Activities you can do

Operation Earth

Operation Earth is a national programme run in partnership with the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC), which engages children and their families with environmental science using hands-on activities, experiments, public shows and meet-the-expert sessions.

Our World From Space is a two-year national STEM programme exploring the relevance of UK space science for the future health and sustainability of our home planet, funded by UK Space Agency in partnership with NERC. The programme leverages current learning and connections from Operation Earth and Destination Space, to celebrate, engage and inspire audiences with UK Earth observation science, innovation and skills.

Find out more about the three phases of the programme including full reports on the ASDC website.

Find out more about the programme on the Operation Earth website.

View the summary infographics of phases one to 2.5.

‘Earth’ by Luke Jerram

‘Earth’ is a touring artwork by Bristol-based artist Luke Jerram and commissioned in partnership with NERC, Bluedot Festival and the UK Association for Science and Discovery Centres.

The seven-metre diameter sculpture is covered in breathtaking imagery of Earth’s surface and reflects the wonder of looking back on our planet from space. ‘Earth’ can be presented in a number of ways, both indoors and outdoors. Whether you see it in a park, museum or science centre, you will be amazed by its awe-inspiring presence.

For more information and exhibition schedule, see the Gaia website.

To book ‘Earth’ for your event, contact:

Email: luke@lukejerram.com

AccessLabs

AccessLabs are a way for researchers to build new relationships and help those working in their local community access and use scientific research. NERC worked with non-profit organisations the British Science Association and FoAM to launch AccessLab, running three workshops held in:

Penzance for the marine sector
Exeter for journalists and the media
Plymouth for policymakers.

If you would like to develop a similar event you can read the comprehensive ‘how to run an AccessLab’ guide.

Eco-anxiety

NERC has launched an interactive platform, HoldThis.Space, in collaboration with:

The platform helps young adults to understand and process their feelings related to climate change, such as eco-anxiety, grief or guilt.

The platform uses insights from environmental science to help young people build evidence-based scenarios of a more hopeful, sustainable future. It prompts audiences to think about how they can take action to make a difference.

HoldThis.Space has been co-designed with a team of:

psychologists
environmental scientists
communications specialists
policy experts
climate activists
young people.

Read the Hold This Space report and Hold This Space evaluation to learn more about the project.

Hay Festival Trans.MISSION

Trans.MISSION I is a project pairing leading scientists with award-winning artists to communicate cutting edge science, creating an original and openly accessible piece of work:

climate scientist and mathematician at British Antarctic Survey Emily Shuckburgh joins award winning designer, author and illustrator Chris Haughton (A Bit Lost, Oh No George! and Shh! We Have a Plan) to explore polar science and climate change
Ally Lewis, atmospheric chemist at the National Centre for Atmospheric Science (NCAS), pairs Aardman Animation Studios’ director Dan Binns to look at air pollution
NCAS climate scientist Ed Hawkins joins children’s author Nicola Davies to analyse extreme weather events

Trans.MISSION II is a global project pairing leading environmental researchers with award-winning storytellers to communicate cutting-edge science to new audiences:

Peru’s collaboration focused on tropical glaciers research project, ‘CASCADA’ and featured writer, theatre producer and actress Erika Stockholm who wrote a play ‘Glacier Shallap – or the sad tale of a dying glacier’
Colombia’s paired the research project, ‘BioResilience’ which focuses on biodiversity and indigenous communities, with Colombian art critic, curator, translator and author Juan Cárdenas. He created a short story, ‘Spiral’
in the UK, research project ‘DRY’, which is looking at droughts and water scarcity, provided the inspiration for award-winning author Patrice Lawrence to write the short story, ‘Day Zero and Chips’
following from the creation of the three stories, the award-winning illustrator Chris Haughton created an overarching digital animation, ‘Confluence’, to communicate the science in a different form

How we save the world by Coney

How We Save The World is a story game by Coney created in collaboration with environmental scientists (2018).

Discover Biodiversity with Natural History Museum

Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is under threat. You can take action now to protect it through Discover Biodiversity.

Climate Hub

NERC-funded public engagement resources related to climate change can be found on the Climate Hub.

Last updated: 6 May 2025