Overview
Research is critical for understanding the environment, the impacts of human activity and for assessing possible solutions.
The Royal Society’s Global Environmental Research Committee, known as GERC, plays a crucial role in promoting UK participation in global environmental research programmes and committees, and acts as an advisory body on environmental science to the Royal Society. It also provides valuable advice to UKRI and the research councils on emerging science that should receive increased attention and funding. GERC facilitates discussion on the major environmental issues of our time, linking with international research activity and informing the Royal Society’s policy work.
GERC’s science reviews
One way GERC carries out its work is by undertaking a rolling series of reviews of areas of science within its remit.
Subject areas covered recently include:
Subject areas planned for the future include:
- Freshwater
- Carbon and other biogeochemical cycles
- Technology for the Environment
International programmes
GERC maintains the Royal Society’s connections (through a co-opted representative) to a number of international programmes including:
GERC membership
Membership of GERC is drawn from the science community, including Fellows of the Royal Society.
Current members of GERC are:
- Professor Gideon Henderson FRS, University of Oxford (Chair, and representing UK SCOR)
- Professor Harry Bryden FRS, University of Southampton
- Dr Maria Dornelas, University of St Andrews
- Professor Joanna Haigh FRS, Imperial College of London
- Professor Roy Harrison FRS, University of Birmingham
- Professor Sue Hartley, University of York
- Professor Louise Heathwaite, Lancaster University
- Professor Peter Smith FRS, University of Aberdeen
- Professor Martin Solan, University of Southampton
- Dr Kirsti Ashworth, Lancaster University (representing UK Future Earth)
- Professor Mike Bentley, Durham University (representing UK SCAR)
- Dr Pierre Friedlingstein, University of Exeter (representing WCRP)
- Dr Kate Hamer, Natural Environmental Research Council (representing NERC)
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