Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Science Committee - Membership vacancies

Shortlisting meeting: End of July 2024

Interview dates: 21 October (pm), 23 October (pm) and 24 October 2024 (via zoom) 

Time commitment: 17 days each year including three Science Committee meetings  (Up to two days per meeting)

Number of positions: Five 

Length of service: Three years

First meeting: March 2025

Would you be interested in an exciting opportunity to contribute to current and future funding priorities and investment whilst also developing your skill as a committee member?

UKRI-NERC invites applications from across the NERC science remit to join its Science Committee. This is a great opportunity to support an excellent and sustainable UK environmental science community. You will work collegiately to offer advice and recommendations to Council and NERC Head Office on current and future funding priorities and new NERC investment. You will be supported in this role by the Chair and current members in developing your expertise and experience as a committee member.

NERC is the UK's leading funder of environmental science. Our scientists study and monitor the physical, chemical and biological processes on which our planet and life itself depends – from pole to pole, to the deep Earth and oceans, to the atmosphere and space. The science we fund has impact across all sectors. It provides a platform for future UK prosperity by contributing to a safe, healthy, productive nation. Many programmes involve collaborations with national and international partners to tackle large-scale environmental science challenges, including those faced by developing countries.

Who can apply

Applications are sought from individuals who possess a range of expertise and experience in research and innovation relevant to the higher education sector.  

You do not need to be based in a research organisation but need to have either: 

• a range of subject matter knowledge appropriate to NERC’s areas of research, innovation, training and capital. 

• other lay experience of benefit to NERC’s wider strategic ambitions.  

NERC is seeking broad representation across our community reflecting different characteristics and professional backgrounds.

Candidates should have the enthusiasm and time to commit to advise us on how we 

can best achieve our NERC Strategic Delivery Plan objectives.

Career stage will be taken into consideration by the panel when reviewing your answers to the following essential skills.

Essential Skills

We are seeking five candidates across the breadth of NERC scientific disciplines that can communicate well and work collaboratively to support and challenge the Science Committee’s debates and fellow members. 

You must have:

• the ability to communicate, collaborate, support and challenge

• understanding of the environmental challenges confronting the world based on a deep understanding of environmental science with a whole-systems, solution-focused approach. 

• insights to support NERC’s responsible business statement ambitions and ensure Science Committee considers equality, diversity and inclusion in its advice.

• disciplinary/ professional expertise that you could bring to Science Committee

• experience in strategic planning and projections of large investment portfolios and programmes involving some or all of: research; innovation; training and skills; scientific infrastructures and services; international partnership.

The role

Science Committee will bring broad strategic perspective and expertise to support the development and delivery of the UKRI-NERC strategic priorities, investments and policies. 

The Committee will advise the Executive and Council across NERC’s research, innovation, training and national capability portfolio, and will recommend NERC strategic research and innovation investments.

Members sit on the Committee as individuals, rather than representing a particular organisation and will provide advice on:

• How to support an excellent and sustainable UK environmental science community that seizes opportunities, in UKRI and international contexts, to achieve the following goals: 

o to advance the frontiers of knowledge

o to address government, UKRI and NERC strategic priorities

o to deliver beneficial economic and social impacts

• Priority areas for future rounds of NERC strategic research and innovation investment.

• Commissioning, effectiveness and performance of NERC and UKRI investments including: discovery science; strategic research and innovation; postgraduate training, fellowships and early career support; national capability; scientific infrastructure and capital; international partnership and subscriptions.

• NERC funding policy for all of the above funding streams, and ambitions to increase diversity in environmental sciences.

Provide recommendations for new NERC investment:

• Strategic Research and Innovation Programmes – assess submitted proposals against published criteria and recommend which proposals should be funded by NERC.

• Strategic Research and Innovation Highlight Topics - assess submitted ideas for Highlight Topic against published criteria and recommend which should go forward to a funding call, and at what level of expenditure.

Terms of Reference: Science Committee Terms of Reference

Overview: Science Committee – UKRI

Actions of the Science Committee and its members are subject to the UKRI NERC governance framework and the Seven Principles of Public Life. Members are expected to conduct themselves in a way that ensures that UKRI’s business is carried out efficiently and effectively, and also to adhere to the highest standards of professional and ethical practice, as outlined in the Seven Principles of Public Life

Time commitment and Remuneration

A Science Committee member is expected to dedicate up to 17 days each year (which includes 3 Science Committee meetings each year). Some meetings will be virtual, and some will be face to face. An attendance allowance (for meetings) of £200 per day (if eligible) together with reasonable travel and subsistence costs will be reimbursed in accordance with UKRI travel, subsistence and expenses policy – UKRI

2025 Meeting Dates

• 4 to 5 March 2025

• 2 to 3 July 2025

• 15 to 16 October 2025

How to apply

Please complete the online application form: NERC Science Committee application form by 6 June 2024.

You should also email a two-sided CV to swindongdsadmin@nerc.ukri.org – for the attention of Gemma Davies.

Please ensure you have visited the NERC Science Committee vacancy page and read the NERC Science Committee Application Pack 2024.