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NERC's strategy

Next Generation Science for Planet Earth: 2007-2012Next Generation Science for Planet Earth 2007-2012

Overview

NERC's strategy, Next Generation Science for Planet Earth, was launched in November 2007. The strategy sets out an overview of how NERC, in partnership with others, will respond to the critical issue of the 21st century - the sustainability of life on Earth.

The strategy comes at a critical time for planet Earth, as rapid economic and population growth put increasing pressure on natural resources, and human activities are causing unprecedented environmental change, including changes to the global climate. These major global environmental challenges require solutions from the scientific community.

NERC has identified seven strategic science themes in the new strategy as well as four organisational goals which together address both the UK's science needs as well as how NERC will deliver the research required to meet these needs.

The strategy was developed with the UK's environmental research users, funders and providers, and sets out the challenges for both our science and how we manage our activities.

NERC's strategic goal

To deliver world-leading environmental research at the frontiers of knowledge:

  • enabling society to respond urgently to global climate change and the increasing pressures on natural resources;

  • contributing to UK leadership in predicting the regional and local impacts of environmental change from days to decades; and

  • creating and supporting vibrant, integrated research communities.


Next Generation Science for Planet Earth (full strategy document) can be downloaded or ordered.

An overview leaflet is also available.

What is different in the strategy?

A change from our last strategy is that we have developed clear processes for delivering the priorities it describes. The strategy will be regularly refreshed so that NERC can remain responsive to the changing world.

We have reviewed how we will deliver our strategy and you can read more in the delivering the strategy and managing NERC's performance sections.

Key changes:

  1. A rolling strategy, regularly refreshed.

  2. A change in how research is funded.
    See delivering the strategy for more information about NERC's three new funding streams.

  3. Changes to the way NERC manages performance.
    See managing NERC's performance for information about how we will monitor progress and manage the performance of our strategy.

  4. Introduction of theme leaders.
    See science themes for more information about the theme leaders.

Find out how we developed the strategy.