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Recognition for top class research

20 November 2009

Three UK institutions have been ranked in the top ten of the world's research institutions in geosciences, according to data published this week in the Times Higher Education Supplement.

The ranking is based on the impact of peer-reviewed papers published by scientists in terms of how often they are cited and reveals "heavy hitters based on paper influence, not mere output."

Geoscience encompasses all of those separate scientific disciplines such as oceanography, geology, geophysics, climatology, atmospheric science and geochemistry dealing with the Earth system.

The Met Office Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research was ranked first in the list, and the University of East Anglia came fifth.

The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS) came ninth out of 43,500 institutions surveyed, putting it comfortably in the top 0·05 per cent for geosciences generally. The data included a total of 576 original research reports and review articles published by NOCS scientists between January 1999 and June 2009. These papers accumulated between them 11,627 citations - an average of 20·19 citations per paper.

Further information

NERC Press Office
Natural Environment Research Council
Polaris House, North Star Avenue
Swindon, SN2 1EU
Tel: 01793 411561
Mob: 07917 557215

Notes

1. The data on which the analysis of top institutions in geosciences was based was provided by Thomson Reuters from its Essential Science Indicators January 1999 - June 2009. It appeared in the Times Higher Education Supplement on 19 November 2009.

2. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) funds research at the University of East Anglia and is working closely with the Met Office Hadley Centre in a Joint Climate Research Programme. The National Oceanography Centre, Southampton is a collaboration between NERC and the University of Southampton.

Press release: 28/09