MANUFACTURING

The ambitious studies, led by some of the UK’s leading scientists, are each tackling fundamental questions about the earth and our environment, including how we interact with our planet. The studies will establish whether the Earth's Core has multiple layers by building supercomputer models to explain seismic and magnetic field data. The research could change our understanding of processes that generate our planet’s protective magnetic field. 

A project, led by Dr. Christopher Davies at the University of Leeds, is establishing the origin of Earth's magnetic field that is crucial for understanding planetary habitability and evolution and is widely recognized as a fundamental goal in Earth Science. The field has shielded the surface environment from solar radiation for billions of years and now helps mitigate against space weather events, which can significantly impact telecommunications and power grids. Yet the field is generated in the iron core, an ocean of liquid metal 2800 km below the surface, and so the changes we experience at Earth’s surface reflect dynamics in the most remote region of our planet.

The standard model of Earth’s core cannot explain crucial observations from seismology and geomagnetism and therefore lacks essential physics. Dr. Davies believes that the observations can be explained by viewing the Earth’s Core as a system of coupled layers, each with its own unique dynamics. To test this hypothesis, he will develop a new model of the core that requires major enhancements to existing supercomputer codes and solutions of new and complex systems of equations.

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) has invested a total of £8 million in the research as part of a unique pilot scheme to fund high-risk and innovative science. This is the first time NERC has launched a project of this kind.

The Pushing the Frontiers project aims to facilitate truly adventurous and ambitious science and exploit new technologies and approaches.

The projects will be funded for between three and four years.

UK Science Minister Amanda Solloway said, “If the UK is to lead the world in achieving scientific breakthroughs, it’s vital that we give our most pioneering scientists and researchers license to go where others haven’t before by driving forward high-risk, high-reward research.

“That’s why we are backing these five ambitious studies to the tune of £8m, to help solve unanswered questions about our Universe – from the origins of Earth to whether there is life on Mars - all while helping to secure the UK’s status as a global science superpower.” 

Robyn Thomas, Associate Director of Research and Skills at NERC, said, “These highly innovative research projects could advance our understanding of fundamental questions in environmental and earth science, and lead to important scientific breakthroughs. The grants are the outcome of an exciting new pilot scheme to encourage and fund some of the UK’s most exceptional environmental scientists to lead more risky and transformational research.”