Tag: NERC

New research prompts initiative to accelerate diversity of environmental sector

Stuart Mitchell

Data released by, SOS-UK and its partners, The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), has revealed that just 4.8% of environment professionals identify as black, asian or minority ethnic, compared with a 12.6% average across all professions.  Despite the efforts of a range of recent initiatives, people of colour remain significantly underrepresented across the environmental sector, according to the new research. Some areas within the environmental sector, such as ‘conservation professionals’ are classified as being 100% white in their makeup, based on the…

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NERC invests £40 million in a green future for the UK

Stuart Mitchell

Scientists will begin work on four studies that will tackle key challenges facing the UK as it adapts to climate change and moves to net zero emissions. Led by the universities of Cambridge, Exeter, Glasgow and Oxford, each team will work to develop solutions to four issues: biodiversity loss achieving net zero cities helping rural communities adapt to climate change providing timely data, analysis and evidence for policy decisions. The four programmes have each received £10 million from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to bring together teams drawing on…

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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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