NERC Impact Awards, deadline 21 April

NERC are keen to celebrate economic, societal or environmental impact that was achieved through engaging the public in and with research.

This may include for example consultation, co-design, citizen science, exhibitions and events. They encourage entries of this type, and intend to recognise impact that was achieved through public engagement with research through 1 or more of the awards.

Entries can be from individuals or teams, with a separate category for early career researchers.

By 'impact' they mean 'An effect on, change or benefit to the economy, society, culture, public policy or services, health, the environment or quality of life, beyond academia. Impact may include cost savings, for example reduction or prevention of negative effects, or benefits resulting from a decision not to undertake a particular course of action. Impact may have been realised in the UK, other locations or both. Benefits may have been delivered directly, or indirectly for example by informing policy or regulation.'

Applications will be assessed according to 'reach' and 'significance'. 

Reach means the extent and diversity of the beneficiaries of the impact. It will be assessed in terms of the extent to which the potential constituencies, number or groups of beneficiaries have been reached. It will not be assessed in purely geographic terms, nor in terms of absolute numbers of beneficiaries.

Significance means the degree to which the impact has enabled, enriched, influenced, informed or changed the beneficiaries.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony in London in November 2023.

The categories and prizes are:

• an overall impact award (£20,000)
• 3 thematic awards across the areas of economic, societal, and environmental impact. These awards will each be named according to the main area of impact delivered, which may be 1 or several of the impact areas as appropriate. At least 1 of these awards will recognise impact achieved through public engagement with research (£12,000 each)
• an early career impact award (£12,000)
• 4 runner-up awards across economic, societal, and environmental impact named according to the main area of impact delivered. At least 1 runner-up award will recognise impact achieved through public engagement with research (£7,000 each)
• an early career impact runner-up award (£7,000)

The judging panel will also identify highly commended entries who will be invited to the awards ceremony.

The deadline to submit an impact case study is midday on 21 April 2023.  

Click here for full details and to apply