Climate change affects most parts of society – from the economy and environment to public health and energy production. Yet, limited active collaboration and knowledge exchange between climate scientists and the public and private sector impedes our ability to manage climate risks effectively. To address this, we need experts who not only understand climate science but who can also turn this knowledge into practical solutions.
The Norwegian Research School for Climate-informed Innovation and Decision-making aims to train a new generation of PhD students who can bridge the gap between climate science and real-world decision-making. To achieve this, we bring together PhD students and researchers from diverse fields, such as climate and earth science, economics, statistics, geography, renewable energy, and medicine, and partners from the public and private sectors. The research school offers a unique training program beyond traditional academic study, including communication, innovation, relevant technical skills, and interdisciplinary teamwork. PhD students gain hands-on experience by working on real-world problems and collaborate directly with public and private sector partners.
The school’s overall goal is to enhance the relevance of doctoral education for the emerging Climate Services labour market by establishing an internationally recognized program for climate-informed innovation and decision-making. To achieve this, it pursues five specific objectives:
- Foster collaboration and mobility between academia and public/private sectors through joint training in applied climate sciences.
- Equip PhDs to conduct advanced theoretical and applied research with strong interdisciplinary competence.
- Boost career prospects inside and outside academia via training in transferable skills.
- Support PhD progress by engaging students with real-world problems and active roles in teaching and training.
- Promote inclusivity by addressing gender equality and diversity in climate sciences through inclusive teaching strategies.
To meet these goals, the school offers training in innovation, interdisciplinary methods, communication, and technical skills through intensive courses, summer schools, and seminars. In addition, the school organizes all-staff career day events every year bringing together students, partners, and international collaborators for networking, presentations, and short courses.