Description of Organisation
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is mandated by the Ministry (Department) of Trade and Industry to participate in MarinERA. The Natural Environment Research Council promotes and supports high-quality basic, strategic and applied research, survey, long-term environmental monitoring and related postgraduate training in the full range of environmental sciences. In so doing, NERC advances knowledge and technology, provides services and trained scientists and engineers, and meets the needs of users and beneficiaries (including the agricultural, construction, fishing, forestry, hydrocarbons, minerals, process, remote sensing, water and other industries), thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the effectiveness of public services and policy and the quality of life. NERC provides advice on, and disseminates knowledge and promotes public understanding of, the environmental sciences.
The Natural Environment Research Council manages an annual research budget of over €430 million (2000 – 2004) of which circa €55 million per annum has been used for marine science (marine research, specialist marine research infrastructures and NERC Marine Research Centres)
Marine RTD Funding Programme
NERC funds marine research through its Research and Collaborative Centres, blue skies grants and Directed Programmes. Some highlights of the research carried out can be found here.
Current marine related directed programmes:
Quantifying and Understanding the Earth System (QUEST)
Rapid Climate Change (RAPID)
Surface Ocean/Lower-Atmosphere Study (UK SOLAS)
