Press releases: 2007

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New appointment to NERC

13 Dec 2007
Professor Robert Watson joins NERC. New appointment to NERC

Biodiversity exhibition impresses

6 Dec 2007
Northern Ireland Department of the Environment's Permanent Secretary, Stephen Peover, visits an interactive exhibition at W5 in Belfast. Biodiversity exhibition impresses

£14m available for biodiversity research

30 Nov 2007
Around €20m, almost £14m, is up for grabs in a new partnership programme that tackles the alarming decline of plant and animal species on our planet. £14m available for biodiversity research

International research campaign for the West African monsoon

26 Nov 2007
Scientists from across the globe meet to assess results of the first major international programme to understand the science that lies behind the West African monsoon. International research campaign for the West African monsoon

Storing carbon deep in the earth

26 Nov 2007
Storing carbon dioxide deep below the earth's surface could be a safe, long-term solution to one of the planet's major contributors to climate change. Storing carbon deep in the earth

Like father, like son: attractiveness is hereditary

21 Nov 2007
New research by the University of Exeter, published this week in Current Biology, shows that attractiveness is hereditary. Like father, like son: attractiveness is hereditary

Spin out success beckons

19 Nov 2007
Scientists at Oxford Brookes University and CEH have collaborated on a spin out company providing products, services and consultancy to global pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Spin out success beckons

IPCC Synthesis Report published today

17 Nov 2007
Today the IPCC publishes its Synthesis Report, the result of many years work in reviewing the vast and complex science related to climate change. IPCC Synthesis Report published today

A new environmental strategy for a rapidly changing planet

15 Nov 2007
The Natural Environment Research Council has launched a new strategy to tackle the major environmental challenges we face now and in the future. A new environmental strategy for a rapidly changing planet

Ice age imprint found on cod DNA

14 Nov 2007
An international team of researchers has demonstrated how Atlantic cod responded to past natural climate extremes. The new research could help in determining the vulnerability of cod to future global warming. Ice age imprint found on cod DNA

Coral reefs will be permanently damaged without urgent action

31 Oct 2007
Research published in Nature shows reefs will continue to decline over the next 50 years unless we change the way we manage the marine environment. Coral reefs will be permanently damaged without urgent action

Rapid analysis could cut health risks of volcanic ash

11 Oct 2007
A new, rapid and cheap way of estimating the potential risk posed to human health by volcanic ash has been devised by a researcher from the University of Durham. Rapid analysis could cut health risks of volcanic ash

Next generation environmental science

10 Oct 2007
NERC welcomes the announcement of an increase to the science budget. Next generation environmental science

Deepest ocean drilling to understand earthquakes

1 Oct 2007
One of the most ambitious earth science expeditions yet mounted to gain a better understanding of the earthquake process, has begun off the coast of Japan. Deepest ocean drilling to understand earthquakes

NERC appoints science 'champions'

28 Sep 2007
NERC announces the appointment of its new 'theme leaders' who will champion seven environmental science themes and encourage partnerships across the research and stakeholder community. NERC appoints science 'champions'

Chips reveal link between fish diet and evolution

28 Sep 2007
Chips from 10 million years ago have revealed new insights into fish diets and their influence on fish evolution. Chips reveal link between fish diet and evolution

Should modern living carry a health warning?

13 Sep 2007
A new £4·4m partnership programme to explore the impacts of modern living on our health has just started to fund its first research projects. Should modern living carry a health warning?

Cheaper toxic waste disposal solutions

11 Sep 2007
A novel, safe, cost-effective method of treating and disposing of waste metalworking fluids has been developed by researchers from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Cheaper toxic waste disposal solutions

New research programmes unveiled

10 Sep 2007
The power of partnership is helping the UK research community respond to the environmental issues we face today. New research programmes unveiled

New research identifies how one storm can affect another

5 Sep 2007
Weather forecasting and climate modelling for the notoriously unpredictable Sahel region of Africa could be made easier in the future. New research identifies how one storm can affect another

National atmospheric database tops 10,000 users

31 Aug 2007
A scientist studying amphibians is the ten thousandth user to access a national database of weather and atmospheric measurements. National atmospheric database tops 10,000 users

Higher river levels as more carbon dioxide makes plants less thirsty

30 Aug 2007
Rising carbon dioxide levels will increase river levels in the future, according to a team of scientists from the Met Office Hadley Centre, the University of Exeter and the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. Higher river levels as more carbon dioxide makes plants less thirsty

Potential new marine species discovered in Atlantic study

17 Aug 2007
An international team of scientists are returning from a five-week scientific expedition in the Atlantic that has uncovered a wealth of new information and insights. Potential new marine species discovered in Atlantic study

Unique monitoring system for the Atlantic circulation proves its worth

17 Aug 2007
An international team led by scientists from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, have established a unique system of observational instruments that will help to provide early detection of rapid climate change. Unique monitoring system for the Atlantic circulation proves its worth

Appointments to the Natural Environment Research Council

3 Aug 2007
Professor Anne Glover and Professor Thomas Meagher join NERC. Appointments to the Natural Environment Research Council

Riddles in the sand and scientific solutions

19 Jul 2007
NERC publishes its Annual Report 2006-07. Riddles in the sand and scientific solutions

£3m to investigate how our ancestors coped with abrupt climate change

18 Jul 2007
A research consortium, led by Royal Holloway, University of London, has been awarded funding of £3m to develop a novel approach for assessing how humans may have responded to rapid environmental changes during the recent past. £3m to investigate how our ancestors coped with abrupt climate change

Greenland's ancient forests shed light on stability of ice sheet

6 Jul 2007
Ice cores reveal evidence of a surprisingly lush forest that existed in the region within the past million years. Greenland's ancient forests shed light on stability of ice sheet

Polar Meltdown at the Royal Society

3 Jul 2007
NERC's "Polar Meltdown" exhibit is at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, 2-5 July. Polar Meltdown at the Royal Society

Hot on the trail of mantle

28 Jun 2007
Scientists have found a way to track the path of mantle flowing beneath the Earth's continents. Hot on the trail of mantle

Successful fathers have less successful daughters

28 Jun 2007
The strongest and fittest of a species might be expected to produce the best offspring, but this is not always the case. Successful fathers have less successful daughters

Science & Innovation Strategy Board chairman

15 Jun 2007
Professor Duncan Wingham has been announced as the next Chairman of the Science & Innovation Strategy Board. Science & Innovation Strategy Board chairman

Death of a student in Madagascar

14 Jun 2007
BGS was sorry to learn of the death of a Malagasy student employed by local sub-contractors on a geological mapping team. Death of a student in Madagascar

GM field trials 'underestimate potential for cross-pollination'

1 Jun 2007
Field trials could be underestimating the potential for cross-pollination between GM and conventional crops. GM field trials 'underestimate potential for cross-pollination'

UK's biggest ever countryside survey starts this week

18 May 2007
The biggest and most comprehensive survey of the natural resources of the British countryside begins this week. UK's biggest ever countryside survey starts this week

Marine reserves could save coral reefs

15 May 2007
Threatened coral reefs could be given a helping hand by establishing marine reserves, according to a research team led by the University of Exeter. Marine reserves could save coral reefs

Could carrots be the secret to a long life and sex appeal?

10 May 2007
Researchers find eating certain plant substances can slow down the rate of ageing - and that females prefer mates that will be long-lived. Could carrots be the secret to a long life and sex appeal?

Monitoring the environment from space

1 May 2007
A new Earth Observation Centre that will enable the UK to further strengthen its position in international Earth observation programmes is announced today. Monitoring the environment from space

Fluorescent worms and sex changing fish

12 Apr 2007
Bio- fluorescent roundworm and sex changing fish may sound like exhibits in a freak show but they both play a vital role in a major research programme. Fluorescent worms and sex changing fish

Chernobyl - risks from radiation exposure less significant than we think

3 Apr 2007
A new study has found that risks from radiation exposure to people involved in the Chernobyl incident may be much less significant than most of us think. Chernobyl - risks from radiation exposure less significant than we think

NERC response to the DTI's Spring Supplementary Estimates

29 Mar 2007
NERC announces the outcome of its Council's discussions on the loss of £9.7m as a result of the DTI's Spring Supplementary Estimates. NERC response to the DTI's Spring Supplementary Estimates

Dinosaur extinction didn't cause the rise of present-day mammals

29 Mar 2007
A new, complete 'tree of life' tracing the history of all 4,500 mammals on Earth shows that they did not diversify as a result of the death of the dinosaurs. Dinosaur extinction didn't cause the rise of present-day mammals

More than £2m for nanoscience research

28 Mar 2007
NERC welcomes the review of progress in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, published yesterday by the Council for Science & Technology. More than £2m for nanoscience research

Appointments to NERC

28 Mar 2007
Malcolm Wicks MP, Minister for Science & Innovation, has announced three new appointments. Appointments to NERC

New director for the British Antarctic Survey

23 Mar 2007
Professor Nick Owens will become director of BAS in late summer 2007. New director for the British Antarctic Survey

Science strikes oil

14 Feb 2007
The UK oil industry is benefiting from the knowledge that science can provide. Science strikes oil

HRH The Princess Royal names new scientific research ship

5 Feb 2007
The £40m research ship RRS James Cook is the latest addition to NERC's fleet of oceanographic research ships. HRH The Princess Royal names new scientific research ship

Climate change experts and IPCC

31 Jan 2007
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) publishes its report on Friday. NERC has a number of scientists available to talk about climate change issues. Climate change experts and IPCC

Earth-shattering proof of continents on the move

30 Jan 2007
Africa is being torn apart. And as Ethiopia's rift valley grows slowly wider, an international team of scientists is taking a unique opportunity to plot the progress of continents on the move. Earth-shattering proof of continents on the move

Press releases: 2007

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