Our Living Levels want to collaborate with academic institutions and students to further our understanding of the Gwent Levels. We will support primary research on the Levels through forging links with universities and colleges, and providing a postgraduate student placement scheme and support for undergraduates.

Two short-term placements (6-12 weeks) will be offered to postgraduate students (MSc and MA) each year of the programme. Placements will be paid a living wage (£24,571/yr pro rata).

Students can apply to research a predetermined topic from our project portfolio, but are also welcome to suggest their own ideas. Research topics can include, but are not limited to, conservation, social sciences, humanities, heritage, economics, engineering, environmental science, data science, and technology. All projects will need to be agreed in advance with academic supervisors and Our Living Levels’ Natural Heritage Officer.

Placements will be timed for the Summer term and will focus primarily on the agreed area of research, but with opportunities to take part in other Our Living Levels projects. There will be opportunities for placements to work with programme partners for all or part of their placement.

We can also provide T&S and facilitation support for undergraduates undertaking relevant research on the Levels (e.g. through final-year undergraduate research projects).

We can also offer access to ecological data, field sites, and staff expertise within the Landscape Partnership.

A data sharing agreement will need to be signed between Our Living Levels, the student and university, for access to the project datasets and the final dissertation.