CDT FORT Hosts Thematic Overview Sessions for Second Cohort

The CDT FORT recently welcomed its second cohort to a pair of online Thematic Overview sessions designed to introduce Year 1 researchers to the Centre’s four core research themes.

As the cohort has not yet transitioned into their individual research phase, the sessions provided an essential foundation—offering clarity on current research activity, identifying gaps, and helping researchers begin shaping their future project directions.

Across both sessions, thematic leads delivered structured overviews that covered:

• Current research landscapes and existing gaps within each theme

• An introduction to the scope and focus of the theme from the Thematic Lead

• Reference to the NCSC Problem Book and other relevant research‑question banks

• Short presentations from eligible academics, invited to share their research interests and highlight potential research gaps or problem areas

• Insights into what researchers already know, helping to frame the current state of the field

Following the thematic introductions, academics from across the CDT’s partner institutions presented concise 1–2 slide summaries of their work. These contributions helped illuminate active research areas, emerging challenges, and opportunities for innovation, supporting the cohort in assessing which themes may align with their future research interests.

The sessions also play a strategic role in preparing the cohort for the upcoming Ideas Lab in January, where researchers will collaborate with industry partners and academic supervisors to develop proposals for their Summer Group Project. By gaining early insight into thematic priorities and research gaps, students are better positioned to generate informed, impactful project ideas.

These Thematic Overview sessions mark an important milestone in the cohort’s journey—supporting them as they transition from foundational training toward shaping their own research pathways within the CDT FORT community.

You can find out more about our Cohort 2 researchers and their selected research themes here.