Background
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is the UK’s leading public funder of environmental science. We work with our research centres, higher education institutions, government, civil society and business to shape the direction of environmental research and innovation, fund cutting-edge discovery science and strategic research, and provide the training, skills and infrastructure the UK needs to remain at the forefront of environmental science. NERC’s long-term ambitions and the next steps to delivery are detailed in the NERC Strategic Delivery Plan.
NERC is part of UK Research and Innovation, a body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. UKRI aims to maximise the contribution of each of its component parts, working individually and collectively. We work with our many partners to benefit everyone through knowledge, talent and ideas.
Purpose
The NERC Advisory Network (the network) is a flexible pool of individuals, with diverse stakeholder perspectives and expertise, who advise the NERC Council and Executive as required in a timely manner.
An important principle governs the network function: the separation of the provision of strategic advice from decision-making and delivery by the executive.
The purpose of the network is to provide NERC with:
- advice in developing new strategies, policies and plans
- advice on specific issues with a particular emphasis on the translation from strategy and policy to implementation and operation
- an appropriate environment for testing new ideas with the breadth of our stakeholder community
- an avenue for two-way dialogue with the research and user communities on topical issues
- perspectives from a diversity of NERC stakeholders and partners to inform the breadth of NERC’s mission, remit and funding operations.
Membership
The network will comprise up to 60 members.
Members will declare any personal, private or commercial interests that might conflict with the interests of NERC, and must withdraw from any discussion of topics in which they have such an interest.
The names of all network members together with a register of potential conflicts of interest will be published on this website.
This network will include a range of disciplines, backgrounds and career stages, some of which will be from outside environmental sciences and cover specific areas of NERC portfolio, such as:
- capital
- innovation
- national capability
- training and research careers
- policy
- public engagement
- international.
Members will represent at least the following areas:
- active researchers at various career stages
- users of research, including business and UK national government
- others including public engagement experts, international partners and representative bodies.
Appointment of members
Members will normally be appointed for a three-year period. In order to ensure the maximum flexibility and to ensure long-term continuity across the network membership, NERC will ensure there is staggering of terms.
NERC Advisory Network members are appointed by the NERC Executive in line with HMT and Cabinet Office guidance.
All NERC Advisory Network members and other invited attendees should uphold the seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
Modus operandi
The network will typically be deployed via time-limited task and finish groups brought together to address specific questions, on which the executive requires advice. Each group will be chaired by a senior responsible person from the commissioning body for that task (such as executive, council or Science Committee).
The network will also meet as a group annually at a ‘network meeting or retreat’ with the aim of exchanging knowledge and experience and allowing the executive to provide an update to all members on broader strategic context and priorities for NERC. Members will be expected to make every effort to attend this event.
Network members may be asked to attend other NERC events or meetings (including Science Committee) for specific issues, and to advise UKRI more broadly on relevant environmental science and policy issues.
Members are expected to bring a broad strategic view to bear and advise across the breadth of NERC’s portfolio.
Members are not required to act as representatives of their own organisation, research area or sector.
Reporting and engagement
NERC Advisory Network is formally overseen by NERC Management Board, and its terms of reference will be approved by council.
NERC Advisory Network members may be invited to attend the annual council retreat.
The NERC Executive will facilitate business planning and engagement and constitution of task and finish groups between the network, council and the executive, to be led by NERC’s Director of Research and Skills.
On matters of policy advice to NERC, the Science Committee may also engage with working groups convened from the wider NERC Advisory Network.
Committee secretariat
Network task and finish groups will be supported by a secretariat provided by NERC.
Review of terms of reference
This document will be reviewed regularly, taking account of UKRI and NERC governance, policy and strategy.