NERC - Online registration

NERC invites new ideas (strategic funding for research and innovation) for the 10th round of the highlight topics scheme.

By an 'idea', NERC means a statement of a possible course of research, presented for example as a sharply-focused question, gap, challenge or opportunity, that the proposer(s) consider would work within the framework of the NERC strategic delivery plan 2022 to 2025.

Please note that any ideas submitted should include reference to supporting evidence (citations of published papers and reports) to support any claims made about the strategic importance (for example, potential societal or economic impacts). Supporting evidence constitutes an important component of the prioritisation process.

This portal will remain open continuously, but to be considered for the tenth round of highlight topics, the idea must be submitted by 16:00 BST on 4 May 2023.

Ideas must be submitted to NERC using this online submission form. Ideas submitted by any other method will not be accepted by NERC.

Please fill out the form below, then click the 'Submit' button to register your evidence.

Please refer to the guidance document below, which explains what we are looking for in a highlight topic idea in more detail.

Guidance for developing and submitting ideas for strategic research highlight topics (PDF, 186KB)

To avoid the potential loss of data, we recommend you paste in any long responses, rather than compose them within the form.

Section 1: Registration questions

Information submitted in this section will be used by NERC to analyse the ideas, but will not be used in the prioritisation process.

Title

First name

Surname

Are you responding as an individual, or on behalf of a group or organisation? (mandatory)

Individual

Group

If you are responding on behalf of a group, please provide the names and organisations of the other individuals involved.

Others in group (mandatory)

(maximum 2,000 characters)

Which parts of the environmental research community do you consider your response to be from?

Research base

Public sector

Industry / commercial

Third sector

Other

If 'other', please specify

Section 2: Highlight topic idea that addresses the challenges set out in our delivery plan

Title of idea (mandatory)

(maximum 150 characters)

Statement of the idea - A short summary of the idea, around 200 words, suitable to be published on the NERC website. Note that this summary must be appropriate for inclusion in an announcement of opportunity for the idea to be prioritised by Science Committee. (mandatory)

(maximum 2,000 characters)

Research question(s) - A description of the scientific advance needed, its timeliness and novelty. The advances should be well-defined and specific, and include relevant citations. They should be appropriate in scale for a highlight topic (up to the value of £4 million and four years in length). Note that this section, along with the summary of the idea, will form the basis of an announcement of opportunity should the idea be prioritised by Science Committee. Science Committee are unable to prioritise ideas where there are no clearly articulated research questions. (mandatory)

(maximum 2,000 characters)

Anticipated outcomes - A description of the impact the research will have (for example, societal, economic), including relevant citations. Include specifically how the idea and expected outcomes of research will contribute to the delivery of at least one of the objectives outlined in the NERC strategic delivery plan 2022 to 2025. (mandatory)

(maximum 2,000 characters)

Capacity - Please provide evidence that the UK community has the capacity and infrastructure needed to do the research, including, if applicable, how the research builds on and complements existing activities and utilises NERC infrastructure. Note that new capital investments or training activities cannot be supported through the highlight topic funding stream. (mandatory)

(maximum 2,000 characters)

How the idea originated and has been developed - Include a note of the organisation(s) involved, and how the idea was generated (for example, through workshops). This section should not include any individually identifiable information. (mandatory)

(maximum 2,000 characters)

Identify why this idea is a highlight topic - Identifying why a highlight topic investment is most appropriate for the idea. (Highlight topics are sharply-focused, defined topic areas that need concerted effort to make progress. Ideas should be of particular timeliness / strategic relevance, and can be delivered with up to the value of £5 million and over four years.) Note that ideas that do not make a satisfactory case for why highlight topic funding is the right route to progress the area will not be considered by Science Committee. (mandatory)

(maximum 2,000 characters)

All personal data submitted on this form will be processed in accordance with current UK data protection legislation.
We will record your information for the purpose of assessing, processing, and contacting you regarding your registration.
We will not pass your information on to any other third party without obtaining your prior permission.
The UKRI Privacy Notice sets out how NERC, as a constituent part of UKRI, handles personal data.

Highlight topic ideas - Online submission

Section 1: Registration questions

Section 2: Highlight topic idea that addresses the challenges set out in our delivery plan