The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) is inviting proposals for public engagement with environmental science that understand, address, or mitigate the impacts
of the COVID-19 outbreak. NERC intends to fund projects costing up to £10,000 each with a total budget of £50,000. Successful projects must be completed by 31 March 2021. The
closing date for proposals is 16:00 (BST) Wednesday 13 May, via email.
Social distancing and the closure of many public institutions present major challenges to engagement, research, and to society. Public engagement with environmental science can
respond to these in a positive way.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
This funding aims to help researchers to find different and better methods of engagement that they would not otherwise be able to implement. It could also help researchers to find
alternative ways to gather data that would otherwise be collected on fieldwork which can no longer go ahead. There is also room to consider how a diversity of audience groups will be affected and able to access digital engagement. There is a wealth of expertise around digital engagement methods, including citizen science, which could be considered when planning effective, excellent engagement.
Desired outcomes
- Capacity of researchers is built to deliver new or changed public engagement with environmental science research, which understand, address, or mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, and/or.
- Delivery of excellent public engagement with NERC research which understands, addresses, or mitigates the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak, and/or.
- The capacity of researchers is built to deliver digital public engagement with environmental science research.
A note on references to the impact-
- Reference to “impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak” could be on research, engagement or any other impact of the outbreak
- Engagement activity should be planned such that it has intended outcomes and impacts. The impact may focus upon society, culture or the environment, or any other area of impact as described by the Research Excellence Framework. Proposed projects should focus on the reach and/or significance of the impact. This is a public engagement call, so there must also be a demonstrable impact on research(ers) as well.
- All impact generating activity must be linked directly to NERC research and generic public engagement with science is not appropriate in this context.
Benefits
NERC intends to fund projects costing up to £10,000 each with a total budget of £50,000.
Eligibilities
- You can apply for Innovate UK funding if you are a UK based business. All kinds of businesses can apply – from pre-startup and new companies to large multi-nationals.
- You can apply for funding if you want to do one or more of the following:
- To test the feasibility of your idea and make sure it will work
- Create a new product, process or service, or improve an existing one, through research and development
- Work with other businesses or research organizations on collaborative projects
- Proposals will be accepted from applicants (project lead) who are normally eligible for NERC grants, based within eligible research organizations
- Proposals must be within NERC’s remit but may include partnerships with other researchers across academic disciplines beyond NERC remit
- Successful projects must finish, as a condition of funding by 31 March 2021
- Any activities must be free at the point of access for public audiences
- Applicants to this call may submit only one proposal as the project lead. Applicants, however, can be co-investigators on multiple projects if appropriate.
- All outputs must be accessible for the intended audience/user
- All public engagement with research must align with NERC’s definition
Application Process
Proposals should be emailed to Hannah Lacey ([email protected]) by 16:00 Wednesday 13 May 2020.
Looking for fully-funded opportunities, install the Youth Opportunities Android or iOS App here.
Application Deadline: May 13, 2020
Application ClosedOfficial link
