Priestley Scholars: Connecting People, Ideas, and Impact Across Campus
Professor James Ford took over as academic lead of the Priestley Climate Scholars programme in 2023. Here he reflects on how the programme is helping Priestley achieve its goal of empowering climate action.
As the Priestley Centre celebrates its 10th anniversary, it is a moment to reflect not only on our research breakthroughs and policy impact, but on the people and communities that have made these advances possible. Among one of our most impactful initiatives, the Priestley Scholars programme stands out as a powerful example of how investing in people and networks—particularly our students—can shape the future of climate action.
From the outset, the programme was created to address a clear challenge. Climate change is not a problem that sits neatly within disciplinary boundaries, yet much of doctoral training still does. PhD students develop deep expertise in their fields but often lack opportunities to engage meaningfully with perspectives beyond them. The Priestley Scholars programme was designed to bridge this gap—bringing together students from across disciplines to learn from one another, build shared understanding, and develop the skills needed to tackle complex, real-world climate challenges. In the 2025/26 cohort of Scholars, for example, we have students from diverse schools across campus, ranging from Fine Art to Mechanical Engineering to Political Science to Earth & Environment.
What makes the programme so distinctive is an emphasis on both depth and breadth. Scholars remain rooted in their own research but are supported to step outside it—to explore how their work connects with other fields, how it can be communicated beyond academia, and how it might contribute to meaningful change. This combination has proven to be both energising and transformative not only for the PhD students involved, but also for the Priestley team who lead it.
At the heart of the programme is a strong sense of community. Through regular seminars, workshops, and informal discussions held bi-weekly throughout the academic year, Scholars engage with a wide range of topics—from interdisciplinary methods and climate communication to leadership and career development. These sessions are not simply about acquiring new knowledge; they are spaces for dialogue, reflection, contestation, and collaboration.
Over time, cohorts have developed a shared identity that extends beyond individual disciplines or departments. Scholars frequently describe the value of being part of a group where diverse perspectives are not only welcomed but essential. It is within this environment that new ideas emerge—often at the intersections of fields—and where lasting professional relationships are formed. These experiences highlight a core strength of the programme: it creates the conditions for interdisciplinary thinking not as an abstract concept, but as a lived, collaborative practice.
Since its inception, seven cohorts of students have participated in it. Scholars have gone on to make significant contributions across academia, policy and industry. Alumni have secured academic positions, contributed to major climate assessments, worked within government and international organisations, and driven innovation in the private sector. A particular highlight for me was how discussions within the Scholars inspired the idea for an edited book, “Climate Futures Across Disciplines: A Next Generation Approach”, published in June. What makes it especially rewarding is that the book was edited by Scholars and features many chapters authored by them, showcasing the creativity, insight, and interdisciplinary thinking that the initiative fosters.
While their career paths are diverse, a common thread runs through their experiences: the ability to work across boundaries. Many alumni point to the programme as a formative influence—one that helped them develop the confidence to engage with different audiences, collaborate across disciplines, and think more broadly about the impact of their work.
In a rapidly evolving climate landscape, these skills are essential. The challenges we face require not only technical expertise, but also the ability to connect ideas, people and systems. By supporting early-career researchers to develop these capabilities, Priestley Climate Scholars is helping to build a new generation of climate leaders.
Looking ahead, the role of initiatives like this is ever more important. Higher education is changing, as are the expectations placed on researchers. There is increasing recognition that addressing global challenges requires new forms of training, new kinds of collaboration, and stronger links between research and society. The programme is well placed to respond to this context. There is an opportunity to further expand its reach, deepen its engagement with partners beyond academia, and continue evolving in response to the needs of students and the wider climate community. Strengthening support for students—particularly as they navigate uncertain career pathways—will remain a key priority.
Above all, there is reason for optimism. Each cohort of Scholars brings fresh perspectives, creativity and commitment. Their work reflects not only the urgency of the climate challenge, but also the potential for innovation and change.
As we look to the next decade, the message is clear: investing in people matters. By fostering interdisciplinary thinking, building supportive communities, and empowering students, the Priestley Climate Scholars programme is helping to shape a more connected, capable, and impactful climate research community at the University of Leeds.