NERC strategy refresh
Previous NERC strategies were replaced after five year fixed terms, with modest adjustment of priorities during that period. The current NERC strategy Next Generation Science for Planet Earth is intended to be dynamic, so that NERC is able to identify and respond readily to changing science needs and priorities, and to align more closely with government spending review cycles.
The concept of a dynamic, rolling strategy also allows NERC to look beyond a fixed point in time so that, in effect, the strategy planning horizon is always five years ahead. The strategy then informs priorities for research programmes (through theme action plans) and national capability (through the national capability advisory group).
The next round of refreshing the strategy will commence early in 2011 and conclude in July 2011. We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the 2010 strategy refresh.
The document below shows the NERC strategy objectives and challenges, as updated through the first cycle of refreshing the strategy.
Refreshing the strategy - 2010 update (84KB)
Outcomes of the refresh process were:
- Added one new strategy objective (now 15 total) and re-numbered all objectives from 4 onwards
- Clarified the description and/or scope of some objectives
- Added some new challenges within objectives
- Deleted some completed or overlapping challenges
- Clarified the description of some challenges
- Re-ordered and re-numbered challenges
- Identified issues to address during the second refresh cycle
Key changes were:
- New objective 4: this provides an overview of the strategy and demonstrates the integration and balance across the strategy.
- New climate systems challenge 5.8 on geoengineering, to respond to changing priorities.
- Removal of the climate systems challenge "to increase knowledge of the role of the polar and tundra regions in the global climate system". While an important area of science that must remain part of NERC's strategy, it was felt this placed inappropriate emphasis on one geographical area, and would no longer be included as it was covered by the other challenges in the climate systems theme.
- Update of the Earth system science theme report that informs objective 8. The updated report and a note explaining the changes can be found below.
Earth system science revised theme report (33KB)
This strategy refresh will not necessitate reprinting of NERC's glossy A4-size strategy brochure. The 'Refreshing the strategy' document above provides the focus for the actual objectives and challenges that NERC will deliver against. This focus will keep evolving as priorities change, whilst the context provided in the strategy brochure remains relevant.