Exploring the frontiers of environmental research

Exploring the frontiers of environmental research is a NERC-funded UKRI funding opportunity to support early-stage, curiosity-driven environmental research with potential to be transformative. Projects should be exploratory, high-risk/high-reward investigations that are early in development and may lack preliminary data. Awards support projects that can lead to new lines of enquiry, proof-of-principle work, or significant advances in environmental knowledge, capability or application. Projects must sit predominantly within NERC’s research areas and can be multidisciplinary or cross disciplinary boundaries.

Project grant funding between £100,000 and £200,000 (FEC), with NERC covering 80% of FEC; awards up to two years in duration.

Project leads must be residents in the UK and affiliated with an eligible UK research organisation for NERC funding. International co-leads are permitted from Norway under a Money Follows Cooperation agreement; other international collaborators may participate as project partners. Applications are encouraged from individuals at all career stages and from multidisciplinary teams.

Apply through the UKRI funding service portal; applicants must be affiliated with an eligible UK research organisation and comply with NERC eligibility guidance.