Architecture, Energy and Environment

Description

This doctoral programme focuses on basic and specific research on various aspects of energy and the environment applied to architecture and urbanism. It covers all of the specific elements that make up the environment of architecture and cities (thermal, light and acoustic), as well as the sociopolitical dimension, which is considered an integral part of architectural and urban design. The programme is a good fit with public research policies in effect, both in the UPC context and in relation to the strategic policy of the Government of Catalonia, the Government of Spain and the European Commission. Two elements of the programme are in consonance with keys goals set out in the academic and university policy of the institutions involved. The first is the provision of training to produce experts (with scientific, technical and creative know-how) in energy-related fields as applied to architecture, building construction and the environment. This aspect of the programme is aligned with strategic objectives defined in recent years in successive framework programmes of the European Commission, in the research and innovation plans of the Government of Catalonia, and in the national plans for scientific research, development and technological innovation of the Government of Spain. In all of these plans, the following key priorities have been identified: progress in efficiency in the use of energy, resource development, support for policies related to assessment of the environmental impact of human activities, and training of experts to design evidence-based policy. The second aspect of the programme that is aligned with strategic objectives at multiple levels the interdepartmental nature of the Architecture, Energy and Environment (AIEM) research group, which leads the doctoral programme and its internationalisation. The group works with a network of researchers based at other universities in Europe and Latin America. These two key features also characterised the doctoral programmes that were the forerunners of the current programme.