Exeter social scientists play leading role in new environmental assessment

Social Scientists in Politics at the University of Exeter have been appointed to leading roles in a major new assessment of UK environment resources.

Professor Michael Winter, Dr Robert Fish and Dr Duncan Russel are helping Government to deliver a research programme that builds on the findings of the 2011 UK National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA).  

The NEA was the first analysis of the UK natural environment’s benefits to society and continuing economic prosperity and provides a wealth of information and advice to policy makers about how best to conserve the UK’s terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. The aim of the next phase is to further develop and communicate the evidence base of the NEA and make it relevant to decision and policy making. 

Professor Winter has been re-appointed to the Expert Panel of this phase of the programme and is working with Dr Fish on cultural and social values held by people about UK Ecosystems. Dr Russel is leading a programme of NEA research on embedding knowledge on ecological systems within policy making.

Speaking of the University’s involvement in this work Professor Winter of the Centre for Rural Policy Research said “The NEA was a major statement on the state of the UK environment asset base, and our on-going participation in this work reinforces the University’s reputation for social science research that helps address real world problems and concerns. We’re delighted to be influencing Government understanding in this area”

The UK NEA follow-on phase will be running between 2012-13.