The director of International Research and Innovation Centre for the Environment (I-RICE), Dr. David Tyfield, visited our CAWR (Center for Agricultural Water Research in China) on Jun 15, 2015. Prof. Kang Shaozhong, director of CAWR and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, chaired the meeting.

　　Dr. Tyfield introduced the I-RICE, which is a joint UK-China initiative between Lancaster University and Chinese institutes. The Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) announces €700,000 of funding from the EuropeAid budget of the European Delegation in Beijing to support a major new programme of extended research secondments in China. This will include 26 positions of between 3 and 24 months for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers who are EU citizens.The new project ‘Addressing Food Security, Environmental Stress and Water by Promoting Multidisciplinary Research EU And China Partnerships in Science and Business’ (or ‘SEW-REAP’) is ongoing from April 2015 to the end of 2018. It aims to build research capacity in the EU to tackle global challenges around food, agriculture, and water, through deeply rooted person-to-person research collaborations and institutional connections with internationally-renowned groups in China.  

　　After the introduction on CAWR for current research achievements and potential research topics by Prof. Kang Shaozhong, the meeting focus on the education cooperation on the PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Dr. Tyfield explained the various issues concerned by the CAWR side, which include the determination of research topics, the choices of supervisors and students, study plans, and the requirements for both students and supervisors. The CAWR will work to promote joint education and researchto develop world-class research on food and water issues of global concern. Dr. Tyfield also invited CAWR members to attend the forthcoming extension meeting on next January in Guangzhou.

　　Profs. Guo Ping, WangFengxin, Du Taishen, Mao Xiaomin, Huo Zailin, Tong Ling, Niu Jun etc. participated in the communication meeting.