Tag: NERC

UK biodiversity renewal project to revive nature and communities receives £10 million investment

Stuart Mitchell

Researchers at the University of Exeter have received £10 million to investigate and tackle biodiversity loss in the UK through partnerships and community action. The ‘Renewing biodiversity through a people-in-nature approach’ (RENEW) project will work with landowners, businesses, and communities to restore woodlands, wetlands and farmland across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The project will put people at the centre of action on biodiversity renewal and build expertise across different sectors and communities to address the environment and climate crisis.  The collaboration between the University of Exeter and the…

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NERC publishes Collaborative Inclusivity summary report

Stuart Mitchell

NERC has released a summary of discussions between its leadership team and environmental researchers at the Collaborative Inclusivity roundtable series in June. As the nation’s leading environmental science research funder, we know at NERC that we have a role in working to change equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the environmental sciences. The aim of the Collaborative Inclusivity roundtable series was to create a shared space to value lived experience. It aims to share best practice, and identify actions to overcome barriers. In the summary report, we have identified and…

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Programme launched to tackle climate anxiety in young people

Stuart Mitchell

The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is launching a new public engagement programme for young adults concerned about the environment. This comes as part of UK Research and Innovation’s (UKRI) contribution to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26). The COP26 eco-anxiety digital engagement project entitled ‘Our Stories, Our Systems’ will facilitate two-way engagement between environmental science researchers and eco-anxious young adults. The project will connect young people aged 15-25 years old across the UK with UKRI funded researchers to tell their climate stories. Through discussing both environmental science research…

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New review of evidence linking the environment and mental health

Stuart Mitchell

A NERC-commissioned environmental science and mental health review looks at the growing evidence of the link between environmental issues and mental health. Mental health is governed by complex, interacting factors including: social economic demographic genetic experiential environmental. Due to this complex intersectionality, there is a general move to developing a more holistic approach to managing mental health. The review, led by researchers at the James Hutton Institute, focused on the potential contribution that environmental science can make to mental health research and innovation. Highlighting correlations The review found a wide…

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