About the course
Once you register, you will have access to the course private portal, where you can access learning materials, the online forum, and contact your instructors and fellow students as you progress.
The course has a mixture of targeted lectures, live hands-on workshops and case studies in video and presentation format, live webinars, and a new, practical assignment every week. Your instructors will be available for answering questions on demand, for the duration of the course. There is a weekly live session with either an invited external speaker (webinars) or to work on integrating concepts in a group setting (workshops). These are optional to attend, with a recording of the session shared in the private portal.
Core content
- Principles of ecological engineering and NbS context,
- Environmental and economic quantification of NbS benefits,
- Ecosystem services and life cycle analysis,
- The importance of multipurpose designs,
- Treatment wetlands for water and wastewater treatment,
- Sustainable urban drainage systems,
- Green roofs and green walls,
- Natural flood management strategies,
- Ecosystem restoration and biodiversity net gain,
- Integrating NbS in the circular economy,
- Implementation and funding guidance.
- Regenerative agriculture.
Who should attend
The course is open to delegates from a variety of backgrounds, including environmental scientists, biologists, civil and environmental engineers, and those interested in using ecological principles to solve environmental challenges in urban and rural settings. This is a professional development course that thrives on the diversity of viewpoints and backgrounds, reflecting the varied expertise and context in which NbS can be applied.
Cranfield team:
Dr Gabriela Dotro, Dr Robert Grabowski, Professor Jim Harris, Professor Bruce Jefferson, Professor Paul Leinster, Dr Heather Smith, Dr Joanna Zowadzka, Dr Nick Girkin, Dr Adrian Williams, Dr Andrea Momblanch, Dr Tao Lyu
In addition, this course will be supported by a number of external speakers:
Abraham Esteve, Ana Galvao, Anacleto Rizzo, Andrew Freeman, David Schaub-Jones, Diederik Rousseau, Emma Wren, Fabio Masi, Guenter Langergraber, John Williams, Lucille Paltriguera, Marc Naura, Marcus Huband, Matthew Palmer, Mihai Coroi, Sophie Tremolet, Stan Kang, Vit Rous, Marieke Nieuwaal, Nathalie Dorflinger - Danone Waters and Felicia Rhodes.