AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Partnership (CDP) Studentship – “Weather Sceptics: Almanacs and the Making of Scientific Meteorology in Nineteenth-Century Britain” with the Royal Society and the University of Leeds

Session 2025/26 - Closing Date 17:00 (UK time) 6^th May 2025

Award provides fees and maintenance at UKRI Rates (£20,780 in Session 2025/26), a London allowance of £1,000 per annum plus a £600 enhancement per annum, a Research Training Support Grant and other allowances (pro rata for part-time study).

The School of Philosophy, Religion and History of Science at the University of Leeds and The Royal Society of London are pleased to announce the availability of a fully funded Collaborative doctoral studentship from 1^st October 2025.

Are you interested by how scientists achieve public credibility and authority in the face of public scepticism and misinformation?  Are you intrigued by the role of new media in the process?  Is the application of these insights to public attitudes concerning meteorological phenomena something that attracts your attention?

In this historical project, you will have the opportunity to explore these issues in relation to a critical moment of change in the middle of the nineteenth century, when scientists were seeking to secure the reputation of meteorology.  In particular, you will explore how they sought to use one of the most popular media of the period – the almanac – to establish the science of weather forecasting, supplanting the astrological predictions that had long filled the pages of such publications.

The research project particularly focuses on two ground-breaking almanacs – the British Almanac (1828–1914) and the Illustrated London Almanack (1845–95) – in which scientists were heavily involved, and for which extensive scientific archives survive. Working with the Royal Society collections, you will investigate how these hugely popular publications were used by scientists to convincingly communicate the new scientific approach to weather patterns, how they used information networks in the process, and how they interacted with audiences and critics, at home and overseas.

This project will be jointly supervised by

• Dr. Louisiane Ferlier (Royal Society)
• Mr. Keith Moore (Royal Society)
• Professor Jonathan Topham (University of Leeds) 
• Professor Graeme Gooday (University of Leeds)

The student will be expected to spend time at both the Royal Society and the University of Leeds, as well as becoming part of the wider cohort of CDP funded students across the UK.

Funding for the studentship will be for four years’ duration (or up to six years and eight months part-time) with the expectation that this will include development activities, as applicable to meet the student’s needs, and that the thesis will be submitted within the funding period.

The studentship is open to both Home and International applicants.

We encourage the widest range of potential students to apply for this CDP studentship and are committed to welcoming students from different backgrounds. We particularly welcome applicants from UK Black, Asian, and Ethnically Diverse backgrounds as they are currently underrepresented at this level in this area. All scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit.

Informal enquiries about the project should be directed to the lead supervisor, Professor Jon Topham (j.r.topham@leeds.ac.uk).

If you have any questions about this vacancy or application process, please contact the Admissions team (ahcpgradmissions@leeds.ac.uk)

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