workshops and conferences organised by Area Studies academics that overlap with the department’s areas of expertise.

Our doctoral programme is especially distinctive in that it is designed to meet the needs of students seeking particular interdisciplinary approaches to regions of the world, as well as those who perhaps fall between or across disciplinary boundaries.  It also caters for those whose work cuts across a number of fields including history, cultural studies, anthropology, politics, political economy, international relations, environmental studies and development studies.

Candidates for the DPhil will normally be admitted with Probationer Research Student (PRS) status. As a PRS, you will develop your research proposal and skills, and produce a draft section or sections of your thesis in order to apply for the Transfer of Status that will end your probationary period as a research student and give you full DPhil status. Once you have been admitted to full DPhil status, you are expected to complete your studies by the end of your ninth term as a doctoral student.

You will participate in the 1st Year DPhil Seminar Series and you will have the opportunity to attend other courses offered by the School as identified in your Training Needs Analysis, which will be discussed and agreed with your supervisor and reviewed on a regular basis. As a DPhil student at OSGA, you will be assigned one or two supervisors, depending on your thesis subject. These supervisors will advise and guide you as you progress through the different stages of your research.

During year 1, you will focus on developing your research questions, conceptual framework and methodological approaches for your thesis. You should expect to be submitting material for  Transfer of Status  as the academic year comes to an end.

In your second year you will continue to implement your research plan through theoretical engagement and/or  fieldwork , data collection and analysis. If you intend to undertake fieldwork as part of your research, you will be expected to attend a fieldwork safety course available through the Division.

Your third year requires you to participate in at least one conference, in the UK or internationally, presenting your work to a non-specialist audience, and to submit materials for the  Confirmation of Status  as a doctoral researcher, as well as working towards the completion of your thesis.

The final oral examination – the  viva voce  – represents the culmination of the DPhil programme at which specialist examiners explore your subject knowledge and your thesis arguments through in-depth discussion with you to determine whether to grant the award of Doctor of Philosophy.

Doctoral studies

Course details.

• 6 terms based in Oxford

How to apply

Choosing a dphil topic.

Our Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) programme is a 3-year full-time research degree and an integral part of the ECI. Students undertake a range of interdisciplinary and international projects which span the ECI's research interests.

Our students are eligible to receive funding through scholarships and bursaries from a wide range of sources, including research councils, consulates and increasingly from industry.

We are part of the NERC and ESRC Doctoral Training Programmes which offer new students the opportunity to apply for fully-funded doctoral training.

• For details of the NERC Scholarships please see the Oxford Doctoral Training Partnership
• ECI doctoral students may also be eligible for funding from the EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership award to Oxford
• You can explore Oxford University's fees, funding and scholarship search for more information.

ECI doctoral students are admitted to the DPhil in the School of Geography and the Environment and become affiliated to the ECI through supervision or by work on an ECI-funded project.

• Explore School of Geography and the Environment webpages for details on how to apply

Applicants are strongly encouraged to make contact with a potential supervisor from the list of relevant staff members listed on this page. In discussion with the ECI’s research staff you will be able to refine your own ideas and develop a project that we can effectively supervise. Research staff will be happy to discuss potential DPhil topics aligned with the ECI’s research programmes.

Examples of specific research topics

Applicants might like to view our list of specific research topics to consider and discuss further with the relevant staff. This list is not exhaustive, however, if you wish to develop a research topic outside of this list then please feel welcome to contact a relevant member of staff for discussion. These topics do not have funding attached.

ECI supervisors

Home > Teaching > Graduates > Graduate Admissions

Graduate Admissions

Oxford Earth Sciences typically accepts applications for DPhil study via two programmes which reflect different funding sources.  Firstly the NERC Environmental Doctoral Training Programme (DTP), and secondly direct application for projects with other funding sources.  Further information on each is given below.

General information on graduate admissions for the University of Oxford can be found on the main university website .

Direct Application

Students with alternative funding, including scholarships, industry or government backing, or those who are self-funded, can apply directly to the department to study for a DPhil in Earth Sciences.  Those considering this route are advised to contact their prospective supervisor before submitting an application.

To keep up with news and updates from the department, please follow us on Twitter: @OxUniEarthSci .

NERC Doctoral Training Programme (DTP)

The University of Oxford offers a number of NERC-funded doctoral studentships as part of the Doctoral Training Programme.  These studentships support research students across the full remit of NERC’s research portfolio, which includes the full breadth of research activities in Earth Sciences.  Further details on funding and how to apply can be found on the DTP website .

Updates on the DTP can be followed on Twitter: @OxfordEnvRes .

Multiple Applications

You may submit applications for both the DPhil in Earth Sciences and the DTP in Environmental Sciences.  If you are unsure which programme to apply for, it may be appropriate to apply to more than one.  Please contact the Academic Office  with any queries about multiple applications.

DPhil Projects and Supervisors

A list of projects proposed by supervisors can be found here .  Applicants can also devise projects of their own in consultation with potential supervisors.  You must identify one or two potential supervisors and state their names in the ‘proposed supervisor’ field on your application form .

Please ensure you contact the project supervisor or a potential supervisor to discuss your project.  This is essential if you are not applying to a listed project.  A list of Faculty and their contact details can be found here .

Deadlines and Interviews

Generally, applications are made in January, with interviews in February, for study commencing in October.  Some funded opportunities can be available as late as April, and students with their own funding (private, industry or other) may be able to apply still later in the cycle.

Most interviews are held in mid to late February, and typically last about 30 minutes.  Your application will be discussed in detail, and you may expect a challenging conversation.  We hope you find this a stimulating opportunity to discuss your work.

Eligibility

We welcome applications from those with, or working for first degrees, or Masters-level degrees, in

• Earth Sciences
• Mathematics
• Engineering
• other related subjects.

UK/Home students may be eligible for full support through the research councils.  A range of support is available for EU and international students. Further information on funding, scholarships and bursaries, living costs and other financial considerations can be found on the University website .

Please see our Funding page for further details.

Research Council funding for the DTP in Environmental Research is available for 4 years.  Therefore we advise potential candidates to budget for at least 3.5 years when considering a direct entry application.

Please contact the Academic Office with any queries.

Student stories

• Bodleian Libraries
• Oxford LibGuides
• Geography and the Environment
• Theses and Dissertations

Geography and the Environment: Theses and Dissertations

Introduction.

Theses and dissertations are documents that present an author's research findings, which are submitted to the University in support of their academic degree. They are very useful to consult when carrying out your own research because they:

• provide a springboard to scope existing literature
• provide inspiration for the finished product
• show you the evolution of an author's ideas over time
• provide relevant and up-to-date research (for recent theses and dissertations)

On this page you will find guidance on how to search for and access theses and dissertations in the Bodleian Libraries and beyond.

Definitions

Terms you may encounter in your research.

Thesis: In the UK, a thesis is normally a document that presents an author's research findings as part of a doctoral or research programme.

Dissertation: In the UK, a dissertation is normally a document that presents an author's research findings as part of an undergraduate or master's programme.

DPhil: An abbreviation for Doctor of Philosophy, which is an advanced research qualification. You may also see it referred to as PhD.

ORA: The Oxford University Research Archive , an institutional repository for the University of Oxford's research output including digital theses.

Theses and dissertations

• Reading theses and dissertations in the Bodleian Libraries
• SOGE Undergraduate Dissertations
• SOGE MSc Dissertations
• SOGE DPhil Theses
• DPhil Theses outside of Oxford

The Bodleian Libraries collection holds DPhil, MLitt and MPhil theses deposited at the University of Oxford, which you can consult. You may also be interested to read theses and dissertations beyond the University of Oxford, some of which can be read online, or you can request an inter-library loan.

Help with theses and dissertations

To find out more about how to find and access theses and dissertations in the Bodleian Libraries and beyond, we recommend the following:

• Bodleian Libraries theses and dissertations Links to information on accessing the Bodleian Libraries collections of Oxford, UK, US and other international theses.
• Oxford University Research Archive guide
• Help & guidance for digital theses Information on copyright, how to deposit your thesis in ORA and other important matters
• Guide to copyright The Bodleian Libraries' Quick guide to copyright and digital sources.

Prize winning undergraduate dissertations are available in print in the Social Science Library opposite the printing and photocopying room. These start from the year 2000 onwards. Prize winning dissertations from 1979 to 1999 are located offsite but can be ordered to the Social Science Library by searching for the title on SOLO. A full list of the titles is located with the dissertations in the library and is also  here .

Prize winning dissertations from 2019 are also available on the SOGE intranet  here .

There is also a a listing of all non-prize winning dissertations by year from 2003 which includes their abstracts, located by the dissertations. 

BCM, ECM, NSEG & WSPM MSc Dissertations

MSc dissertations with a Distinction are located in the Social Science Library opposite the printer and photocopier room. All dissertations with a Distinction are available in printed format for the years 1995 to 2017. Dissertations from 2018 onwards are only available electronically on the SOGE intranet  here .

DPhil theses in print format are kept off-site at the Bodleian Book Storage Facility. They can be found on SOLO by a keyword search including the word ‘thesis’. Alternatively there is a browseable list by year on the SOGE intranet with links to SOLO  here .

DPhil theses in print format can only be requested to the Weston Library for consultation.

Many of the more recent DPhil theses are also available to read online unless they have an embargo. These are on the university repository,  ORA . The SOGE intranet  browseable list  also includes links to the online full text in ORA where available.

Further information about finding theses, both in Oxford and in other universities can be found  here . 

Depositing your thesis

It is mandatory for students completing a research degree at the University of Oxford (registered to a programme of study on or after 1st October 2007) to deposit an electronic copy of their theses with the Oxford University Research Archive (ORA) in order to meet the requirements of their award. To find out more, visit the Oxford University Research Archive guide.

• << Previous: Databases
• Last Updated: Feb 21, 2024 10:17 AM
• URL: https://libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/geography

Website feedback

Accessibility Statement - https://visit.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/accessibility

Google Analytics - Bodleian Libraries use Google Analytics cookies on this web site. Google Analytics anonymously tracks individual visitor behaviour on this web site so that we can see how LibGuides is being used. We only use this information for monitoring and improving our websites and content for the benefit of our users (you). You can opt out of Google Analytics cookies completely (from all websites) by visiting https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

© Bodleian Libraries 2021. Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence

Study at Cambridge

About the university, research at cambridge.

• Undergraduate courses
• Events and open days
• Fees and finance
• Postgraduate courses
• How to apply
• Postgraduate events
• Fees and funding
• International students
• Continuing education
• Executive and professional education
• Courses in education
• How the University and Colleges work
• Term dates and calendars
• Visiting the University
• Annual reports
• Equality and diversity
• A global university
• Public engagement
• Give to Cambridge
• For Cambridge students
• For our researchers
• Business and enterprise
• Colleges & departments
• Email & phone search
• Museums & collections
• Course Directory

PhD in Geography

Postgraduate Study

• Why Cambridge overview
• Chat with our students
• Cambridge explained overview
• The supervision system
• Student life overview
• In and around Cambridge
• Leisure activities
• Student unions
• Music awards
• Student support overview
• Mental health and wellbeing
• Disabled students
• Accommodation
• Language tuition
• Skills training
• Support for refugees
• Courses overview
• Department directory
• Qualification types
• Funded studentships
• Part-time study
• Research degrees
• Visiting students
• Finance overview
• Fees overview
• What is my fee status?
• Part-time fees
• Application fee
• Living costs
• Funding overview
• Funding search
• How to apply for funding
• University funding overview
• Research Councils (UKRI)
• External funding and loans overview
• Funding searches
• External scholarships
• Charities and the voluntary sector
• Funding for disabled students
• Widening participation in funding
• Colleges overview
• What is a College?
• Choosing a College
• Terms of Residence
• Applying overview
• Before you apply
• Entry requirements
• Application deadlines
• How do I apply? overview
• Application fee overview
• Application fee waiver
• Life Science courses
• Terms and conditions
• Continuing students
• Disabled applicants
• Supporting documents overview
• Academic documents
• Finance documents
• Evidence of competence in English
• AI and postgraduate applications
• Terms and Conditions
• Applicant portal and self-service
• After you apply overview
• Confirmation of admission
• Student registry
• Previous criminal convictions
• Deferring an application
• Updating your personal details
• Appeals and Complaints
• Widening participation
• Postgraduate admissions fraud
• International overview
• Immigration overview
• ATAS overview
• Applying for an ATAS certificate
• Current Cambridge students
• International qualifications
• Competence in English overview
• What tests are accepted?
• International events
• International student views overview
• Akhila’s story
• Alex’s story
• Huijie’s story
• Kelsey’s story
• Nilesh’s story
• Get in touch!
• Events overview
• Upcoming events
• Postgraduate Open Days overview
• Discover Cambridge: Master’s and PhD Study webinars
• Virtual tour
• Research Internships
• How we use participant data
• Postgraduate Newsletter

Primary tabs

• Overview (active tab)
• Requirements
• How To Apply
• Testimonials

Course closed:

Geography is no longer accepting new applications.

The Geography Department welcomes applications from well-qualified candidates with previous training in geography or a related discipline and normally a relevant master's qualification. The PhD is a full-time three-year research degree (or five-year part-time), examined by a thesis.

In the first year, students attend a comprehensive training programme based around seminars and workshops dealing with the debates in geography, the practice of developing and designing research projects, and the methods and techniques required to undertake the empirical elements of research. Research in Geography embraces both natural sciences (physical geography) and the social sciences and humanities (human geography). This PhD can, in principle, be taken in any of the topics covered by the Department of Geography and may, in part, be delivered through co-operation with other departments in social sciences, humanities and physical sciences depending on each student's individual needs. The University also offers a comprehensive range of training courses for personal and professional career development.

The Postgraduate Virtual Open Day usually takes place at the end of October. It’s a great opportunity to ask questions to admissions staff and academics, explore the Colleges virtually, and to find out more about courses, the application process and funding opportunities. Visit the  Postgraduate Open Day  page for more details.

See further the  Postgraduate Admissions Events  pages for other events relating to Postgraduate study, including study fairs, visits and international events.

Key Information

3-4 years full-time, 4-7 years part-time, study mode : research, doctor of philosophy, department of geography, course - related enquiries, application - related enquiries, course on department website, dates and deadlines:, michaelmas 2024 (closed).

Some courses can close early. See the Deadlines page for guidance on when to apply.

Funding Deadlines

These deadlines apply to applications for courses starting in Michaelmas 2024, Lent 2025 and Easter 2025.

Similar Courses

• Geography MPhil
• Data Intensive Science MPhil
• Quantitative Climate and Environmental Science MPhil

Postgraduate Admissions Office

• Admissions Statistics
• Start an Application
• Applicant Self-Service

At a glance

• Bringing a family
• Current Postgraduates
• Cambridge Students' Union (SU)

University Policy and Guidelines

Privacy Policy

Information compliance

Equality and Diversity

Terms of Study

About this site

About our website

Privacy policy

© 2024 University of Cambridge

• Contact the University
• Accessibility
• Freedom of information
• Privacy policy and cookies
• Statement on Modern Slavery
• University A-Z
• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate
• Research news
• About research at Cambridge
• Spotlight on...

Environmental Research (NERC Doctoral Training Partnership)

• Entry requirements
• Funding and Costs

College preference

• How to Apply

About the course

The NERC-Oxford DTP in Environmental Research is a four-year DPhil programme which offers a novel training environment across three broad science streams.

Researchers in the DTP work across disciplines and at the cutting edge of environmental  research, to advance knowledge and find solutions to pressing environmental challenges in collaboration with outside partners. You will carry out your research project in one of eight departments after an initial training period. The three streams of the NERC-Oxford DTP are as follows:

Biodiversity, ecology and evolutionary processes

Research in this theme in Oxford spans pure to applied science, linked by an overarching aim to understand the generation, maintenance and loss of biological diversity from the gene to the species, and the structure, function and dynamics of ecosystems at a variety of spatial and temporal scales.

Pure aspects of research include unravelling biotic and abiotic interactions between the atmosphere and biosphere, and their role in the Earth System; the effect of the environment on evolutionary processes at all levels from genes and genomes to populations; the use of experimental, macroecological and phylogenetic approaches to understand the biology and distribution of species; the quantification of evolutionary patterns and the assembly of modern biodiversity by integrating fossil and genetic datasets; and understanding carbon and other biogeochemical cycles.

Information generated by research in these areas provides the critical foundation to address many of the global challenges facing humanity today from climate change and biodiversity loss, to food security, to pest and pathogen outbreaks. 

Physical climate system

Oxford researchers are advancing the understanding of the climate system behaviour across the full breadth of atmosphere, oceans, cryosphere and biosphere. This includes atmospheric dynamics from weather to seasonal prediction to climate; atmospheric composition, clouds and aerosols; the physics and biogeochemical coupling of the oceans; and studies of past climates and the effects of biosphere change on climate.

Oxford has new strengths in cryosphere and Arctic research and our researchers are established in such areas as the effects of anthropogenic climate change on the physical climate system and biogeochemical processes, while also leading the way in innovative citizen science, from climateprediction.net which uses a distributed network of volunteer computers to provide very large ensembles of climate model simulations, to rapid disaster response.

Dynamic Earth, surface processes and natural hazards

Within this stream investigators are developing new analytical, theoretical and experimental approaches to image, simulate and understand Earth’s internal structure; and advancing understanding of the fundamental processes that underpin the behaviour of earthquakes, volcanoes and their impacts on timescales from the human, to the geological.

The DTP is developing new approaches in the field of climate adaptation, the management of climate-related risks to infrastructure, and redefining relationships between Earth surface processes and climate in desert and wider dryland regions. Oxford researchers continue to develop and apply new ways to investigate deep Earth and Earth-surface processes from the formation of the Earth to human history through experiment, analysis and theory.  

During the first two terms, you will have access to a training programme during which you will have the opportunity to develop your research skills and acquire an understanding of how researchers in other disciplines operate, while also writing your own research proposal in collaboration with your supervisor(s) and in many cases an external partner. You will be recruited to a research stream, and in some cases to a pre-determined project (eg with an industrial CASE partner). You will begin your course based with the DTP.

You will be offered training in 'hard' skills such as scientific computing, statistics and numerical modelling, as well as being offered a broad-brush understanding of the Earth system across all disciplines of the DTP. There will also be course modules in softer transferable skills such as project design, proposal writing, communication and problem solving to underpin the exploration of research methodologies.

Elective training will continue throughout the degree and you will be able to select from a portfolio of advanced training courses to create your own tailored training programme. Later in the course, modules will include thesis writing and paper writing. You will remain a member of the DTP even after transferring out to a department in term three.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Doctoral Training Partnership and it is not always possible to accommodate the preferences of incoming graduate students to work with a particular member of staff. Under exceptional circumstances a supervisor may be found outside the Doctoral Training Partnership. The DTP requires students to have at least two supervisors to ensure a good level of support both pastorally and academically.

For some projects it may be beneficial to seek supervision across two or more departments to support different aspects of the project.

Departments have differing guidelines on how often students meet with their supervisors (this will probably vary through the project, and may also depend on the area of research), and we recommend that students establish a routine at an early stage in their project development.

Your work will be informally assessed on the training modules throughout your degree and you will need to attain a certain number of attendance and submission credits before you begin your research project, and each year thereafter.

You will carry out your DPhil project in one of our departments and will gain your DPhil from the department in which you carry out your research project. You will follow the same milestones and assessments as a standard DPhil, so you will have Probationer Research Student (PRS) status until you confirm your status as a DPhil student by term six. By term nine you will confirm status and you will submit your thesis for assessment by the end of term 12. The eight departments of the DTP are as follows:

• Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art
• Department of Physics (sub-department of Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics)
• Department of Earth Sciences
• School of Geography and the Environment
• Department of Biology
• Mathematical Institute
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Engineering Science.

Graduate destinations

You should be equipped with a wide range of skills that you will need whether you wish to pursue a career in research, government or the private sector.

Changes to this course and your supervision

The University will seek to deliver this course in accordance with the description set out in this course page. However, there may be situations in which it is desirable or necessary for the University to make changes in course provision, either before or after registration. The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and major changes to delivery or services may have to be made in circumstances of a pandemic, epidemic or local health emergency. In addition, in certain circumstances, for example due to visa difficulties or because the health needs of students cannot be met, it may be necessary to make adjustments to course requirements for international study.

Where possible your academic supervisor will not change for the duration of your course. However, it may be necessary to assign a new academic supervisor during the course of study or before registration for reasons which might include illness, sabbatical leave, parental leave or change in employment.

For further information please see our page on changes to courses and the provisions of the student contract regarding changes to courses.

Entry requirements for entry in 2024-25

Proven and potential academic excellence.

The requirements described below are specific to this course and apply only in the year of entry that is shown. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

Please be aware that any studentships that are linked to this course may have different or additional requirements and you should read any studentship information carefully before applying. 

Degree-level qualifications

As a minimum, applicants should hold or be predicted to achieve the following UK qualifications or their equivalent:

• a first-class or upper second-class undergraduate degree with honours.

The qualification above should be achieved in one of the following subject areas or disciplines:

• archaeology
• earth sciences
• environment sciences
• engineering
• mathematics
• meteorology
• oceanography
• statistics; or

Although it is not required to have a master’s degree, in practice most applicants with a ‘physical science’ background will have completed a four-year integrated  master's course.

For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.5 out of 4.0.

If your degree is not from the UK or another country specified above, visit our International Qualifications page for guidance on the qualifications and grades that would usually be considered to meet the University’s minimum entry requirements.

GRE General Test scores

No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are sought.

Other qualifications, evidence of excellence and relevant experience

• Professional experience, especially research experience, is valuable and will be taken into consideration as a substitute for an academic qualification.
• Publications are not expected, but should be included if present.

English language proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's  higher level . If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement. The minimum scores required to meet the University's higher level are detailed in the table below.

*Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English or Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) † Previously known as the Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English or Cambridge English: Proficiency (CPE)

Your test must have been taken no more than two years before the start date of your course. Our Application Guide provides  further information about the English language test requirement .

Declaring extenuating circumstances

If your ability to meet the entry requirements has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (eg you were awarded an unclassified/ungraded degree) or any other exceptional personal circumstance (eg other illness or bereavement), please refer to the guidance on extenuating circumstances in the Application Guide for information about how to declare this so that your application can be considered appropriately.

You will need to register three referees who can give an informed view of your academic ability and suitability for the course. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the types of reference that are required in support of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Supporting documents

You will be required to supply supporting documents with your application. The  How to apply  section of this page provides details of the supporting documents that are required as part of your application for this course and how these will be assessed.

Performance at interview

Interviews are normally held as part of the admissions process.

Interviews are usually held remotely and are between 20 and 30 minutes in length. The interview takes the form of a conversation, no presentation or test will form part of the interview but it is likely to include discussions of your research interests and a quantitative question. The DTP are able to interview a maximum of three candidates per place, and candidates are short-listed as follows: each application is assessed by three separate assessors, scored against agreed criteria, and then banded. Factors such as socio-economic data are taken into account when banding applications. The top banded applications are compiled into a short-list by the DTP management committee. Interviews are normally held approximately one month after the final application deadline. Candidates invited for interview will be offered a pre-interview briefing session with guidance and the opportunity to ask questions.

How your application is assessed

Your application will be assessed purely on your proven and potential academic excellence and other entry requirements described under that heading.

References  and  supporting documents  submitted as part of your application, and your performance at interview (if interviews are held) will be considered as part of the assessment process. Whether or not you have secured funding will not be taken into consideration when your application is assessed.

An overview of the shortlisting and selection process is provided below. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide  more information about how applications are assessed . 

Shortlisting and selection

Students are considered for shortlisting and selected for admission without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic or national origins), religion or belief (including lack of belief), sex, sexual orientation, as well as other relevant circumstances including parental or caring responsibilities or social background. However, please note the following:

• socio-economic information may be taken into account in the selection of applicants and award of scholarships for courses that are part of  the University’s pilot selection procedure  and for  scholarships aimed at under-represented groups ;
• country of ordinary residence may be taken into account in the awarding of certain scholarships; and
• protected characteristics may be taken into account during shortlisting for interview or the award of scholarships where the University has approved a positive action case under the Equality Act 2010.

Initiatives to improve access to graduate study

This course is taking part in a continuing pilot programme to improve the selection procedure for graduate applications, in order to ensure that all candidates are evaluated fairly.

For this course, socio-economic data (where it has been provided in the application form) will be used to contextualise applications at the different stages of the selection process.  Further information about how we use your socio-economic data  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

If you wish, you may submit an additional contextual statement (using the instructions in the How to apply section of this page) to provide further information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.  Further information about how your contextual statement will be used  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Once submitted, applications will be anonymised to minimise conscious and unconscious bias. Please carefully read the instructions for completing your application in the How to apply section of this page.  Further information about why we are anonymising applications  can be found in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

Information on ethnicity will be used subsequent to academic shortlisting. Candidates who identify as Black British will be shortlisted for interview, provided that they meet the  eligibility criteria  shown in our page about initiatives to improve access to graduate study.

This is also one of the courses participating in the  Academic Futures programme , including the  Black Academic Futures programme . Applicants who are offered a place on this course and meet the eligibility criteria will subsequently be considered for funding through the Academic Futures programme.

Processing your data for shortlisting and selection

Information about  processing special category data for the purposes of positive action  and  using your data to assess your eligibility for funding , can be found in our Postgraduate Applicant Privacy Policy.

Admissions panels and assessors

All recommendations to admit a student involve the judgement of at least two members of the academic staff with relevant experience and expertise, and must also be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies or Admissions Committee (or equivalent within the department).

Admissions panels or committees will always include at least one member of academic staff who has undertaken appropriate training.

Other factors governing whether places can be offered

The following factors will also govern whether candidates can be offered places:

• the ability of the University to provide the appropriate supervision for your studies, as outlined under the 'Supervision' heading in the  About  section of this page;
• the ability of the University to provide appropriate support for your studies (eg through the provision of facilities, resources, teaching and/or research opportunities); and
• minimum and maximum limits to the numbers of students who may be admitted to the University's taught and research programmes.

Offer conditions for successful applications

If you receive an offer of a place at Oxford, your offer will outline any conditions that you need to satisfy and any actions you need to take, together with any associated deadlines. These may include academic conditions, such as achieving a specific final grade in your current degree course. These conditions will usually depend on your individual academic circumstances and may vary between applicants. Our ' After you apply ' pages provide more information about offers and conditions . 

In addition to any academic conditions which are set, you will also be required to meet the following requirements:

Financial Declaration

If you are offered a place, you will be required to complete a  Financial Declaration  in order to meet your financial condition of admission.

Disclosure of criminal convictions

In accordance with the University’s obligations towards students and staff, we will ask you to declare any  relevant, unspent criminal convictions  before you can take up a place at Oxford.

Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS)

Some postgraduate research students in science, engineering and technology subjects will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate prior to applying for a  Student visa (under the Student Route) . For some courses, the requirement to apply for an ATAS certificate may depend on your research area.

During the initial training period, you will be trained as a cohort, with training streamed where appropriate to ability. Training may take place in a number of locations across the university, or remotely where social distancing limits our ability to deliver face-to-face training, and students will often work together on problem sets, or in groups, with the support of student demonstrators. If the training offered by the DTP to the whole cohort is not suitable for you, you will be able to source alternative training more suited to your needs.  Where needed, students will have access to a DTP laptop for the first year of the course and thereafter computing requirements are met by the department.

When you move out to your department you will also have access to the facilities provided by that department. You will remain a member of the DTP and be able to return to the DTP headquarters, based within the Doctoral Training Centre, on Keble Road, to use the facilities there.

You will have access to seminars in all eight departments as well as across the wider university. In addition to the training modules offered by the DTP, you will be able to sign up for training courses and modules offered by departments across the university via the University's Researcher Training Tool.

MPLS Doctoral Training Centre

The MPLS Doctoral Training Centre hosts a number of interdisciplinary centres for doctoral training, established with funding from the following UK Research Councils: Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC).

Doctoral training programmes are four year courses providing structured training and research experience in the first year, and a research project leading to a DPhil in subsequent years. The programmes are supported through links with industrial and other partners, and personal and professional development is provided within a cohort. Funding covering fees and living costs is available for the following programmes below. Applications are welcome from prospective graduate students from all over the world.

All candidates are strongly advised to contact the department in which they wish to study before applying, and to check the department’s admissions webpages for studentship application deadlines.

View all courses   View taught courses View research courses

The University expects to be able to offer over 1,000 full or partial graduate scholarships across the collegiate University in 2024-25. You will be automatically considered for the majority of Oxford scholarships , if you fulfil the eligibility criteria and submit your graduate application by the relevant December or January deadline. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit and/or potential. 

For further details about searching for funding as a graduate student visit our dedicated Funding pages, which contain information about how to apply for Oxford scholarships requiring an additional application, details of external funding, loan schemes and other funding sources.

Please ensure that you visit individual college websites for details of any college-specific funding opportunities using the links provided on our college pages or below:

Please note that not all the colleges listed above may accept students on this course. For details of those which do, please refer to the College preference section of this page.

Further information about funding opportunities for this course can be found on the department's website.

Annual fees for entry in 2024-25

Further details about fee status eligibility can be found on the fee status webpage.

Information about course fees

Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability (your fee liability is the length of time for which you are required to pay course fees). For courses lasting longer than one year, please be aware that fees will usually increase annually. For details, please see our guidance on changes to fees and charges .

Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies. Unless specified in the additional information section below, course fees do not cover your accommodation, residential costs or other living costs. They also don’t cover any additional costs and charges that are outlined in the additional information below.

Continuation charges

Following the period of fee liability , you may also be required to pay a University continuation charge and a college continuation charge. The University and college continuation charges are shown on the Continuation charges page.

Where can I find further information about fees?

The Fees and Funding  section of this website provides further information about course fees , including information about fee status and eligibility  and your length of fee liability .

Additional information

NERC studentships come with an additional research training support grant (RTSG) to cover costs of associated fieldwork, laboratory and equipment. Individual research projects come with variable research costs and students will need to discuss these with their supervisor and plan a budget for their project. In some cases students may need to apply for additional funding, either from the RTSG or from college or other sources. Students should always involve their supervisor with such funding requests.

Living costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

For the 2024-25 academic year, the range of likely living costs for full-time study is between c. £1,345 and £1,955 for each month spent in Oxford. Full information, including a breakdown of likely living costs in Oxford for items such as food, accommodation and study costs, is available on our living costs page. The current economic climate and high national rate of inflation make it very hard to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years. When planning your finances for any future years of study in Oxford beyond 2024-25, it is suggested that you allow for potential increases in living expenses of around 5% each year – although this rate may vary depending on the national economic situation. UK inflationary increases will be kept under review and this page updated.

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. Please note that ‘college’ and ‘colleges’ refers to all 43 of the University’s colleges, including those designated as societies and permanent private halls (PPHs). 

If you apply for a place on this course you will have the option to express a preference for one of the colleges listed below, or you can ask us to find a college for you. Before deciding, we suggest that you read our brief  introduction to the college system at Oxford  and our  advice about expressing a college preference . For some courses, the department may have provided some additional advice below to help you decide.

The following colleges accept students on the Environmental Research Doctoral Training Programme:

• Brasenose College
• Christ Church
• Exeter College
• Green Templeton College
• Hertford College
• Jesus College
• Keble College
• Kellogg College
• Lady Margaret Hall
• Linacre College
• Magdalen College
• Mansfield College
• Merton College
• New College
• Oriel College
• Pembroke College
• The Queen's College
• Reuben College
• St Anne's College
• St Catherine's College
• St Cross College
• St Edmund Hall
• St John's College
• St Peter's College
• Trinity College
• University College
• Wadham College
• Wolfson College
• Worcester College
• Wycliffe Hall

Before you apply

Our  guide to getting started  provides general advice on how to prepare for and start your application. You can use our interactive tool to help you  evaluate whether your application is likely to be competitive .

If it's important for you to have your application considered under a particular deadline – eg under a December or January deadline in order to be considered for Oxford scholarships – we recommend that you aim to complete and submit your application at least two weeks in advance . Check the deadlines on this page and the  information about deadlines and when to apply  in our Application Guide.

Application fee waivers

An application fee of £75 is payable per course application. Application fee waivers are available for the following applicants who meet the eligibility criteria:

• applicants from low-income countries;
• refugees and displaced persons; 
• UK applicants from low-income backgrounds; and 
• applicants who applied for our Graduate Access Programmes in the past two years and met the eligibility criteria.

You are encouraged to  check whether you're eligible for an application fee waiver  before you apply.

Readmission for current Oxford graduate taught students

If you're currently studying for an Oxford graduate taught course and apply to this course with no break in your studies, you may be eligible to apply to this course as a readmission applicant. The application fee will be waived for an eligible application of this type. Check whether you're eligible to apply for readmission .

Application fee waivers for eligible associated courses

If you apply to this course and up to two eligible associated courses from our predefined list during the same cycle, you can request an application fee waiver so that you only need to pay one application fee.

The list of eligible associated courses may be updated as new courses are opened. Please check the list regularly, especially if you are applying to a course that has recently opened to accept applications.

Do I need to contact anyone before I apply?

Prior to applying, you are encouraged to communicate with academics working in your area of interest to discuss potential research topics and the possibility of being offered supervision. Profiles of academics with whom you might wish to study can be found on the  DTP website .

If applying to a CASE project, please be sure to include this information on your application form along with the name of the supervisor. In either case, it can be highly beneficial to have contacted potential supervisors to discuss your interests and experience before you submit your application.  

Completing your application

You should refer to the information below when completing the application form, paying attention to the specific requirements for the supporting documents .

For this course, the application form will include questions that collect information that would usually be included in a CV/résumé. You should not upload a separate document. If a separate CV/résumé is uploaded, it will be removed from your application .

If any document does not meet the specification, including the stipulated word count, your application may be considered incomplete and not assessed by the academic department. Expand each section to show further details.

Proposed field and title of research project

If applying for a CASE project please enter the project title in the 'Proposed field and title of research project' field.

If you are not applying for a CASE project, you do not have to specify a research project at this stage. Instead you should indicate your preferred Research Stream under 'Proposed field and title of research project'. If there are pre-defined projects or topic areas of interest to you, you can indicate this in your personal statement. You retain the right to change your research stream up to the point where you submit your research proposal in the second term, so this selection is not binding at application stage.

Proposed supervisor

Referees: three overall, academic preferred. referees should anonymise their references..

Whilst you must register three referees, the department may start the assessment of your application if two of the three references are submitted by the course deadline and your application is otherwise complete. Please note that you may still be required to ensure your third referee supplies a reference for consideration.

One professional reference can be accepted if you have relevant work experience, but academic references are preferred.

Your references will support proven and potential academic excellence in terms of intellectual ability, academic achievement, motivation, communication skills and ability to work in a group.

We are requesting that referees anonymise their references with respect to name, ethnicity and gender as one of the actions we are taking as part of a pilot aimed at minimising conscious and unconscious bias in the admissions procedure for graduate students. Please ensure any referees you approach are aware of this requirement. 

Official transcript(s)

Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date. You should only upload official documents issued by your institution and any transcript not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation.

More information about the transcript requirement is available in the Application Guide.

Contextual statement

If you wish to provide a contextual statement with your application, you may also submit an additional statement to provide contextual information on your socio-economic background or personal circumstances in support of your application.

Submit a contextual statement

It is not necessary to anonymise this document, as we recognise that it may be necessary for you to disclose certain information in your statement. This statement will not be used as part of the initial academic assessment of applications at shortlisting, but may be used in combination with socio-economic data to provide contextual information during decision-making processes.

Please note, this statement is in addition to  completing the 'Extenuating circumstances’ section of the standard application form .

You can find  more information about the contextual statement  on our page that provides details of the continuing pilot programme to improve the assessment procedure for graduate applications.

Statement of purpose A maximum of 500 words

Please provide a statement of purpose, in English, describing how your background and research interests relate to the programme, following the template below. The statement should focus primarily on academic, research or employment-related achievements and interests rather than personal interests.

Please ensure your statement of purpose is anonymised with respect to your name, ethnicity and gender. Anonymisation of application forms is one of the actions we are taking as part of a pilot aimed at minimising conscious and unconscious bias in the admissions procedure for graduate students .

If possible, please ensure that the word count is clearly displayed on the document.

Briefly explain your motivation for undertaking doctoral study, including at least one specific example of how you have prepared yourself for doctoral study that illustrates your commitment and motivation.

Summarise your previous achievements and experience, including information on any research you have conducted, relevant employment or work experience (if any), and any activities or experience that illustrate your communication skills, team skills or personal strengths.

If you are applying for entry to the Environmental Research DTP without a pre-defined research project and supervisory team, you should describe your current research interests and identify any potential supervisors or groups you are particularly interested in working with, explaining which aspects of their work most interest you.

If you are applying to undertake a specific project advertised by the Environmental Research DTP with a named supervisory team, please explain your motivation for applying to undertake this project.

Explain your motivation for applying to this doctoral programme and why you are a suitable candidate for the programme (and where relevant the specific project you are applying to).

Please tell us about any obstacles you have overcome during your education and career to date, for example, if you have had caring responsibilities, have had to work your way through your undergraduate degree, or other factors which may have limited or removed your ability to take up research or volunteering opportunities.

Your statement of purpose will be assessed for:

• your reasons for applying
• evidence of motivation for and understanding of the proposed area of study
• the ability to present a reasoned case in English
• preliminary knowledge of research techniques
• understanding of problems in the area and ability to construct and defend an argument.

Start or continue your application

You can start or return to an application using the relevant link below. As you complete the form, please  refer to the requirements above  and  consult our Application Guide for advice . You'll find the answers to most common queries in our FAQs.

Application Guide   Apply

ADMISSION STATUS

Closed to applications for entry in 2024-25

Register to be notified via email when the next application cycle opens (for entry in 2025-26)

12:00 midday UK time on:

Friday 5 January 2024 Latest deadline for most Oxford scholarships Final application deadline for entry in 2024-25

*Three-year average (applications for entry in 2021-22 to 2023-24)

Further information and enquiries

This interdisciplinary course is led by the MPLS Doctoral Training Centre  

• Course page and admissions information on the centre's website
• Funding information from the department
• Academic and research staff
• Departmental research
• Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences
• Residence requirements for full-time courses
• Postgraduate applicant privacy policy

Course-related enquiries

Advice about contacting the department can be found in the How to apply section of this page

✉ [email protected] ☎ +44 (0)1865 610674

Application-process enquiries

See the application guide

• Earth and Environment
• Literature and the Arts
• Philosophy and Religion
• Plants and Animals
• Science and Technology
• Social Sciences and the Law
• Sports and Everyday Life
• Additional References

• Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic Nations
• CIS and Baltic Political Geography

IRKUTSK , city in Russia. Several Jews settled in Irkutsk at the beginning of the 19 th century, of whom the majority were sent there as prisoners or exiles. Subsequently, Jewish soldiers discharged from the army of Nicholas i (see *Cantonists ) settled in the city. The Jewish population grew from 1,000 in 1875, to 3,610 in 1897 (7.1% of the total), and 6,100 in 1909 (5.6%). Jews played a considerable role in the city's commerce and industry and in the development of the gold mines in the vicinity. After the 1917 Revolution, a Jewish political exile, P.M. Rubinstein, was appointed president of the newly founded Irkutsk University. There were 7,159 Jews in Irkutsk in 1926 (7.2% of the total population), 7,100 (2.8%) in 1939, and 10,313 in Irkutsk oblast in 1959. In 1970 the city's Jewish population was estimated at about 15,000. There was one synagogue, but no rabbi or cantor. In the early 21 st century there were an estimated 5,000 Jews still in the city, with community life revolving around the synagogue and Chabad rabbi Aaron Wagner.

bibliography:

V. Voitinsky, Yevrei v Irkutske (1915).

[Yehuda Slutsky]

Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

Slutsky, Yehuda " Irkutsk . " Encyclopaedia Judaica . . Encyclopedia.com. 15 May. 2024 < https://www.encyclopedia.com > .

Slutsky, Yehuda "Irkutsk ." Encyclopaedia Judaica . . Encyclopedia.com. (May 15, 2024). https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/irkutsk

Slutsky, Yehuda "Irkutsk ." Encyclopaedia Judaica . . Retrieved May 15, 2024 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/irkutsk

Citation styles

Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA).

Within the “Cite this article” tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list.

Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. Therefore, it’s best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publication’s requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites:

Modern Language Association

http://www.mla.org/style

The Chicago Manual of Style

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

American Psychological Association

http://apastyle.apa.org/

• Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. Therefore, that information is unavailable for most Encyclopedia.com content. However, the date of retrieval is often important. Refer to each style’s convention regarding the best way to format page numbers and retrieval dates.
• In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. Therefore, be sure to refer to those guidelines when editing your bibliography or works cited list.

" Irkutsk . " World Encyclopedia . . Encyclopedia.com. 15 May. 2024 < https://www.encyclopedia.com > .

"Irkutsk ." World Encyclopedia . . Encyclopedia.com. (May 15, 2024). https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/irkutsk

"Irkutsk ." World Encyclopedia . . Retrieved May 15, 2024 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/irkutsk

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article, related topics, you might also like, nearby terms.

• Resources    
• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Faculty & Staff
• Alumni & Friends
• News & Media

IUP Recognizes University Senate Awards Winners, Faculty Emeriti

Indiana University of Pennsylvania has announced recipients of the  University Senate Awards  and the list of new faculty emeriti.

The emeritus or emerita title is given to qualified retired faculty and academic administrators who have been recommended through a department-based process to the Academic Committee of the University Senate. The recommendation of the Academic Committee is reviewed by the University Senate as a body, and then by the IUP Council of Trustees.

The University Senate Awards, presented since 1969, recognize outstanding faculty for excellence in creative arts, research, service, and teaching. The announcement of the University Senate Awards is included in the university’s May commencement program booklet.

University Senate Awards Recipients for 2024

Distinguished Faculty Award for Research

Julie Ankrum

Professor Professional Studies in Education

Julie Ankrum, a professor in the department of Professional Studies in Education, joined IUP’s faculty in 2016. She serves as director of IUP’s Literacy Center and program coordinator for the MEd in Literacy/Reading Specialist program. Julie takes great pleasure in mentoring graduate students through writing for publication and presenting at conferences. She currently serves as chair on several dissertation committees. Julie’s research is focused on exemplary practices in literacy instruction, adaptive teaching, and effective professional development. Her research is published in numerous research and practitioner journals. In addition, Julie has co-authored several book chapters and published a book, titled Differentiated Literacy Instruction: Assessing, Grouping, Teaching. Julie is the proud recipient of several awards for research manuscripts, including AERA’s Classroom Observation SIG Exemplary Paper Award (2018), an Honorable Mention for Childhood Education International’s 2017 Distinguished Education Research Article award, and ALER’s Betty G. Sturtevant Exemplary Article Award (2021). She has also been honored to receive COEC’s 2019 Teacher Scholar Award, COEC’s 2019 Faculty Research Award, and the Dean’s Outstanding Researcher Award. Julie is currently serving as co-PI on the Innovative Teacher Prep2Practice grant, awarded by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in 2023.

Distinguished Faculty Award for Service

Mimi Benjamin

Professor Student Affairs in Higher Education

Mimi Benjamin is professor of Student Affairs in Higher Education, having joined the IUP faculty in fall 2013 after a 19-year career as a student affairs administrator. Examples of her service to IUP include participation on the University-Wide Promotion Committee, University Senate and Senate Committee on Student Affairs (chair), Strategic Plan Implementation Committee, Middle-States Working Group IV, ASPCUF Newer Faculty Committee (chair), Center for Teaching Excellence Leadership Team, Living-Learning Executive Team, SAHE Alumni Connect Mentoring Program Committee (co-coordinator), as well as multiple search and awards committees. She is coauthor of Living-Learning Communities that Work: A Research-based Model for Design, Delivery, and Assessment (2018) and Living-Learning Communities in Practice: A Guide for Creating, Maintaining, and Sustaining Effective Programs in Higher Education (2024). She served as editor of Learning Communities from Start to Finish (2015), co-editor of the first and second editions of Maybe I Should . . . Case Studies in Ethics for Student Affairs Professionals (2009, 2020), and co-editor of the Learning Communities Research and Practice special issue on living-learning communities (2020). She is active in both NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education and ACPA: College Student Educators International, the two leading student affairs professional associations, having served as a co-editor of ACPA Books, a NASPA faculty mentoring program mentor, and a NASPA graduate student case study judge. Benjamin was honored as an ACPA Diamond Honoree in 2020 and received the ACPA Annuit Coeptis Senior Professional award in 2022. She earned her PhD in educational leadership and policy studies with a focus on higher education from Iowa State University; her MEd in college student personnel from Ohio University; her MA in English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania; and her BS in secondary education-English from Clarion University of Pennsylvania.

Distinguished Faculty Award for Teaching

Gloria Park

Professor English

Gloria Park, PhD is a professor in the Graduate Studies in Composition and Applied Linguistics at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. With her MA in TESOL from American University and her PhD in 2006 in curriculum and instruction from the University of Maryland, College Park, Gloria began her journey at IUP in 2008 as a TESOL teacher education specialist. As such, her teaching and scholarship focus broadly on language and writing teacher education and applied linguistics, and in the areas of language teacher identities, language teacher agency, language teacher practices, and issues of race, gender, and class connected to language education. Her work appears in internationally recognized journals such as TESOL Quarterly, TESOL Journal, Journal of Language, Identity and Education, Race, Ethnicity and Education, ELT Journal, L2 Journal, etc. She has coedited special themed issues of Language Teacher Identity in TESOL Quarterly (2016), World Englishes in TESOL Journal (2014), and Peacebuilding in Times of Conflict a TESOL Journal (2023). Her monograph, "Narratives of East Asian Women Teachers of English: Where Privilege Meets Marginalization," was published in 2017 by Multilingual Matters. Gloria was appointed as a section editor for TESOL Journal (2010–15), and in 2015, she was appointed as a series associate editor for the Teacher Education and Professional Development volume of "TESOL-Wiley English Language Teaching Encyclopedia" (2017), working with over 30 authors. More recently, Gloria coedited Critical Pedagogy in Language and Writing Classroom,  published by Routledge in April 2023. Gloria continues to serve the Fulbright Office as a national screener for ETA applications to South Korea. She has recently been invited to facilitate a two-day teacher preparation workshop (May 2022) with English faculty at the University of Taiwan and facilitated a workshop (November 2023) with over 300 foreign language teaching associates, sponsored by the Fulbright/Institute of International Education.

Distinguished University Professor

Professor Anthropology

Ben Ford is chair of the Anthropology Department and an anthropologist specializing in historical and underwater archaeology. Originally from Cincinnati, he now lives in Indiana with his spouse, two kids, dog, and bearded dragon. His PhD from Texas A&M University was preceded by several years as an archaeological consultant and degrees from the College of William and Mary and the University of Cincinnati. Ben is a registered professional archaeologist, the 2015 Archaeological Institute of America McCann-Taggart Underwater Archaeology Lecturer, and a 2024 Fulbright US Scholar. Two of the awards that he is most proud of are the IUP High Impact Practice Award for providing undergraduates with authentic research experiences and the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology J. Alden Mason Award for contributions to the education and encouragement of SPA members. He recently published The Shore is a Bridge: The Maritime Cultural Landscape of Lake Ontario and Our Blue Planet: An Introduction to Maritime and Underwater Archaeology (with Jessi Halligan and Alexis Catsambis). He also edited the Oxford Handbook of Maritime Archaeology, The Archaeology of Maritime Landscapes, and New Life for Old Collections (with Rebecca Allen). Ben is a founding member of the Pennsylvania Archaeology Shipwreck Survey Team and chair of the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board. He also served two terms on the Indiana Borough Council, chairing the Community Development Committee. His current research focuses on the maritime landscapes and shipwrecks of the North American Great Lakes and the historical archaeology of Appalachia. Ben sees archaeology as a means to understand how the modern world developed and a hopeful way to influence the future.

Faculty Achievements in Scholarship and New Faculty Emeriti  

College of arts and humanities.

Zach Collins, Music 

Tony DiMauro, Art and Design 

Dana Driscoll, English 

Timothy Hibsman, English 

Richard Kemp, Theatre and Dance 

R. Scott Moore, History 

Christopher Orchard, English 

Belinda Nuth Sloboda, Art and Design 

Gian Pagnucci, English 

Bryna Siegel Finer, English 

Dawn Smith-Sherwood, Foreign Languages 

Todd Thompson, English 

Christian Vaccaro, Sociology 

Matthew Vetter, English 

Henry Wong Doe, Music 

New Faculty Emeriti

Steven Jackson, Political Science, 29 Years of Service 

Jean Nienkamp, English, 21 Years of Service 

Veronica Watson, English, 26 Years of Service 

Eberly College of Business

Abbas Ali, Management 

Hussam Al-Shammari, Management 

Krish Krishnan, Marketing 

Suneel Maheshwari, Accounting and Information Systems 

Todd Potts, Finance and Economics 

Joseph Rosendale, Management 

Lisa Sciulli, Marketing 

Varinder Sharma, Marketing 

Brandon Vick, Finance and Economics 

David Yerger, Finance and Economics 

Ibrahim Affaneh, Finance and Economics, 31 Years of Service 

Kim Anderson, Accounting and Information Systems, 32 Years of Service 

College of Education and Communications

Mimi Benjamin, Student Affairs in Higher Education 

Lorraine Guth, Counseling 

Crystal Machado, Professional Studies in Education 

Matthew Nice, Counseling 

Brittany Pollard-Kosidowski, Counseling 

Zack Stiegler, Communications Media 

College of Health and Human Services

Lynanne Black, Psychology 

Lei Hao, Nursing and Allied Health Professions 

Jenna Hennessey, Psychology 

Pao Ying Hsiao, Food and Nutrition 

Krystof Kaniasty, Psychology 

Mark McGowan, Psychology 

Mark Palumbo, Psychology 

New Faculty Emeriti 

Pearl Berman, Psychology, 37 Years of Service 

Patricia Hockensmith, Nursing and Allied Health Professions, 12 Years of Service 

David Piper, Employment Relations and Health Services Administration, 20 Years of Service 

IUP Libraries

Theresa McDevitt, IUP Libraries, University College 

Kopchick College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

John Bradshaw, Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Engineering 

Kenneth Coles, Geography, Geology, Environment and Planning 

Joseph Duchamp, Biology 

Soundararajan Ezekiel, Mathematical and Computer Sciences 

Justin Fair, Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Engineering 

Waleed Farag, Mathematical and Computer Sciences 

Lara Homsey-Messer, Anthropology 

Jeffrey Larkin, Biology 

Sanda Maicaneanu, Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Engineering 

Sudipta Majumdar, Madia Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Engineering 

Luz S. Marin, Safety Sciences 

Wanda Minnick, Safety Sciences 

Andrea Palmiotto, Anthropology 

Kevin Patrick, Geography, Geology, Environment and Planning 

Amanda Poole, Anthropology 

Bryan Seal, Safety Sciences 

Majed Zreiqat, Safety Sciences 

Anne Kondo, Madia Dept. of Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, and Engineering, 25 Years of Service 

Janet Walker, Mathematical and Computer Sciences, 27 Years of Service 

University College

Luke Faus t, Undergraduate and Student Success, University College 

Senate Awards Committee 

Tim Paul, committee chair 

Pao Ying Hsiao 

Luz S. Marin Ramirez 

Nicole L Rice 

Potential Supervisors and Topics for DPhil Research

Identifying a topic for dphil research, potential supervisors, examples of specific research topics.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to make contact with a potential supervisor from the list of relevant staff members listed below. In discussion with the School's academic staff you will be able to refine your own ideas and develop a project that we can effectively supervise. Academic staff will be happy to discuss potential DPhil topics in human, physical and environmental geography.

A list of potential DPhil supervisors at the School of Geography and the Environment is provided below. Please note that research staff from the School's research centres: the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment (SSEE), and Transport Studies Unit (TSU) can also be contacted with regard to supervision but are only able to co-supervise with a main supervisor from the list of academic staff members below.

Below is a list of topics which applicants might like to consider and discuss further with the relevant staff. This list is not exhaustive, however, if you wish to develop a research topic outside of this list then please feel welcome to contact a relevant member of staff for discussion. These topics may not have funding attached.

Global wildfire risks to people, infrastructure and the economy

Supervisors: Professor Jim Hall , Professor Michael Obersteiner , Dr Samira Barzin

There is growing recognition of the risk from wildfires (Jones et al ., 2020), which is a threatening dimension of climate-related risks (Zscheischler et al ., 2018). A number of wildfire risk assessment frameworks have been developed, though these tend to have been focussed at national and regional scales (Fiorucci, 2008, Scott, 2013, Thompson, 2011, 2016). Global wildfire models have been established and wildfire has been incorporated in the land surface schemes of Earth system models (Krause et al ., 2014). There are also growing spatial datasets of wildfire observations, with accompanying statistical analysis (Parisien and Moritz, 2009). However, so far there has been limited analysis of the potential systemic impacts of wildfires and they ways in which they may compound with other climate-related hazards, including heat waves and droughts.

This DPhil project will take a spatial systems approach to fully appraising wildfire risks and the ways in which they may propagate through society and the economy. We are not aiming to generate a new wildfire model - we will use model simulations and projections from other sources, including the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison datasets and other sources. We will combine these with wildfire observations, to build up a statistical picture of wildfire hazard and supplement that with future projections. That will provide a wildfire hazard layer and associated uncertainties. The main focus of the research will be to properly characterise the impact of wildfires on communities, infrastructure and the economy. The direct damages from wildfires are documented, at least in countries that have high levels of insurance coverage. However, there is very little knowledge of the wider effects of wildfire on economic activities and how quickly communities recover. Wildfire damage to infrastructure can have widespread impacts on people and economic activities. Repairing damaged infrastructure can be a considerable burden on public finances. This study will explore these and other dimensions of wildfire impacts and develop datasets and models for damage assessment, including both direct and indirect damages. We aim to do this in a way which is scalable to global scales, so that we can generate much improved global estimates of the risks from wildfires and estimates of how these risks may change in the context of climate change, land use change, economic development and different wildfire management strategies.

The project will involve a combination of statistical analysis and geospatial modelling. It will suit students with a strong background in environmental sciences, engineering or another quantified subject. Students should be able to demonstrate aptitude for quantified geospatial analysis, and enthusiasm to address real-world problems of great policy significance.

Candidates for this project from a natural sciences background would be eligible to apply for funding from Oxford University's NERC Doctoral Training Partnership. Successful UK applicants will be eligible for full or part funding. Overseas applicants in need of financial support are encouraged to apply for one of Oxford's several doctoral scholarship schemes for UK or overseas students. Closing dates apply on these schemes and students are encouraged to apply early. Applications are made through the School of Geography and the Environment .

References:

• Fiorucci, P., Gaetani, F. and Minciardi, R. (2008) Development and application of a system for dynamic wildfire risk assessment in Italy. Environ. Modell. Softw. , 23: 690-702.
• Jones, M.W., Smith, A., Betts, R., Canadell, J.G., Prentice, I.C. and Le Quéré, C. (2020) Climate change increases the risk of wildfires. ScienceBrief Review , 116: 117.
• Krause, Andreas, et al. (2014) The sensitivity of global wildfires to simulated past, present, and future lightning frequency. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences , 119(3): 312-322.
• Parisien, Marc-André, and Max A. Moritz. 2009. Environmental controls on the distribution of wildfire at multiple spatial scales. Ecological Monographs , 79.1 (2009): 127-154.
• Scott, J. H., Thompson, M. P. and Calkin, D. E. 2013. A wildfire risk assessment framework for land and resource management. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-315. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 83 p. https://doi.org/10.2737/rmrs-gtr-315
• Thompson, M. P., Bowden, P., Brough, A., Scott, J. H., Gilbertson-Day, J., Taylor, A., Anderson, J. and Haas, J. R. 2016. Application of wildfire risk assessment results to wildfire response planning in the southern Sierra Nevada, California, USA. Forests 7, 64.
• Thompson, M. P., Calkin, D. E., Finney, M. A., Ager, A. A. and Gilbertson-Day, J. W. 2011 Integrated national-scale assessment of wildfire risk to human and ecological values. Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessment , 25, 761-780.
• Zscheischler, J., Westra, S., Van Den Hurk, B.J., Seneviratne, S.I., Ward, P.J., Pitman, A., AghaKouchak, A., Bresch, D.N., Leonard, M., Wahl, T. and Zhang, X. 2018. Future climate risk from compound events. Nature Climate Change , 8(6), pp.469-477.

Early warnings of systemic risks to global stability

Supervisors: Professor Jim Hall , Professor Michael Obersteiner , Dr Anna Murgatroyd

Complex and systemic-scale risks will increase over the 21st century and threaten the well-being of millions of people, as well as national prosperity, security and competitiveness. Intensifying climate extremes, conflict, financial crises and the COVID-19 pandemic have illustrated the fragility of global systems to systemic risks. As evidenced by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent House of Lords Select Committee report (2021), current approaches to risk management at national and global scales are inadequate for responding to these risks.

The Oxford Martin Programme on Systemic Resilience aims to identify, appraise and advance solutions to managing systemic shocks in the 21st Century and thus improve the welfare of people and the resilience of the systems and institutions upon which they depend. The programme will examine where do complex crises fall through the cracks in our national and international systems, and how can crises be anticipated and targeted by interventions in order to enhance preparedness and system resilience. The focus is on shocks with a strong climate, social or environmental dimension, including climate, poverty and pandemics.

This DPhil project aims to complement, and become part of, the Oxford Martin Programme on Systemic Resilience. The question we wish to address is whether it is possible to develop better early warning indicators of systemic risks. What are the preconditions for systemic failures we can observe, for example based on the structure of networks that interconnect people, businesses and institutions? We will answer this question based on insights from general systems theory and network theory. Though there has been extensive research on systemic risks and early warning in the financial system (e.g. Billio et al ., 2016, Tedeschi et al ., 2020) this has seldom extended to examine the wide range of factors that might impact global systems and the real economy. We wish to understand whether there are indicators that can be monitored in real time that provide some early warning of systemic failures. These warnings may exist in trade flows and supply chains (e.g. based on our analysis of automatic ship tracking data (Verschuur et al . 2020)), may be based on monitoring of correlated climatic conditions (Gaupp et al . 2017), or on monitoring migration.

The research will involve in-depth literature review into theoretical understandings of systems failure and review of the empirical literature on the precursors and determinants of systemic failures, from a range of different disciplines. It will then involve collecting many different datasets and applying statistical methods to assess the extent to which these datasets are predictors of system failure and its consequences. Our aim is to develop a composite metric that can be used to inform anticipatory action. This will need to be tailored to a range of different contexts, e.g. humanitarian assistance, food security or financial system stability. It will build upon our extensive links with international organisations, central banks and humanitarian agencies.

The research will suit students with an interdisciplinary outlook. It will involve data analysis and advanced statistical methodologies, so will require a strong quantified background, but applicants will also need to demonstrate a capacity for deep conceptual thinking, along with a problem-solving attitude.

Applicants in need of financial support are encouraged to apply for one of Oxford's several doctoral scholarship schemes for UK or overseas students. Closing dates apply on these schemes and students are encouraged to apply early. Applications are made through the School of Geography and the Environment.

• Billio, M., Casarin, R., Costola, M. and Pasqualini, A., 2016. An entropy-based early warning indicator for systemic risk. Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money , 45, pp.42-59.
• Gaupp, F. Pflug, G. Hochrainer-Stigler, S. Dadson, S.J. and Hall, J.W. Dependency of crop production between global breadbaskets: A copula approach for the assessment of global and inter-regional risk pools, Risk Analysis , 37(11) (2017): 2212-2228. DOI: 10.1111/risa.12761.
• House of Lords, Preparing for Extreme Risks: Building a Resilient Society. House of Lords Select Committee on Risk Assessment and Risk Planning. December 2021.
• Tedeschi, G., Caccioli, F. and Recchioni, M.C., 2020. Taming financial systemic risk: models, instruments and early warning indicators. Journal of Economic Interaction and Coordination , 15(1), pp.1-7.
• Verschuur, J., Koks, E. and Hall, J.W. Port disruptions due to natural disasters: insights into port and logistics resilience. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment , 85(2020): 102393. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2020.102393.

Using novel data sources to assist the planning and allocation of infrastructure

Supervisors: Professor Jim Hall , Dr Raghav Pant and Tom Russell

Planning infrastructure, in all parts of the world, involves difficult choices about where and what to build to provide reliable, resilient services whilst minimising costs and negative impacts on people and the environment. Versions of this spatial allocation problem exist in many situations, for example in planning power grids, water supply systems, communications or transport networks to meet economic or development objectives, including many of those framed by the sustainable development goals (SDGs). New spatial datasets derived from satellites, sensors and crowdsourcing are providing information that can enable better mapping and navigation of the trade-offs associated with spatial allocation.

This project will explore the potential for using new data sources to inform the construction of large-scale models of infrastructure systems and the planning of new infrastructure. For example, we have carried out original research using AIS ship tracking data (Verschuur et al ., 2020) to improve our understanding of transport networks and trade; we are now keen to advance methods for tracking road vehicles and trains. This information could be supplemented with crowdsourcing to provide new information on the condition of infrastructure assets and services. By combining these data sources, it should be possible to make a significant next step in the modelling and monitoring of infrastructure networks anywhere on Earth.

Given better data about infrastructure asset location, service provision and user needs, it will be possible to better target interventions to improve these systems. We have made significant progress in methodologies for this spatial allocation problem.

For example, in Bangladesh we have used new geospatial datasets to optimize the location of drinking water infrastructure (Garcia et al ., 2021) - a version of this method could be up-scaled to much larger areas. In rural Bangladesh there has been a proliferation of private tube wells, demonstrating some of the potential for market forces in infrastructure service provision. One framing of the problem, for water or other utilities, would consider how market forces can be combined with targeted development assistance, public investment, and/or regulation for minimum universal service provision to provide infrastructure systems that leave no-one behind.

The electrification of transport is another possible application, widely regarded as an opportunity for developing countries to 'leapfrog' fossil-fuel dependent transport and associated infrastructure networks, by co-developing renewable energy supplies, vehicle charging, and transport fleet. There are however many different versions of how such systems might develop (e.g. with centralised electricity grids, or with micro-grids). What system is viable depends, in part, on local context (population density, building density, wealth, existing infrastructure), but is also subject to other uncertainties, such as the relative price of technologies and the business models that are adopted for service provision.

We have developed unique datasets of road infrastructure globally (Koks et al ., 2019) and methodology for simulating electricity transmission and distribution networks all over the world. This is coupled with population datasets for analysing energy and transport demand and global datasets of potential for renewable energy supply. We propose to combine these datasets with different scenarios for costs and business models to explore and optimise scenarios for roll-out of these technologies.

These are just two examples of the sorts of problems that could be addressed with methodologies for spatial allocation and optimisation (Faiz and Krichen, 2012). We expect that other opportunities will materialise during the research, so the thesis will combine investigation of novel datasets with development of methods and case studies. Overall, the objective of the research would be to develop a broad framework to characterise different infrastructures and their relationship with the space and people around them.

The project will involve application of methods for spatial optimisation. The derived solutions need to take account of local economic, societal and governance conditions, so the student should also study these important contextual issues. It will suit students with a strong quantified background (e.g. engineering, economics, physics, geostatistics) but also a good appreciation of the wider societal context of infrastructure service provision.

Candidates for this project from an engineering, mathematics or physical sciences background would be eligible to apply for funding from Oxford University's EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Successful UK applicants will be eligible for full or part funding. Overseas applicants in need of financial support are encouraged to apply for one of Oxford's several doctoral scholarship schemes for UK or overseas students. Closing dates apply on these schemes and students are encouraged to apply early. Applications are made through the School of Geography and the Environment.

• Faiz, S. and Krichen, S., 2012. Geographical information systems and spatial optimization . CRC Press.
• Flanagan, S. V., Johnston, R. B. and Zheng, Y. (2012). Arsenic in tube well water in Bangladesh: health and economic impacts and implications for arsenic mitigation. Bulletin of the World Health Organization , 90, 839-846.
• Garcia, O.R., Hoque, S.F., Ford, L., Salehin, M., Alam, M.M., Hope, R. and Hall, J.W. Optimizing rural drinking water supply infrastructure to account for spatial variations in groundwater quality and household welfare in coastal Bangladesh. Water Resources Research , 57(8) (2021): e2021WR029621. DOI: 10.1029/2021WR029621
• Koks, E.E., Rozenberg, J., Zorn, C., Tariverdi, M., Vousdoukas, M., Fraser, S.A., Hall, J.W., Hallegatte, S. A global multi-hazard risk analysis of road and railway infrastructure assets. Nature Communications , 10(1) (2019): 2677. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10442-3.
• Verschuur, J., Koks, E. and Hall, J.W. Port disruptions due to natural disasters: insights into port and logistics resilience, Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment , 85(2020): 102393. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2020.102393.

The resilience of cyber-physical infrastructure systems

Supervisors: Professor Jim Hall , Dr Raghav Pant and Dr Edward Oughton

Infrastructure systems that deliver essential services to society (e.g. energy, water, transport and telecommunications) are increasingly regarded as being cyber-physical systems, as they are controlled by digital networks and depend upon software and digital communication systems. The risks to these systems have been widely studied, but from rather different perspectives. There has been extensive research, much of it by our group, on physical risks to infrastructure networks, with a focus on weather-related extremes (Koks et al ., 2019, Lamb et al ., 2019) but also including terrorist threats (Oughton et al ., 2019). Meanwhile, there has been extensive research on questions of cyber security for infrastructure networks, for example relating to the security of the Internet of Things (IoT). Our aim in this project is to bring these perspectives together.

In the first instance the focus will be on modelling the networks of interdependent electricity and telecommunications systems. We have a fairly complete model of electricity transmission and distribution networks in Britain, and recently as part of research with the National Infrastructure Commission we coupled this with a representation of telecommunications networks in Britain.

The DPhil project will involve modelling of electricity and digital communications networks (including SCADA systems), which we will seek to validate with data on faults in the electricity and telecommunications networks. This will be used to model possible interdependent and cascading failures. The analysis will be used to identify how these interdependent networks can be made more resilient. For example, what is the potential benefit of increased connectivity or backup capacity within the network? We also wish to examine how technological trends (like electrification of transport and the proliferation of renewable energy supply technologies) could impact the resilience of infrastructure networks.

The project will therefore involve using and adapting existing simulation models and creating new models of infrastructure systems and development of methods for vulnerability analysis and optimisation. It will suit students from any quantified background, including engineering, mathematics and the physical sciences. Students should be able to demonstrate aptitude for computer modelling and enthusiasm to address real-world problems of great policy significance.

Candidates for this project from an engineering of physical sciences background would be eligible to apply for funding from Oxford University's EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Successful UK applicants will be eligible for full or part funding. Overseas applicants in need of financial support are encouraged to apply for one of Oxford's several doctoral scholarship schemes for UK or overseas students. Closing dates apply on these schemes and students are encouraged to apply early. Applications are made through the School of Geography and the Environment.

• Koks, E., Pant, R., Thacker, S., Hall, J.W. Understanding business disruption and economic losses due to electricity failures and flooding, International Journal of Disaster Risk Science , 10(2019): 421-438. DOI:10.1007/s13753-019-00236-y
• Lamb, R., Garside, P., Pant, R. and Hall, J.W. A network-scale analysis of the risk of railway bridge failure from scour during flood events in Britain. Risk Analysis , 39(11) (2019): 2457-2478. DOI: 10.1111/risa.13370.
• Oughton, E., Ralph, D., Leverett, E., Pant, R., Thacker, S., Hall, J.W., Copic, J., Ruffle, S. and Tuveson, M. Stochastic counterfactual analysis for the vulnerability assessment of cyber-physical attacks on electricity distribution infrastructure networks, Risk Analysis , 39(9) (2019): 2012-2031. DOI: 10.1111/risa.13291.
• Thacker, S., Barr, S., Pant, R., Hall, J.W., and Alderson, D. Geographic hotspots of critical national infrastructure. Risk Analysis , 11(1) (2018): 22-33. DOI: 10.1111/risa.12840.
• Thacker, S., Kelly, S., Pant, R. and Hall, J.W. Evaluating the benefits of adaptation of critical infrastructures to hydrometeorological risks. Risk Analysis , 38(1) (2018): 134-150. DOI: 10.1111/risa.12839.
• Thacker, S., Hall, J.W. and Pant, R. Preserving key topological and structural features in the synthesis of multi-level electricity networks for modeling of resilience and risk. Journal of Infrastructure Systems , ASCE, 24(1) (2018): 04017043. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000404
• Thacker, S., Pant, R. and Hall, J.W. System-of-systems formulation and disruption analysis for multi-scale critical national infrastructures, Reliability Engineering and Systems Safety , 167(2017): 30-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.ress.2017.04.023.

The costs of adapting global infrastructure systems to the impacts of climate change

Supervisors: Professor Jim Hall , Dr Raghav Pant and Dr Jasper Verschuur

There is growing recognition of the urgency and importance of adapting to climate change, especially in infrastructure networks which provide essential services and last for a long time (Hallegatte et al ., 2019). In recent years, our OPSIS research group has made rapid progress in the development of methods for risk analysis of infrastructure systems at a global scale (Hall et al ., 2019, Koks et al ., 2019). This analysis combines climate hazard layers (e.g. floods, hurricanes, droughts) with high resolution data on infrastructure exposure and vulnerability and economic modelling of the impacts of infrastructure failure on supply chains and the economy. Analysis of this type provides estimates of the overall scale of climate risks to infrastructure and helps to pinpoint locations where climate risks are greatest, which should be a priority for adaptation. The next step is to use this information to inform the type, scale and location of adaptation planning. Should infrastructure networks be strengthened, relocated or made less vulnerable with the help of nature-based solutions (NbS)? Is it more efficient to wait for infrastructure to be rebuilt before factoring in adaptation? Answering these questions involves matching adaptation solutions to particular locations and then estimating what might be a reasonable level of investment in adaptation. In principle this process is well understood, but applying the methods of cost-benefit analysis and spatial optimization on a very large scale is a vast challenge. Designing adaptation pathways through time involves understanding the lifecycle of infrastructure assets and predicting future infrastructure needs. This DPhil project aims to address that challenge, by developing methodology to systematically explore adaptation options for different types of infrastructure networks across different geographies, and then match adaptation options to particular locations. By combining with information on the costs of individual adaptation options, it will be possible to come up with a much better estimate of the costs of adaptation than has previously been achieved (Global Commission on Adaptation, 2020, Neuman et al ., 2021).

A critical aspect of this research will be dealing with the many inevitable uncertainties in the analysis. The project will therefore have a particular focus upon uncertainty and sensitivity analysis (Saltelli et al ., 2004). Sensitivity analysis will help to identify the factors that are most influential in the model predictions. Is uncertainty in climate model projections most important, or are adaptation performance and cost estimates more significant? Conducting uncertainty and sensitivity analysis on a model of this scale will be a considerable challenge because of the very high dimensionality and computational expense of each model run. It will also be necessary to analysis the spatial statistics of the various factors that influence model outputs. We also wish to examine the robustness of solutions to deep uncertainty to establish whether there are categories of adaptation option that are more robust. This will involve methodologies for decision making under deep uncertainty (Marchau et al ., 2019).

The project will involve a combination of geospatial analysis, decision analysis and multi-objective optimisation. It will suit students from any quantified background, including environmental sciences, engineering or economics. Students should be able to demonstrate aptitude for computer modelling and geospatial analysis, and enthusiasm to address real-world problems of great policy significance.

• Global Commission on Adaptation (2020) Adapt Now: A global call for leadership on climate resilience .
• Hall, J.W., et al . (2019) Adaptation of Infrastructure Systems: Background Paper for the Global Commission on Adaptation . Oxford: Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford. December 2019, 64pp.
• Hallegatte, S., Rentschler, J. and Rozenberg, J. (2019) Lifelines: The Resilient Infrastructure Opportunity . Washington, DC: World Bank.
• Koks, E.E., Rozenberg, J., Zorn, C., Tariverdi, M., Vousdoukas, M., Fraser, S.A., Hall, J.W., Hallegatte, S. (2019) A global multi-hazard risk analysis of road and railway infrastructure assets. Nature Communications , 10(1): 2677. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10442-3.
• Marchau, et al . (2019) Decision Making under Deep Uncertainty: from theory to practice . Springer.
• Neumann, J.E., P. Chinowsky, J. Helman, M. Black, C. Fant, K. Strzepek and J. Martinich (2021) Climate effects on US infrastructure: the economics of adaptation for rail, roads, and coastal development . Climatic Change , 166(44).
• Saltelli, et al . (2004) Sensitivity Analysis in Practice: a guide to assessing scientific models . Wiley.

The resilience of global energy networks

Supervisors: Professor Jim Hall , Dr Raghav Pant and Dr Fred Thomas

Global energy networks are undergoing rapid transformations to meet growing needs for energy services and to rapidly transition away from fossil fuels. However, electric power networks are also vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Transmission pylons and cables can be destroyed by hurricanes whilst substations can be flooded and thermo-electric power plants can be impacted by cooling water shortages (Hall et al ., 2019). Climate change is also impacting demand for electricity supplies.

There have been several studies of climate impacts for power networks at local and national scales (e.g. Fant et al . 2020, Koks et al . 2019). Meanwhile, there is growing capability for energy systems modelling and network analysis at global scales, assisted by the existence of global power plant databases and Gridfinder (Arderne et al ., 2020) a global model of transmission networks. There are also more country and continental specific datasets of detailed spatial representation of electricity transmission systems (HIFLD 2022, Hörsch et al ., 2018). By combining these datasets with statistical and model-based data on climate-related hazards, it will be possible to generate new estimates of the climate risks to power networks on a global scale and the economic implications of their failure. This will also help to identify hotspots of vulnerability and prioritize locations for network adaptation. Satellite night-time lights datasets and documented records of power failures provide the possibility to calibrate and validate large-scale models of power network failure.

Looking into the future, the type and location of power generation, transmission and distribution networks will change significantly. The next step in the research will be to develop methods for simulating how the energy systems may evolve into the future, given changing patterns of demand, investment and energy technologies. The research will combine socio-economic and technology scenarios to develop a range for scenarios for future energy networks. Future climate scenarios will be imposed upon these networks to analysis their possible exposure to increasing climatic extremes.

The project will involve a combination of geospatial analysis and energy systems modelling. It will suit students with a strong background in engineer, physics or another quantified subject. Students should be able to demonstrate aptitude for computer modelling and geospatial analysis, and enthusiasm to address real-world problems of great policy significance.

• Arderne, C., Zorn, C., Nicolas, C. et al . Predictive mapping of the global power system using open data. Sci Data , 7, 19 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-019-0347-4
• Fant, C., B. Boehlert, K. Strzepek, P. Larsen, A. White, S. Gulati, Y. Li and J. Martinich (2020) Climate change impacts and costs to U.S. electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure . Energy , 195, 116899 (doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2020.116899)
• Homeland Infrastructure Foundation Level Data (2022). https://hifld-geoplatform.opendata.arcgis.com/datasets/geoplatform::transmission-lines/about
• Hörsch, J., Hofmann, F., Schlachtberger, D., & Brown, T. (2018). PyPSA-Eur: An open optimisation model of the European transmission system. Energy Strategy Reviews , 22, 207-215.
• Koks, E., Pant, R., Thacker, S., Hall, J.W. (2019) Understanding business disruption and economic losses due to electricity failures and flooding, International Journal of Disaster Risk Science , 10(2019): 421-438. DOI:10.1007/s13753-019-00236-y

Resilience of global transport networks and supply chains in a changing climate

Transport networks, which include road, rail, ports and airports, are exposed to the impacts of natural hazards and climate change (Koks et al. , 2019, World Bank, 2019). These networks carry goods and people, whose mobility is essential for the smooth functioning of global supply chains. The lack of resilience of global supply chains has been illustrated by the impacts of the covid-19 pandemic (Verschuur et al ., 2021) and by the war in Ukraine. Whilst some points of vulnerability within global supply chains (e.g. ports at risk from climatic extremes: Verschuur et al ., 2022) can be identified, researchers have not yet achieved a credibly complete point-to-point mapping of global supply chain networks, which links land, maritime and airport transport modes with locations of supply and demand. That will be one of the objectives of this DPhil. It will be achieved by using a combination of data sources (building upon our previous research with AIS shipping data: Verschuur et al ., 2020), integrating other novel datasets on the flow of goods and services and the locations of production sites.

Supply chain networks are rapidly expanding to meet growing demands for mobility and trade, and will adapt to reflect changing economic structure and the phasing out of fossil fuels. Thus, to fully understand the scale of future risks to supply chain networks, we need to be able to able to predict where they will exist in the future, as well as using geospatial information on where they exist at the moment. This is a complex challenge, as there is a two-way relationship between the geography of economic activity and the provision of transport infrastructure. By using a combination of trade projections and big datasets of the factors that influence transport infrastructure provision, we aim to project realistic patters of future transport networks and supply chains.

The aim of this research is to develop methods for projecting where transport and supply chain networks will be located across the globe, under different scenarios of economic development. The results of this new model development will be used to understand the changing future vulnerability of transport networks to the impacts of climate change.

The proposed research will take a combination of a model-based and empirical approach to understanding the relationship between infrastructure and economic development at broad scales. The model-based analysis may start with stylised models, for instance by exploring insights from New Economic Geography (NEG) models. Meanwhile, we will seek datasets that can be used to characterise spatial changes. The analysis will be used to understand future demands for infrastructure services and how patterns of economic development may evolve in future. The work will be applied to a large geographical region, such as a national-scale or multi-national scale to see how infrastructure developments can create positive and negative effects for different regions.

The project will involve computer model development, along with parameterization and validation using empirical data. Candidates must therefore be ready to take on a highly interdisciplinary analysis and modelling task. It will require a candidate with advanced computational and mathematical skills, coming from an engineering, economics or physical sciences background. Students should be able to demonstrate aptitude for computer modelling and enthusiasm to address real-world problems of great policy significance.

Candidates for this project from an engineering of physical sciences background would be eligible to apply for funding from Oxford University's EPSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. Successful UK and EU applicants will be eligible for full or part funding. Overseas applicants in need of financial support are encouraged to apply for one of Oxford's several doctoral scholarship schemes for UK or overseas students. Closing dates apply on these schemes and students are encouraged to apply early. Applications are made through the School of Geography and the Environment.

• Koks, E., Pant, R., Thacker, S., Hall, J.W. (2019) Understanding business disruption and economic losses due to electricity failures and flooding. International Journal of Disaster Risk Science , 10(2019): 421-438. DOI:10.1007/s13753-019-00236-y
• World Bank (2019) Lifelines: the resilient infrastructure opportunity .
• Venables, A., Laird, J. and Overman, H. (2014) Transport investment and economic performance: Implications for project appraisal. (Department for Transport, 2014).
• Bird, J. H. and Venables, A.J. (2019) Growing a Developing City: A Computable Spatial General Equilibrium Model Applied to Dhaka. The World Bank.
• Lall, S. V. and Mathilde S. M. L. (2019) "Who Wins, Who Loses? Understanding the Spatially Differentiated Effects of the Belt and Road Initiative."
• Hall, J.W., Tran, M., Hickford, A.J. and Nicholls, R.J. (2016) The Future of National Infrastructure: A System of Systems Approach . Cambridge University Press, 2016.
• Verschuur, J., Koks, E. and Hall, J.W. (2021) Global economic impacts of COVID-19 lockdown measures stand out in high-frequency shipping data. PLOS ONE , 16(4): e0248818. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248818.
• Verschuur, J., Koks, E. and Hall, J.W. (2022) Ports' criticality in international trade and global supply-chains. Nature Communications , 13 (4351). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32070-0.
• Verschuur, J., Koks, E. and Hall, J.W. (2020) Port disruptions due to natural disasters: insights into port and logistics resilience. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment , 85(2020): 102393. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2020.102393.

The risks of extreme heat for infrastructure systems and adaptation options

Supervisors: Professor Jim Hall and Dr Raghav Pant

Increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves is one of the most obvious consequences of climate change. This will impact people directly and will also have effects upon the built environment and infrastructure upon which we depend. There has been quite extensive research upon the impact of extreme heat on buildings and human comfort/health (e.g. Jenkins et al ., 2014a), and analysis of specific instances of the impact of extreme heat on infrastructure systems, e.g. rail buckling (Mulholland and Feyen, 2021), road surfaces (Smoyer-Tomic et al ., 2003), power transmission (Cadini et al ., 2017) and underground metro systems (Jenkins at al., 2014b). However, there has not been a full global analysis of the risks of extreme temperatures for infrastructure networks. This is now becoming possible thanks to the assembly of global datasets of infrastructure assets and networks, assembled by the OPSIS team (Koks et al ., 2019) and others. The research will combine (i) climatic information on temperature extremes (ii) geospatial analysis of the exposure of infrastructure assets and networks (iii) assessment of the vulnerability of these networks to temperature extremes, and (iv) quantification of the impacts of temperature-related infrastructure failures.

For the analysis of temperature extremes, particular attention will be paid to the spatial extent of heatwaves, given their potential to impact large areas at the same time. Statistical analysis of temperature extremes will use weather station observations and reanalysis data to assemble a global spatial catalogue of heatwave events. It may be possible to combine this analysis with climate attribution studies (Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Lewis, 2020) to understand the non-stationarity in the temperature record. Future spatial heatwave projections will be obtained from climate model outputs (e.g. CMIP6, CMIP7). To obtain a large ensemble of spatial heatwave events, it may be necessary to develop a statistical model of spatial extremes.

Analysis of the exposure of infrastructure assets will be based upon OPSIS's ongoing activities to assemble global infrastructure asset and network data. A review of temperature vulnerability functions will cover mechanisms including: road/runway surface softening, railway line buckling, overheating of mechanical and electrical equipment, transmission line sagging, etc. Where appropriate these functions will be modified to reflect local conditions, e.g. local temperature rating/standards of equipment.

The research will also examine the impacts of heatwaves on infrastructure demand, notably on electricity demand for cooling. This can place additional demand upon electricity supplies and power networks which combine with other heatwave effects to result in systemic failures. Given satisfactory progress, it may also be possible to examine coincident risks e.g. wildfires and droughts, and their impacts on cooling water availability, hydropower and inland waterway navigation.

The research will quantify the impacts of heatwave-related failures in terms of the numbers of infrastructure users who are impacted. We will also seek to quantify the economic impacts of heatwave-related infrastructure failures. There have already been several studies of the impacts of heat on economic production (Burke et al ., 2015) but none of these have sought to disentangle the specific effects of infrastructure failures in heatwave. The output will be a global analysis of hotpots of infrastructure heatwave vulnerability, taking into account the degree of local adaptation, and probabilistic quantification of the scale of potential disruptions at present and in future scenarios.

Finally, the research will examine the potential benefits of future adaptations, examining a range of adaptation options, which may be applied to existing infrastructure or incorporated when infrastructure is replaced or upgraded.

The project will involve a combination of geospatial analysis and spatial statistics. It will suit students with a strong background in engineer, physics or another quantified subject. Students should be able to demonstrate aptitude for computer modelling and geospatial analysis, and enthusiasm to address real-world problems of great policy significance.

• Burke, M., Hsiang, S.M. and Miguel, E., 2015. Global non-linear effect of temperature on economic production. Nature, 527(7577), pp.235-239.
• Jenkins, K., Hall, J.W., Glenis, V., Kilsby, C.G., McCarthy, M., Goodess, C., Smith, D., Malleson, N. and Birkin, M. Probabilistic spatial risk assessment of heat impacts and adaptations for London, Climatic Change, 124(1-2) (2014a): 105-117.
• Jenkins, K., Gilby, M., Hall, J.W., Glenis, V., Kilsby, C.G. Implications of climate change for thermal discomfort on underground railways. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 30 (2014b):1-9.
• Cadini, F., Agliardi, G.L. and Zio, E., 2017. A modeling and simulation framework for the reliability/availability assessment of a power transmission grid subject to cascading failures under extreme weather conditions. Applied energy, 185, pp.267-279.
• Koks, E.E., Rozenberg, J., Zorn, C., Tariverdi, M., Vousdoukas, M., Fraser, S.A., Hall, J.W., Hallegatte, S. A global multi-hazard risk analysis of road and railway infrastructure assets. Nature Communications, 10(1) (2019): 2677. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10442-3.
• Mulholland, E. and Feyen, L. Increased risk of extreme heat to European roads and railways with global warming, Climate Risk Management, 34 (2021): 100365
• Perkins-Kirkpatrick, S.E. and Lewis, S.C., 2020. Increasing trends in regional heatwaves. Nature communications, 11(1), p.3357.
• Smoyer-Tomic, K.E., Kuhn, R. and Hudson, A., 2003. Heat wave hazards: an overview of heat wave impacts in Canada. Natural hazards, 28, pp.465-486.

Climate adaptation investment needs with sustainable development goals (SDGs) for small-island development states (SIDS)

Critical infrastructure networks of energy, transport, water, along with social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals are constantly under threat from extreme natural hazards which intensify with climate change (World Bank, 2019). While globally the impacts of these hazards are felt strongly, the most vulnerable regions of the world such as SIDS incur some of the largest losses from severe hazards due to lack of development and investment into climate resilience. For example, Hurricane Maria in 2017 destroyed 95% of Dominica's housing stock, 90% of the island was without electricity for about 4 months, and the economic losses were estimated to be 226% of Dominica's GDP (Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, 2020). Integrating climate resilience with long-term sustainable development goals is therefore integral for SIDS. Given the scale of potential hazard impacts, the scale of climate adaptation investments needed for safeguarding very high infrastructure resilience might be unrealistic to finance in SIDS. Hence, the key challenge is to understand for how climate adaptation investments for infrastructures could be prioritised over space and time to guarantee varying levels of resilience, while meeting long-term SDG targets for infrastructure provision. This will be the objective of this DPhil.

Our previous research has shown that infrastructure directly or indirectly influences the attainment of 72% of all SDG targets (Thacker et al ., 2019). Research has also show how long-term infrastructure planning metrics aligned with meeting SDGs could be done effectively in small islands (Adshead et al ., 2019). A conceptual framework has also mapped high-level linkages between climate impacts to ecosystems and socio-economic sectors and their effects on meeting SDGs (Fuldauer et al ., 2022b), and demonstrated to a limited extent for some spatial climate risks and infrastructure assets (Fuldauer et al ., 2022a). However, there is no research that has shown how infrastructure network failure impacts lead to losses in socio-economic service provision and how these hamper the ability to meet specific targets of the SDGs. This requires a spatial risk assessment approach integrating climate hazards datasets, infrastructure assets and network flow models, vulnerability assessment models, and impact assessment models to quantify population and economic service losses. This is followed by an assessment of asset and network level adaptation options, their costs and benefits of risk reduction, and prioritisation of options that provide the highest benefits in meeting given levels of socio-economic service. The overall climate adaptation needs at aggregated sector or regional scales can then be estimated and aligned with SDGs.

The proposed research will propose a spatial climate adaptation assessment methodology to align resilience goals with SDGs in SIDS. It will involve undertaking compilation and quantitative assessment of datasets of SIDS-specific climate hazards, creation of unique datasets on infrastructure assets (energy, transport, water, schools, hospitals, buildings) from open or remote sensed data, compilation of hazard damage cost data and adaptation options and their costs and socio-economic datasets, and creation of risk indicators that align national adaptation and resilience plans with SDGs.

• Adshead, D., Thacker, S., Fuldauer, L. I., & Hall, J. W. (2019). Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals through long-term infrastructure planning. Global Environmental Change, 59, 101975.
• Fuldauer, L. I., Adshead, D., Thacker, S., Gall, S., & Hall, J. W. (2022a). Evaluating the benefits of national adaptation to reduce climate risks and contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. Global Environmental Change, 76, 102575.
• Fuldauer, L. I., Thacker, S., Haggis, R. A., Fuso-Nerini, F., Nicholls, R. J., & Hall, J. W. (2022b). Targeting climate adaptation to safeguard and advance the Sustainable Development Goals. nature communications, 13(1), 3579.
• Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica (2020). Dominica Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan 2020-2030. https://odm.gov.dm/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/CRRP-Final-042020.pdf
• Thacker, S., Adshead, D., Fay, M., Hallegatte, S., Harvey, M., Meller, H., ... & Hall, J. W. (2019). Infrastructure for sustainable development. Nature Sustainability, 2(4), 324-331.
• World Bank (2019) https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/infographic/2019/06/17/lifelines-the-resilient-infrastructure-opportunity.

Sedimentary archive of Holocene fluvial and aeolian dynamics in NW Namibia

Supervisor: Professor David Thomas

The dry valleys of the Namibian Skeleton Coast are significant emitters of atmospheric mineral dust. Preliminary studies show that Holocene valley fills are the primary source of dust (Thomas et al ., in press). There are however distinct spatial variations in both dust sources, revealed by remote sensing analysis, and the accumulation of fluvial valley deposits. The latter are a potentially significant source of Holocene palaeoclimatic data, but disparate studies to date reveal complex and sometimes conflicting records of climate change (Stone and Thomas, 2013). The aim of this project is to provide a robust, chronometrically controlled, record of extensive valley fill deposits and past fluvial system behaviour. This will involve examining the spatial variability in deposit characteristics and age that will allow potential dust emission sources and controls to be identified. The initial focus will be on the Huab Valley system, but this is extendable to other valleys as results emerge. The project will include fieldwork in the Skeleton Coast region that will examine and map sedimentary exposures and drill fill deposits, allowing sampling for sedimentary analyses including mineral properties, provenance work and age control through OSL dating. This project offers a unique opportunity to develop and apply field and laboratory skills, and will make a major contribution to southern African Quaternary research and investigations of atmospheric dust emissions, both major research themes in the School.

• Transition finance principles. Stakeholders, products, incentives, metrics and targets Supervisor: Dr Ben Caldecott
• The risk of stranded assets in food infrastructure from the transition to sustainable diets Supervisor: Dr Ben Caldecott
• Stranded assets in downstream SMEs in Thailand: assessing risks and resilience Supervisor: Dr Ben Caldecott
• The Future of Engagement: An investigation into optimal engagement practices and the potential for alpha generation Supervisor: Dr Ben Caldecott
• Are primary market transactions allocating capital to companies that are aligned to the Paris Agreement? Supervisor: Dr Ben Caldecott
• Climate risk scenario analysis and the role of central banks and supervisors Supervisors: Dr Ben Caldecott and Professor Doyne Farmer
• Paris aligned portfolios and the real economy Supervisor: Dr Ben Caldecott
• Shaping a resilient green bond market: non-financial disclosure, public issuance and climate risk management Supervisor: Dr Ben Caldecott
• Motives beyond markets: State ownership, stranded assets, and decarbonisation in the power sector Supervisors: Dr Ben Caldecott and Professor Cameron Hepburn
• Quantifying barriers to the power generation sector’s low-carbon transition using machine learning and asset-level datasets. Supervisors: Dr Ben Caldecott and Professor Cameron Hepburn
• Technology, information, and the governance of environmental risk Supervisors: Dr Ben Caldecott and Professor Cameron Hepburn

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

• Publications
• Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

• Advanced Search
• Journal List
• Springer Nature - PMC COVID-19 Collection

The Current Territorial Differentiation of the Industry of Irkutsk Oblast

N. a. ippolitova.

1 Sochava Institute of Geography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 664033 Irkutsk, Russia

2 Irkutsk State University, 664003 Irkutsk, Russia

M. A. Grigoryeva

This article discusses recent changes in the development of industrial production in Irkutsk oblast from 2010 to 2019. Industry is the basic component in the economic complex; it provides about half of the region’s gross added value and is characterized by a multi-sectoral structure formed primarily on the basis of using natural resources and cheap electricity. It is pointed out that in the last decade, a significant change in the structure of industry has led to a structural simplification of its sectoral composition with a significant shift toward the raw materials sector. Cities remain the leading centers of concentration of the manufacturing industry. The grouping of municipalities according to the level of industrial development was carried out according to the available statistical data: the calculated share of the employed in industry and the volume of shipped products of large and medium-sized organizations. On the basis of their ratio, groups of regions with intensive development of the extractive industries, primarily the oil and gas sector, as well as territories in which the industrial profile was formed in Soviet times but underwent transformations under the influence of changes in the market, were identified. A group of regions with very low industrial development has been identified, in which economic activities are mainly related to agriculture, logging, transport, and tourism. It is shown that some of the municipalities have changed their position in the groups when compared to 2010. The rest of the composition is relatively stable. It was found that in the first and fourth groups a change in priority in the development of types of economic activity occurred, whereas the second and third groups show a change in their proportions. Large business contributes to the extremely uneven distribution of investments across the oblast in the implementation of investment projects.

INTRODUCTION

Irkutsk oblast, one of the key industrial regions of Siberia, has great industrial and natural resource potential, which, together with its competitive advantages, make it possible to occupy a leading position among other regions of the country. Research by N.N. Klyuev [ 1 ] shows that Irkutsk oblast is one of the ten Russian regions that maximized the volume of industrial production from 1990 to 2017.

The modern industrial structure of Irkutsk oblast is made up of several basic industries, including the electric power industry, mining and timber processing complexes, nonferrous metallurgy, chemical and petrochemical industries, as well as mechanical engineering and metalworking. With the start of oil and gas production, the oil and gas industry has developed.

Currently, the spatial development of Irkutsk oblast is based on large territorial production centers located in Irkutsk, Bratsk, Shelekhov, Angarsk, Sayansk, Ust-Ilimsk, Zheleznogorsk-Ilimsk, Taishet, Ust-Kut, and Bodaibo, where over 55% of the region’s population lives. These territories account for more than 85% of the added value produced in the region, and about 60% of investments [ 2 ].

The development of industrial production and its territorial features have been widely considered by domestic geographers at different times. It is worth noting the works devoted to the period of industrialization of the eastern territories [ 3 ], economic development [ 4 ], and issues of the location and development of certain industries [ 5 , 6 ]. In recent years, the main attention has been paid to the study of industry in the sectoral context [ 7 – 11 ], as well as using the theory of territorial production complexes [ 12 , 13 ]. The use of an integrated approach makes it possible to determine structural changes in the industry of the regions [ 14 ].

At the regional level, there are many methods and approaches to the construction of typologies and groupings for the socioeconomic development of territories, and in particular industrial development. Consideration of the intraregional level of industrial development in the scientific literature is less common, for example [ 15 – 18 ], which increases the relevance of this research, which is of an applied nature.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The information base of the study, which covers 2010–2019, was the materials of the Federal State Statistics Service, including databases of indicators of municipalities and official sites of local governments (analytical and forecast reports).

It is assumed in this work that at present industrial production includes the following sections of OKVED-2: Extraction of minerals (B); Manufacturing industries (C); Provision of electricity, gas and steam; air conditioning (D); Water supply; sewerage, waste collection, and disposal, and pollution elimination activities (E). According to OKVED, in 2010 industrial production consisted of the following types of activities: Extraction of minerals (C); Manufacturing (D); Production and distribution of electricity, gas, and water (E). We note that the work did not take into account the subsection Forestry and logging, which is included in the section Agriculture, forestry, hunting, fishing, and fish farming (A), although logging is a specialization of individual municipalities of the region.

The statistical data used at the municipal level (shipped goods of its own production, performed works and services on its own; the average number of employees of organizations by type of economic activity; investments in fixed assets) are given by Rosstat for large and medium-sized organizations, excluding small businesses. For example, the difference between the volume of products shipped for large and medium-sized organizations and for the full range of organizations is 5.6%, and for those employed in industrial production it is about 15%.

Due to the fact that according to the indicator called shipped goods of our own production, performed works and services on our own (without subjects of municipalities), information on certain types of economic activity is not published for 29 out of 42 municipalities of Irkutsk oblast in order to ensure the confidentiality of primary statistical data [ 19 ], the materials posted on the official websites of the corresponding municipalities were taken into account.

This work used comparative geographical and statistical research methods.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In the structure of gross value added in Irkutsk oblast, industry accounted for 31.7% in 2010, and 44.8% in 2018. The specific weight of the volume of shipped products of the region in Russia increased from 1.4% in 2010 to 1.7% in 2019, due to the fact that the volume of mining operations increased nine times. The average annual number of workers employed in the industrial sector decreased by 3.6%.

In 2010–2019, the production index in Irkutsk oblast, based on the results of its retrospective recalculation by Rosstat, did not fall below 100%, reaching its maximum value in 2010, 113.3%, and the minimum value in 2019, 100.4% ( Fig. 1 ). Growth rates of the industrial production index in 2010–2012, were due to significant volumes of mining (especially hydrocarbons). The drop in production volumes in 2019 is associated with a decrease in the production of crude oil, metal ores, and due to the current federal emergency in the region in the summer of 2019 (flooding of settlements) and coal. The trend continued in 2020 under the influence of external and internal factors (Russian participation in the agreement with the OPEC + countries and, accordingly, the restriction on oil production, as well as restrictions on the part of Russian Railways in accepting coal for export). Against the background of this situation, the manufacturing industry in 2020, in contrast, showed an increase in production (in particular, the contribution was made by Pharmasynthez, which began to produce medicines for the treatment of coronavirus infection).

The production indices of Irkutsk oblast, %. Types of economic activity: 1 , industrial production; 2 , mining; 3 , manufacturing; 4 , supply of electricity, gas and steam; air conditioning.

Transformational processes, which differ in intensity and direction in different periods, have formed the modern structure of the region’s industry, whose leading industries are: extraction of crude oil and natural gas, which accounts for 35.2% of the volume of shipped products; energetics , 10.3; metallurgical production, 9.1; production of paper and paper products, 4.7; wood processing, 4.5%. In 2010, the leading positions were occupied by the energy sector, 18.3%; production of machinery, equipment, vehicles, 16.3; metallurgical production, 15.3; extraction of fuel and energy minerals, 8.9; and chemical production, 7.6%.

The average number of employees of organizations (excluding small businesses) and the volume of goods, works, and services shipped by large and medium-sized organizations were used as indicators that characterize the level of development of industrial production in 42 regional municipalities in 2010 and 2019.

The ratio of these indicators made it possible to distinguish four groups of municipalities by the level of industrial development (high, medium, low, and very low) in 2010 and 2019. ( Figs. 2, 3 ).

The distribution of the share of people employed in industry and the volume of industrial production of large and medium-sized organizations in Irkutsk oblast in 2010

The distribution of the share of employed in industry and the volume of industrial production of large and medium-sized organizations in Irkutsk oblast in 2019

In 2019, compared to 2010, there was a transition of a number of territories of the region from one group to another. In three municipalities (Ust-Kutsky, Katangsky, and Alarsky districts) there was an increase in the level of industrial development, and in the other three municipalities (Angarsk, Shelekhovsky district, and Usolye-Sibirskoe) a decrease occurred.

The Highly developed group (Katangsky, Ust-Kutsky regions, and Bratsk) is characterized by high values of the share of people employed in industrial production and the volume of shipped products. It accounts for 21.2% of those employed in industrial organizations of the region (rotation work is also used) and 48.4% of investments in fixed assets. The northern regions continue to increase their concentration of the volume of shipped products in the region by the type of economic activity mining (2010, 43.8%; 2019, 73.6%). Oil and gas condensate production increased by 5.4 times, from 3.3 million tons in 2010 to 17.9 million tons in 2019. Oil produced from fields in the north of the region is fed to the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean (ESPO) pipeline system; it is delivered to the Far East and then exported to China and other countries of the Asia–Pacific region. The main companies represented on the territory of these municipalities are Verkhnechonskneftegaz, Dulisma, and the Irkutsk Oil Company. The latter is the largest taxpayer to the regional budget (in 2018, the share of its contributions was 12.5%). Generally, oil producing enterprises provided 46% of all income tax revenues in 2018 in the structure of tax revenues of the consolidated budget of the region.

Industrial production in Bratsk is associated with the activities of such processing enterprises as RUSAL Bratsk (in 2019 it provided 38% of the aluminum production in Russia), the Ilim Group in Bratsk, and the Bratsk Ferroalloy Plant, which form the industrial image of the city. During the period an increase in the volume of shipped products in the manufacturing sector was noted in Bratsk (2010, 22.6%; 2019, 29.9%), which allows it to remain a large industrial hub of the region.

Group with an average level of development (the Angarsk, Svirsk, Sayansk, Ust-Ilimsk, Irkutsk, Bodaibinsky, Shelekhovsky, Nizhneilimsky, and Tulunsky districts) is distinguished by a high share of those employed in industry and an average volume of industrial production. About half of the region’s population lives in these municipalities, they produce 40.6% of industrial production, and concentrate 61.5% of those employed in the industrial sector, as well as 38.4% of investments. The group includes almost all major industrial centers in the region. Unlike the previous case, the sectoral composition of this group is more diverse and is represented by enterprises of nonferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical and petrochemical, pulp and paper, nuclear, pharmaceutical, and food industries (Irkutsk Aluminum Plant, Irkutsk Aviation Plant, Angarsk Petrochemical Company, Angarsk Polymer Plant, Sayanskkhimplast, Ilim Group in Ust-Ilimsk, Angarsk Electrolysis Chemical Plant, Pharmasintez, etc.). The production profile of these territories was formed back in the Soviet era, but at the present stage enterprises continue to play a significant role in the socioeconomic development of the region, especially for export-oriented industries.

The mining sector is represented by gold mining at ore and alluvial deposits (Polyus Verninskoe, Vysochaishy, Druza, Lenzoloto, etc., which provided more than 9% of the gold mining in Russia), iron ore (Korshunovsky GOK), and coal (Tulunugol open pit).

A separate place in this group is occupied by Irkutsk, the administrative center of the region with a diversified industry, which is the center of the emerging agglomeration of the same name. For Irkutsk, there is a significant increase in shipped products by the type of economic activity supply of electricity, gas, and steam, and air conditioning (in 2010, 27.9%, and in 2019, 87.4%). This increase is explained by a peculiarity of statistical accounting: most of the products produced on the territory of the region for this type of economic activity are attributed to the city. In reality, Irkutsk produces 25 times less of them. We note that almost all large energy companies, except for Vitimenergo, are registered in the regional center.

The low development group (Usolye-Sibirskoe, Winter, Tulun, Cheremkhovo, Kirensky, Zhigalovsky, Nizhneudinsky, Usolsky, Mamsko-Chuisky, Zalarinsky, Kazachinsko-Lensky, Taishetsky, Ust-Ilimsky, Bratsky, Nukutsky, Alarsky, Slyudyansky, Chunsky, Chunkhovsky, and Irkutsky) is the most numerous and heterogeneous in its composition. It is characterized by a small share of those employed in the industrial production of the region and a low volume of goods shipped. This group accounts for 8.8% of the volume of shipped goods, works, and services of the region, 16.8% of those employed in industry, and 12.7% of investments. In more than half of the municipalities, the leading type of economic activity is manufacturing, which is represented by medium-sized and large companies: a branch of the Ilim Group in the Bratsk District, Knauf Gips Baikal, Rusforest Magistralny, Usolye Salt Extraction and Processing Shop (part of Russol), and others.

Mining predominates in six municipalities (Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk, IOC, Nedra mining company (GPK), Tyretsky salt mine, Cheremkhovugol open pit, etc.); in Tulunsky district, it is power engineering, and in Mamsko-Chuysky, it is water supply. At the end of 2022, gas is planned to be supplied from the Kovykta field (Irkutsk gas production center) to the Power of Siberia gas trunkline, which is oriented to external consumption (China).

The group includes territories both with industrial enterprises closed in the post-Soviet period and with new industrial facilities that have just begun to function. Single-industry towns (Usolye-Sibirskoye, Cheremkhovo, and Tulun) were given the status of a territory of advanced socioeconomic development to support the economy.

The very low development group (Osinsky, Kuytunsky, Bayandaevsky, Olkhonsky, Balagansky, Kachugsky, Bokhansky, Ekhirit-Bulagatsky, Ust-Udinsky, and Ziminsky districts). This accounts for only 0.1% of the volume of products produced in the region, 0.5% of those employed in industrial organizations of the region, 0.5% of investments in fixed assets. The industry is mainly represented by food. The districts specialize in agriculture, logging, and recreational activities. There are no large companies; small business prevails.

In the first and fourth groups, the priorities in the development of types of economic activity changed, and in the second and third groups, their proportions changed ( Fig. 4 ).

The change in the structure of types of economic activities by groups of municipalities of Irkutsk oblast in 2010 and 2019, %. Types of economic activity: 1 , mining; 2 , manufacturing industries; 3 , supply of electricity, gas and steam; air conditioning; 4 , water supply, sewerage, waste collection and disposal, activities to eliminate pollution.

From 2010 to 2019, the volume of shipped products and investments increased by 3.4 and 3.8 times, respectively (on average per one municipal district) (see Table 1 ), with a decrease in the population and employed in the industrial sector. The greatest change in these indicators is noted in the first and second groups.

Industrial development indicators by groups of municipalities of Irkutsk oblast in 2010 and 2019 (on average for one municipality)

The regional industry is dominated by local organizations of various sizes, a quarter of the large and medium-sized companies are controlled by holding companies such as Gazprom, Rosneft, Polyus, Ilim Group, Rosatom, Rostekh, Mechel, Renova, En+ Group, and RUSAL.

In recent years, as a result of the active development of oil and gas resources, the process of complex formation has begun 1 : for example, IOC is building a polymer plant in Ust-Kut (commissioning is planned in 2024) and is building the Ust-Kutsk gas processing plant for the supply of raw materials (to be launched in 2021).

RUSAL invested and attracted large investments in the construction of the Taishet aluminum plant (the launch was postponed to 2021), as well as the Taishet anode factory, which will meet the plant’s needs for baked anodes. The Ilim Group will build a pulp and cardboard mill in Ust-Ilimsk by 2023, which will increase the production of unbleached packaging materials. These and other projects, which were initiated by big business and are in an active stage, attract investments to the municipalities of the region ( Fig. 5 ).

The share of investments in fixed assets of large and medium-sized organizations of Irkutsk oblast, %. Municipalities: 1 , Irkutsk; 2 , Katangsky district; 3 , Bratsk; 4 , Angarsk; 5 , Usolye-Sibirskoye; 6 , Ust-Kutsky district; 7 , Taishetsky district; 8 , others.

In 2010 the share of investments of the five leading municipalities in the region was 71.2%, while by 2019 the concentration increased to 78.8%. In 2017–2019 investment growth rates increased, on average, in most municipalities (85.7%), especially in municipalities of the third group, the Tulun, Ust-Ilimsky, Kuytunsky, and Cheremkhovsky districts. Per capita investment rates are the highest for municipalities of the first and second groups, Katangsky, Ust-Kutsky, and Bodaibinsky northern regions, which is explained by the large volumes of investments made by large companies in the development of natural resources and the low population density.

CONCLUSIONS

In the last decade, an increase in the share of the raw materials sector (by four times) with a significant decrease in the share of mechanical engineering (by four times), chemical production (by almost two times), energy, and metallurgy determines the structural shifts in the region’s economy. The shift towards the extractive sector, which is more focused on the export of raw materials, structurally simplifies the sectoral composition of industry.

The existing main territories for gold and iron ore mining (Bodaibinsky, Nizhneilimsky regions), as well as peripheral northern regions (Katangsky, Ust-Kutsky), areas for the development of oil and gas resources, have increased their importance and increased concentration in industrial production. In 2019, they accounted for the largest volume of shipped products in the extraction of minerals, 89.1% (2010, 50.6%). This is also facilitated by the pipeline system, the main ESPO oil pipeline and the Power of Siberia gas pipeline (its section under construction in the region), as well as the increased demand for hydrocarbons in the markets of the Asia–Pacific region. The development of the oil and gas industry attracted labor resources from other regions of the country (Western Siberia, the Republic of Tatarstan, etc.). In 2019, the number of workers on a rotational basis exceeded 25 000 people per quarter, of which more than 30% are residents of the region.

The cities, the leading industrial centers of the region (Bratsk, Irkutsk, Angarsk, Shelekhov, Ust-Ilimsk, and Sayansk), whose large enterprises were created in Soviet times, have adapted to changing conditions and still retain their stability. In 2019, they formed 87% of the shipped products of the manufacturing industry (in 2010, 90.5%). Other cities (Tulun, Zima, and Usolye-Sibirskoye) lost their importance as a result of the closure of city-forming enterprises in the post-Soviet period; in 2013, Baikalsk was added to them. As a regional center, Irkutsk is statistically attributed to a significant volume of shipped goods, works, and services in the energy sector (2019, 87.4%), which complicates the territorial analysis of this industry.

To identify intraregional differentiation of the level of industrial development in 2010 and 2019 four groups of medical organizations were identified, which are different in composition depending on the distribution of quantitative criteria (the share of people employed in industrial production and the volume of shipped products of large and medium-sized organizations). Six MOs changed their position in the groups, while the rest retained their positions,

Over the past 10 years, only five municipalities (Irkutsk, Bratsk, Angarsk, Katangsky, and Ust-Kutsky districts) have concentrated more than two-thirds of their investments in fixed assets, which indicates the extreme unevenness of their distribution. Basically, the resource advantages of the region in the implementation of large investment projects in gas chemistry, nonferrous metallurgy, timber processing, pulp and paper production, and mining are used by large businesses that control significant enterprises. However, investment activity has little effect on improving socioeconomic conditions, which has been noted by other researchers [ 14 , 21 ].

The work was carried out at the expense of the state assignment (АААА-А21-121012190019-9).

1 According to P.Ya. Baklanov, the processes of the initial formation and subsequent development of territorial combinations of nodal elements, various enterprises (or territorial-production complexes) are complex formation [ 20 , p. 213].

Contributor Information

N. A. Ippolitova, Email: ur.tsil@pi-anin .

M. A. Grigoryeva, Email: ur.xednay@9irgram .