Objectives

The main aim of the QUICS ITN was to provide researchers at academic research institutions, water utilities or other public bodies with a comprehensive understanding of water quality processes and uncertainty issues, and knowledge of decision-making strategies for integrated catchment management.

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The other aims of this ITN were to:

  • Develop and consolidate knowledge on the understanding of uncertainty in integrated water quality modelling studies (WP1).
  • Evaluate different approaches for the identification and - where possible - quantification of uncertainty at significant temporal and spatial scales in catchments (WP2, 3).
  • Work with engineering consultants to develop methods that can be used to communicate the implications of uncertainty in water quality predictions to improve the decision-making process (WP4).
  • Disseminate this understanding in a format that can be used by practitioners and public authorities as they implement the WFD (WP4).

The proposed scientific and technological objectives of the ITN were to:

  • Test and further develop statistical methods to elucidate the range of uncertainty in model inputs, parameters and structure in sub-models used to simulate water quality in catchments (WP1).
  • Test and further develop methods to propagate uncertainty in water quality predictions between models with different spatio-temporal resolutions (WP2).
  • Create guidance documents and protocols that advise end users on what type and complexity of integrated water quality model to select for different purposes (WP4).
  • Develop tools to provide information on appropriate modelling tools and data requirements to achieve user-specified confidence levels of water quality predictions for a specific catchment (WP1, 2).
  • Develop tools that enable end users to optimise the resources required for data collection and monitoring efforts (WP3).
  • Develop tools that can be deployed by end users to select responses to potential water quality failures whilst considering all aspects of modelling uncertainty (WP4).
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International Merit Scholarships

We offer a generous package of financial support for international students including 75 undergraduate scholarships worth £10,000 towards the annual tuition fee and 125 postgraduate taught scholarships worth £5,000 towards the tuition fee. Applications are now open for existing offer holders.