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Taxonomy & Systematics
Programme background
A recent report on the status of taxonomy and systematics in the UK by the House of Lords highlighted the decline in the science base, a potential loss of expertise and the lack of a clear strategy among relevant UK institutions.
This issue has significant implications for NERC since delivery of much NERC science, including key elements of the strategy depends upon taxonomic expertise. Training and research opportunities may need to be advanced to arrest this decline but these should be developed against a full understanding of current needs and capabilities in the UK.
This programme is a first step to addressing this issue and encompasses two key activities:
- An expert review to explore needs and capabilities and allow a UK strategy for taxonomy and systematics to be developed.
- Co-funding support for the new Research Councils Systematics and Taxonomy scheme (SynTax). This is designed to provide short-term funding for preliminary research that will form the basis of novel responsive mode proposals with a substantial systematics/taxonomy component.
About the programme