82 applications were whittled down to one winner and one runner-up in each of the categories of economic, societal, early-career and international impact.
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) recognised some of its researchers’ hard work at its inaugural Impact Awards.
82 applications were whittled down to one winner and one runner-up in each of the categories of economic, societal, early-career and international impact.
Winning the international category, and the overall competition, was work into healing the hole in the ozone layer. NERC-funded atmospheric research helped demonstrate the effect of man-made gases on the ozone layer and its consequences for human health. The research helped inform international agreements which have since addressed the problem and put the ozone layer on the road to recovery. See a video of the research here.
Runner-up in the international catefory was research by a team at University College London into forecasting and monitoring tropical storms and other extreme weather. Over the last ten years these services have: provided free storm alerts or seasonal forecasts to more than 24,000 subscribers and made an important contribution to saving lives in Bangladesh from cyclone Sidr and tropical storm Mahasen.
The NERC Impact Awards, held on 27 January, kicked off NERC’s 50th anniversary and follows on from similar celebration of research impact by ESRC and BBSRC.
See more about the Impact Awards on the NERC website.