The Forward Look for Environmental Science has been published as the research funder marks its 60th birthday.
This framework will guide the Natural Environment Research Council’s (NERC) funding and strategic decisions over the next decade, ensuring that UK environmental science remains world-leading and fit for the future.
Supporting UK priorities
NERC will ensure environmental science in the UK plays a crucial role in driving economic growth, improving lives and adapting to climate change.
It will help develop solutions for biodiversity decline, climate change and pollution of our air, seas and land.
The framework supports the UK government’s ambition for a long-term, whole-systems approach to research investment, with science embedded in all areas of policymaking.
Why this matters?
New discoveries and technologies in environmental science are crucial to the UK’s prosperity and wellbeing.
Professor Louise Heathwaite, Executive Chair of NERC, said:
As the leading funder of environmental research and innovation in the UK, NERC has launched this ambitious framework for what will be a transformative decade.
The Forward Look reflects our determination to drive innovation and growth, improve the UK’s environmental security in a changing world and support the talented people whose curiosity pushes our field forward.
Working with our community and partners in the UK and internationally, the funding investments we make will deliver the best outcomes for the country and its citizens.
Three priorities
This strategy will support the science community in achieving three strategic priorities over the next decade.
Green growth
Supporting the transition to net zero in a way that benefits all communities, while unlocking new markets through responsible innovation and environmental evidence.
Environmental security
Boosting national security and enhancing the UK’s ability to respond to environmental change and its impacts, protecting people, jobs and communities.
Responsible innovation
Supporting innovation, smarter regulation and enabling the development of new products and services through environmental science.
Investing in environmental science
To deliver on these priorities, NERC will invest in the full spectrum of environmental science, from curiosity-driven to mission-led research.
The Forward Look emphasises the importance of:
-
- broadening the environmental science community
- welcoming talent from all disciplines and career stages
- equipping the community with the skills needed for the future, including commercialisation and interdisciplinary collaboration
NERC will also strengthen its data and analytical capabilities, ensuring that environmental data can be integrated with other major datasets in areas such as health and social sciences.
NERC at 60
Since its inception on 1 June 1965, NERC has played a transformative role enabling world-leading environmental science research spanning the entirety of our Earth.
NERC has been contributing to solving some of the world’s biggest environmental challenges on land, and in our seas and the air.
NERC’s success over the past 60 years has only been possible through strong, global partnerships within and beyond the environmental science community.
Not only is this anniversary an opportunity to reflect on how far NERC has come as an organisation, the 10-year Forward Look is a roadmap to embracing the future.