Sheffield Hallam University
Details
Please note, there is no funding attached to this project. All tuition fees and any other associated costs (including bench fees) must be financed by the student. Please consider this before submitting your application.
The Industry and Innovation Research Institute (I2Ri) draws on talents, expertise and facilities across Sheffield Hallam University. The vision is to be the leading provider of applied research excellence delivering materials, computing, science and engineering innovations meeting the development needs of industry.
PhD Research Topic
This PhD research will explore how Augmented Reality (AR) technologies can be used to enhance landscape literacy and public engagement in multifunctional rural environments undergoing nature recovery and climate adaptation. Set within the Sheffield Lakeland and focused on Ughill Farm, a flagship site for nature-friendly farming managed by the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, this project will investigate the design and deployment of AR experiences that help diverse audiences understand the ecological, cultural, and infrastructural roles of rural landscapes in regional sustainability.
The research aims to address the question: “How can immersive technologies cultivate landscape literacy and environmental agency in communities who are materially dependent on, but experientially disconnected from, their landscapes?” Through co-design with local stakeholders, including land managers, educators, volunteers, and underrepresented urban communities, this project will prototype AR tools that overlay digital media (text, audio, data visualisations, and simulations) onto real-world landscapes to tell richer, more participatory stories about landscape transformation and interdependence.
In line with the Landscape Lab model and the Sheffield Lakeland Partnership’s strategic outcomes, the research will respond to three interlinked goals:
· Liberating the Landscape: AR will help interpret a future in which the landscape is no longer solely a food-and-water production system, but instead a stakeholder in a wider transition towards reduced consumption, ecosystem restoration, and societal resilience. Experiences will communicate how climate-conscious choices made in the city (e.g. dietary change, demand reduction) can relieve extractive pressures on places like Ughill Farm, allowing them to function as habitats, carbon sinks, and cultural commons.
· Empowering through Evidence: The project will integrate data-driven storytelling, using environmental sensor data (from IoT networks or species monitoring programmes) to power real-time or simulated visualisations. These will illustrate dynamic processes (such as water flow, carbon sequestration, or biodiversity change) and show how scientific knowledge can support skills development, vocational training, and new green jobs for local communities.
· Revealing Interdependence: The project will enable urban residents to explore how their well-being, water security, and climate resilience depend on remote rural landscapes. Mobile AR platforms will be tested as tools for participatory education and democratic dialogue visualising ecosystem services, stakeholder impacts, and trade-offs in both rural settings (e.g. on-farm walking trails) and urban venues (e.g. community centres, schools).
Methodologically, the project will combine interaction design, participatory research, and environmental communication to iteratively design, test, and evaluate AR experiences with target audiences. This project is set in the context of a multi-stakeholder partnership of leading environment-sector organisations (the Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, Environment Agency, Natural England, Yorkshire Water and Sheffield City Council) with a 10-year strategic plan for landscape management in the ‘Sheffield Lakeland’ to achieve climate resilience, nature recovery and other benefits to society and the economy.
This project will make a theoretical and applied contribution to the role of AR in ecological literacy. It is particularly suited to a candidate with strong skills in augmented reality development, human-computer interaction, or digital storytelling, combined with a deep interest in environmental communication, sustainability, and social-ecological justice. It offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to real-world challenges of climate change, equity, and environmental governance in a landscape that supports over 1 million people.
We welcome applications on other topics that can be applied in the context of the of Sheffield Lakeland Partnership.
Eligibility
Applicants should hold a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree in a related discipline. A Master’s degree in a related area is desirable. We welcome applications from all candidates irrespective of age, pregnancy and maternity, disability, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, or marital or civil partnership status.
International candidates are required to provide an IELTS certificate with a score of at least 7.0 overall and a minimum of 6.5 in all components. For further information on English Language requirements, please click here.
For further details on entry requirements, please click here.
How to apply
All applications must be submitted using the online application form. To apply, click here. In your application, be sure to include the title of the project that you are applying for.
In your personal statement (1 page maximum), detail your interest in the project and how your experience in academia, industry, research or social activities makes you the best for for the topic. We’re looking for evidence of: motivation and curiosity for postgraduate research, analytical and technical expertise related to the research proposal, ability to communicate clearly, planning and organisational skills, ability to work independently and collaborate with others, commitment to integrity and responsible research, and resilience to setbacks and challenges.
As part of your application, please upload:
· A research proposal (max. 1500 words) in your own words, briefly outlining the proposed research, the current knowledge and context referencing key background literature; a proposed methodology or approach to answer the key questions, and any potential significance or impact of the research
· Copy of your highest degree certificate
· Non-UK applicants must submit IELTs results (or equivalent) taken in the last two years and a copy of their passport.
Applicants must provide 2 references, with at least one to be academic. References must be received directly from the referees.
We strongly recommend you contact the lead academic, Dr. Carlos da Silva – c.dasilva@shu.ac.uk, to discuss your application.
For information on how to apply please visit https://www.shu.ac.uk/research/degrees
Funding Notes
There is no funding attached to this project. The applicant will need to fund their own tuition fees, as well as any associated bench fee and living expenses. The home tuition fee for 25/26 is £5,006 and the international tuition fee for 25/26 is £17,725 (not including any applicable bench fee).
For information regarding bench fees, please contact industry-innovation-admissions@shu.ac.uk
To apply for this job please visit www.shu.ac.uk.