Academic partnerships with Chinese universities boost environment research

The Chinese Scholarship Council supports international research, education and collaboration at the University of Leeds.

The School of Earth and Environment hosts several postgraduate researchers from Chinese institutions, as academic visitors and in joint PhD programmes. 

Visiting researchers join the faculty at the Institute for Geophysics and Tectonics (IGT), the Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS), the Institute for Applied Geoscience (IAG), and the Earth Surface Science Institute (ESSI). 

The Chinese Scholarship Council scheme has been running for 15 years, during which time Faculty of Environment academics have built reciprocal relationships with researchers, supervisors and institutions in China. 

China has prominent environment research and innovation institutions, and the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds has expertise in a broad range of research tools including satellite sensing and computer modelling technologies.  

In collaboration, visiting researchers and their supervisors at Leeds gain invaluable insights and experiences from the scheme. 

Weather patterns and climate effects

Professor Amanda Maycock supervises visiting researchers studying climate science. Chongyang Zhang and Tong Shen have just completed a year-long visit to the University of Leeds. 

Their experience in the School of Earth and Environment has expanded their research into new topics. 

Tong studies natural variations in the Earth’s climate, particularly the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO). ENSO causes frequent weather and climate extremes and can persist over several years. 

With Professor Maycock, Tong uses climate models to study the effects of ENSO, comparing the regional climate effects of single-year events with 2- and 3-year long events. 

ENSO correlates with 80% of all multi-year drought and wet spells across the tropics and subtropics, and the risks of these extreme conditions increase with longer ENSO events. Tong’s research will support extreme weather predictions and climate change adaptation. 

He says: "The one-year visit was really an impressive adventure for me. Collaboration with Professor Maycock exposed me to new research areas on the multi-year ENSO and gave me many new scientific ideas. This experience will definitely support my future research, which I will continue after returning home.” 

​Zhuo Li, Amanda Maycock, Chongyang Zhang and Tong Shen in the Priestley Building

Chongyang Zhang found out about the opportunity to study at the University of Leeds through his supervisor, Professor Wenshou Tian, who is an alumnus. 

Chongyang researches wind patterns high in the atmosphere. 

He examines how these wind patterns affect Arctic sea ice loss’s influence on regional weather patterns. He uses observation-based data and models of the climate system in his research.

Chongyang compares the patterns to weather in the northern hemisphere and examines how the climate systems change these patterns over time. 

He says: “My supervisor in China previously studied at the University of Leeds, so I had known about the university for a long time. The Institute for Climate and Atmospheric Science (ICAS) conducts extensive research on atmospheric dynamics and climate change, which closely aligns with my field of study.  

“I reached out to Professor Maycock, who has made significant contributions to climate dynamics research. She warmly welcomed me to join her group at Leeds and has consistently supported all her students with kindness. 

“During my visit, one of my papers was accepted by npj Climate and Atmospheric Science, and another is currently in preparation. I am deeply grateful to Amanda and CSC for supporting my one-year visiting study.  

“While this experience will come to an end this month, it marks the fundamental beginning of future collaborative projects and long-term academic connections.” 

We want to collaborate, share high-quality science and grow our capacity

Now, Zhuo Li has joined Professor Maycock on a joint PhD project between the University of Leeds and Nanjing University of Science and Technology. 

Zhuo researches the causes of extreme, record-breaking heatwaves in China, asking whether it’s possible to predict them in advance. 

Zhuo said: “When I learned about this dual PhD program, I applied without hesitation. I am very grateful for the scholarship from the China Scholarship Council and the opportunity provided by the university.  

“My research topic is the dynamics and predictability of record-breaking heat waves in China, supervised by Professor Amanda Maycock and Professor Cathryn Birch. As an international student, this not only exposed me to a different scientific research training system, but also allowed me to exercise my abilities and broaden my international perspective.”

The joint PhD programme, facilitated through CSC funding, was established by Professor Steve Banwart. 

Professor Maycock said: “This scheme is amazing. It's important for people doing PhDs to gain experience in another part of the world, in different institutes and countries. 

“We want to collaborate, share high-quality science and grow our capacity. It benefits the School of Earth and Environment as we collaborate on the excellent research and papers that the visiting researchers produce. 

“The early career visitors are very talented and trained to a high level. Despite not always having a lot of time here, visitors hit the ground running and get a lot of great research done.” 

Professor Maycock explains that she has made new contacts in China through the scheme, as she’s worked together with the supervisors of the visiting researchers. 

Tectonics and earthquake activity

China has some of the highest volume of earthquake activity and deformation rates on earth, meaning it’s a priority for research in the country. 

The Institute for Geophysics and Tectonics (IGT) has an international reputation for expertise in geophysics and satellite remote sensing, made more widely known by its collaborations with international researchers and institutions. 

In the School of Earth and Environment, visiting researchers study earth observation, earthquakes and volcanoes, including topics such as the deformation of the Tibetan Plateau. 

Welcoming Chinese researchers at the IGT with Professor Tim Wright, Dr John Elliott and Professor Andy Hooper provides all parties with new insights, techniques and experiences. 

Lina Su is a visiting researcher from Shaanxi Earthquake Agency in Xian. In her research, Lina uses remote satellite sensors to track and study the crust deformation of northeastern Tibet.  

Lina said: “I came to Leeds because the School of Earth and Environment is one of the world’s most renowned institutes for InSAR research. My supervisor, Dr John Elliott, is someone whose work I greatly admire—I had read his papers before coming here and was inspired by his research. I am confident that collaborating with him will help me advance my studies significantly.   

“The School of Earth and Environment offers many seminars that introduce cutting-edge research, which have broadened my perspectives and deepened my understanding. 

“I am deeply grateful to the China Scholarship Council for supporting my studies abroad and to the University of Leeds for providing access to excellent facilities and resources. Most of all, I truly appreciate John’s guidance and support.” 

Students and researchers on field trip. Image by Ben Craven, School of Earth and Environment

Dehua Wang is a PhD student based at the University of Leeds, funded by the CSC. Dehua studies the dynamics of the Altyn Tagh fault on the border of the Tibetan Plateau. 

Researching the patterns of strains in the Altyn Tagh fault, and its effects on earthquakes, supports a wider understanding of seismic hazards in the region and beyond. 

Dehua said: “During my PhD journey, I benefited greatly from the dedicated guidance of my supervisors and the freedom to explore cutting-edge research questions. The university fosters a strong academic atmosphere, respects cultural diversity, and provides thoughtful care to its students. 

“The institute I belong to is actively engaged in academic exchanges, and my colleagues in the research group have been incredibly supportive.” 

Dehua, Dr Elliott, Dr Gang Zheng, Professor Tim Wright, Andrew Watson and Jack McGrath published a paper on interseismic strain accumulation on the Altyn Tagh fault in Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 

Our research student and academic visitors supported by the China Scholarship Council have become a critical part of our vibrant research environment

Dr Elliott says: “The Chinese Scholarship Council schemes benefit the University of Leeds by supporting highly productive, hard-working individuals to research at the University. It provides funding and increases our capacity for collaborative research. 

“Visitors come from a range of institutions with high-quality research backgrounds. At Leeds, they can gain valuable experience working overseas and in different institutions. 

“It would be great to have more co-funding between Leeds and Chinese institutions and to get more support for the joint PhDs." 

Professor Tim Wright, Director of Research and Innovation in the School, says: “Our research student and academic visitors supported by the China Scholarship Council have become a critical part of our vibrant research environment.  

“In our research group, they have worked with us to combine satellite and ground-based data that is revealing in detail how the Eurasian continent is deforming in response to the ongoing northward movement of the Indian plate, and the role of earthquakes in accommodation that deformation.  

“Our CSC research students and academic visitors are active members of our collaboration with the Global Earthquake Model foundation, which is using our academic findings to build the next generation of seismic hazard and risk models.”