The IES has responded to two calls for evidence regarding the structure and priorities of public research funders. As part of our mission to promote the environmental sciences, and support and facilitate the use of science in policy and decision making, the IES regularly responds to calls for evidence as part of various public enquiries and consultations.

The first, a call for evidence from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), asked for views and evidence to shape NERC's funding priorities in the future.  The second was a call for evidence as part of the Nurse Review of Research Councils, commissioned by the government and announced in their Science and Innovation strategy. The IES responses to these consultations are available to download in full below.

These responses both highlight the need to promote systems thinking, and provide more support for inter-disciplinary research in Research Council strategic planning and decision making. This position reflects a recognition that socio-environmental systems are complex and highly interconnected. In order to live and develop sustainably and meet the environmental challenges we now face, we need to understand these systems in their entireties. Our responses also address the challenges of ensuring that funding structures adequately support both fundamental and applied research, and maximising research impact through adequate communication from the earliest stages of projects.

Response to the 'Shaping NERC's priorities' call for evidence (pdf)

Response to the Nurse Review of Research Councils call for evidence (pdf)

For more information on these consultation responses, or any of the IES's policy work, please contact Robert Ashcroft.