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Rupert, it's been challenging over the last 2 years to see so many colleagues depart NERC. Can you tell us about how NERC will be changing in the coming years?Rupert replied in person about structure changes made and ftutre.
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Insurance and finance sectors want to be consumers of environmental science. Are there other sectors that are being underserved by environmental science?
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What advice would you give to NCAS scientists to help get research into policy makers?Ruper comments on Policy [59.37 Part One Recording]
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How will NCAS retain the skills it needs to realise its strategy?
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Stephen, NCAS values people. How vunerable are we to situations like what we're seeing in the US where fairness seems to have gone out of fashion?I this is really a political question. As I see it, the problems in the US are far from being limited to science. We all have a role in helping to try to avoid should trends in the UK. It comes down to listening and tolerance. When one side becomes too strident in asserting that they and only they are right, there is a backlash and things escalate. As scientists our job is to question, but we need to make every effort to do that in a respectful way and accept a diversity of views. I suppose an area where we can put that into practice is in how we explain climate change issues to wider audiences. WE need to do that in a tolerant and non-threatening way - thereby encouraging others not to threaten us. Of course it's a big societal issue, not one we can solve alone. Stephen
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There seems to be a big push towards AI but a lot of us are involved in more traditional research methods (or lab and field) where does NERC see its priorities?Clearly this is a big trend in all walks of life. In atmospheric prediction, it promises to be arguably the first revolution since the advent of digital computers. AS a forward looking research organisation, we cannot afford to ignore this. But this does not mean that we abandon our current work and expertise. That would be risky and even irresponsible. So new work on AI and ML should not be seen as threatening world leading activities we undertake in other areas. It should not encourage a feeling that there is a need to "rebadge" current or more traditional activities as Digital Atmosphere. NCAS has always taken on new challenges and it does not mean that we abandon important work elsewhere. So both traditional and new approaches are priorities. Stephen

Rupert comments on AI [50:55 Part One Recording]
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Rupert: It is clear why government sees growth as central; but also clear that a great many academics see it as a problematic focus. Does NERC recognise this?Rupert
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What is the baseline on which the 25% reduction is applied?2023/24 financial year. Stephen
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Rupert: what can NERC do ensure UK has influence in international leadership and impact given decrease in US role and increasing influence from ChinaRupert
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What mechanisms exist for the preferential funding of green infrastructure initiatives?
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Do the interested private sectors express interest in becoming (financial) stakeholders in research, especially in a time with such constraint on public funds?Generally not, unless they see a narrow self-interest (which can be financial but particularly for big organisations can be to do with wishing to improve reputation). Stephen
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How are NERC and NCAS intending to support scientists with pursuing commercial opportunities (as part of the growth agenda)?
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With the publication of the national industrial strategy and potential associated funding support, what's the opportunity for research organisations here?
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Our five world class capabilities in the strategy did not explicitly include our world class modelling capabilities. What is the reason for this?
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How are there MLU instruments going to be supported once they're installed?
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Now that the strategy is launched, what is the timescale for developing the implementation plan?
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How do ncas plan to take on a larger international leadership role, as the US continues to crumble, given our own funding challenges
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Should the Science Programme Leaders be part of the Management Board
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Comment on commercial point: key difference between one-way 'consultancy'-type work and two-way partnerships
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Why this name, ‘Digital Atmosphere’, while it covers the work on weather and climate? Sounds very limited.
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With the development of the National Research Organisations initiative, will there be opportunity to benchmark ourselves as an organisation against others?Stephen
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UKRI is committed to transforming tomorrow: should we be going further than enabling change and start engaging in the transformation?
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Should we/are we ready for a sudden and large shift of funding toward geoengineering? Which seems quite possible as politicians try to respond to climate risk.Jacqui
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Rupert talked about funding constraints, and of needing to find fundamental processes in NERC to make their job deliverable. What's NCAS's plan here?
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If NCAS develops more commercial partnerships, how should we separate development work from business? We need to avoid neo-colonialism.
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The new NCAS strategy shown today has set very multidisciplinary goals. Should NCAS diversify by recruiting scientists from other disciplines out of NERC remit?
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Hasn’t the UK signed an international UN agreement not to do any geoengineering field experiments which ARIA is arguably breaking?Jacqui
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HEIs are pushed to divest from fossil fuel industries, should we publish our ethics policy for research in oil & gas, as discussed for geo-engineering debate?
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Middle management have failed to implement the vision of ambitious projects such as TEAMx and the MLU without major impact to non senior staff. How do we learn?
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Hi, are Bergmann direct exhibiting this year? I’ve used their equipment for the last 25 years. It’s ideal for local authorities councils and private businesses
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