Public engagement with research
NERC is the UK's main funder of independent research in environmental science and we receive government money to enable this.
The work we support brings social and economic benefits as well as scientific advances and we are committed to being as open as possible about what we fund and why. We do this through a range of events, activities, publications and online resources, as well as through media coverage.
NERC is a signatory to the Concordat for Engaging the Public with Research 
. The concordat outlines the expectations and responsibilities upon researchers, research organisations, and managers and supporters of researchers.
We have a public engagement with research strategy to guide us in the work we do.
Strategy for public engagement with research (56KB)
The aims are:
- Facilitating public dialogue and debate
- Engaging young people with environmental science
- Encouraging NERC-funded scientists to engage with the public
- Increasing public awareness of our work
Ideas for how this takes place, contacts and links can be found on the following pages:
- Information for researchers
- Information for schools and young people
- Information for the public
- Public dialogue and debate
Our research centres also work with the public, local schools and business, and produce a range of free resources.
A list of the different activities we have funded or supported recently can be seen in the archive of activities.
Please contact us if you would like to know more about our public engagement with research activities.