The University of Aberdeen is set to invest nearly £4m to recruit 20 experts to address the key global challenges facing society.
Supported by funding from the University’s Development Trust the positions will strengthen work towards the Aberdeen 2040 strategy and are based around five themed research areas:
- Energy Transition
- Environment and Biodiversity
- Health, Nutrition and Wellbeing
- Social Inclusion and Cultural Diversity
- Data and AI
The campaign message - ‘Where great minds come together’ - reflects the University’s focus on interdisciplinary teaching and research, a key strand of University Principal Professor George Boyne’s ambitions to promote collaboration across disciplines to lead the research agenda of the future.
Professor Marion Campbell, Vice-Principal for Research, said: “This significant investment in 20 academic posts is indicative of our ambitions to bring a highly motivated group of top researchers to Aberdeen to work collectively and individually to solve major global challenges, from energy transition and climate change to the global food crisis and devastating healthcare inequalities.
“At the University of Aberdeen, we’re dedicated to creating a brighter future for all and harnessing the power of our collaborative research to answer the most important questions that will bring benefits to our world both locally and internationally.
“Research is at the core of everything we do and we are dedicated to bringing this next cohort of researchers to Aberdeen to help solve the world’s challenges and as a result bringing about economic, environmental, social, cultural, health and wellbeing benefits for all.
“The University is extremely well-placed to do so having been at the forefront of addressing global challenges since our foundation in 1495.”
Professor George Boyne, Principal, said: “In the last year the University has collected numerous accolades including UK top rankings in the Times and Sunday Times league tables, placing 4th in the UK in the NSS and being awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize – the highest honour for UK further and higher education – for world-leading research and education in Soil Science, among others.
“While the challenges we face today are greater than ever, I am confident that our research output, backed by the investment in these new positions, will make a huge difference to the quality of people’s lives in the North East and in other regions around the world. I very much look forward to welcoming and working with a new cohort of academics who will help us as we continue to enhance our research output which in turn improves the quality of our teaching, helping our staff and students to realise their full potential.”