Supporting the Next Generation: SPRING winners 2026
Six emerging water researchers win latest water@leeds SPRING Competition
water@leeds is delighted to announce the six winners of the latest SPRING Competition, celebrating an inspiring new wave of interdisciplinary water research from postgraduate researchers across the University of Leeds. This round showcases innovative projects from the Schools of Civil Engineering; Geography; Earth, Environment & Sustainability; Politics & International Studies; and Philosophy, Religion & History of Science.
As part of our mission to champion the Next Generation of water researchers, each awardee will receive £500 in funding to help advance their projects, develop their fieldwork, and strengthen meaningful collaborations across the globe.
Raied Refaei – School of Civil Engineering
Project: Effect of wetting and drying processes on the geotechnical behaviour of a saline soil with special reference to Sabkha soil
Raied’s project tackles a growing global challenge: how climate-driven wetting and drying cycles affect the stability of saline soils. These soils, common in the Middle East and increasingly worldwide due to road de‑icing salts, pose major risks to infrastructure. SPRING funding will support a three‑month research visit to the Bugshan Research Chair at King Saud University, enabling extensive field sampling and laboratory testing of natural sabkha soils. This collaboration will generate a new, high‑quality dataset to strengthen understanding and future engineering practice.
Guoyu Cheng – School of Geography
Project: From Nature to Resource: Glocal Cultural‑motivated Consumption of Red Coral in the Chinese Market
Guoyu’s research explores how cultural values shape the global trade and conservation of red coral. With SPRING funding, he will conduct targeted fieldwork in Torre del Greco, Italy, a historic hub of Mediterranean coral harvesting. The work bridges perspectives between source regions and consumer markets, providing insights that could inform more culturally nuanced governance of endangered marine species and international wildlife trade.
Elizabeth McGowan – School of Politics and International Studies
Project: Decolonising international development and climate resilience: Indigenous water governance and climate change adaptation in the Pacific
Elizabeth’s PhD challenges the colonial legacies embedded within development aid and climate financing, particularly in highly vulnerable Pacific nations. SPRING funding will allow her to extend her fieldwork, deepening engagement with communities, NGOs, ministries, and local academics. The support enhances her participatory research approach and strengthens long‑term partnerships essential for climate‑resilient water governance.
Hannah Barnett – School of Geography
Project: Glaciers in CrICEis: Understanding the enhanced retreat of glaciers through surface‑based circular collapse features
Hannah’s project investigates circular collapse features—funnel‑shaped depressions that accelerate glacier melt. With help from the SPRING award, she will return to the Zinal Glacier, Switzerland in July 2026 to retrieve sensors and collect rare, season‑long observational data. Her findings will provide fresh insights into the long‑term evolution of these features, with significant implications for alpine communities and policymakers confronting rapid glacier retreat.
Emmanuel Erhijodo – School of Philosophy, Religion & Science
Project: Eco‑spiritual Trauma and Ecological Justice: A Literary and Ethnographic Study of Eco‑spirituality in Niger Delta Poetry
Emmanuel’s research connects poetry, community activism, and ecological justice in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. The SPRING award will fund collaboration with the Centre for Ecopoetics at the University of Warwick, helping Emmanuel explore how poetry can drive advocacy around water pollution. The work will culminate in a practical community engagement guide to support regions grappling with environmental degradation.
Lauren Geiser – School of Earth and Environment & Sustainability
Project: Exploring the shell microstructure, growth, and phylogeny of deep‑sea bivalves from the abyssal Clarion‑Clipperton Zone
Lauren’s project probes the delicate shells of deep‑sea bivalves found in areas of potential seafloor mining—organisms whose life histories remain largely unknown. SPRING funding will enable her to conduct advanced geochemical analyses at the Natural History Museum in London using LA‑ICP‑MS technology. These findings will be crucial for informing environmental guidelines as deep‑sea mining moves toward commercial viability.
Celebrating the Future of Water Research
The water@leeds SPRING Competition continues to shine a spotlight on brilliant early‑career researchers pushing the boundaries of water-focused inquiry. Congratulations to all six awardees—your work is helping build a more resilient, informed, and sustainable water future.