List of facilities
NERC provides comprehensive airborne research capability for the benefit of the environmental science community. Find out more about NERC's aircraft facilities.
Contacts
British Antarctic Survey
Rod Arnold
01223 221500
rja@bas.ac.uk
The Argon Isotope Facility (AIF) provides 40Ar/39Ar analytical facilities for determining the age and rates of geological processes, ranging from recent problems in global climate change, volcanic hazards and biologic evolution, to questions regarding the oldest history of the Earth, moon and solar system.
Contacts
Dr Darren Mark
Argon Isotope Facility
01355 270194
darren.mark@glasgow.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
The AMF operates and facilitates access to strategically located observatories and laboratories in addition to specialist cutting edge instrumentation for ground based and airborne atmospheric observations.
Contacts
Dr Barbara Brooks
Atmospheric Measurement Facility
0113 343 1587
barbara.brooks@ncas.ac.uk
The British Isles continuous GNSS Facility (BIGF) can provide information for georeferencing of airborne imagery, long-term regional vertical ground movement, gravity waves, atmospheric water vapour studies, tidal elevation, wildlife tracking, numerical weather prediction, precise heighting, ionospheric studies and kinematic data processing.
Contacts
Dr Richard Bingley
British Isles continuous GNSS Facility
0115 9513932
richard.bingley@nottingham.ac.uk
Dr David Baker
British Isles continuous GNSS Facility
0115 8466025
david.baker@nottingham.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
The British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility (BOSCORF) provides access to core samples taken from beneath the ocean by NERC ships and NERC-funded researchers.
BOSCORF website - external link
Contacts
Dr Suzanne MacLachlan
British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility
023 8059 6567
s.maclachlan@noc.ac.uk
The Cosmogenic Isotope Analysis Facility (CIAF) provides cosmogenic radionuclide (eg 10Be, 26Al and 36Cl ) analytical facilities for research in geomorphology, Quaternary science and allied areas of the earth and environmental sciences.
Contacts
Dr Angel Rodes
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centres
01355 270155
angel.rodes@glasgow.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
The Chilbolton Facility for Atmospheric and Radio Research (CFARR) facility is one of the world's most advanced meteorological radar experimental facilities, and is home to the world's largest fully steerable meteorological radar.
Contacts
Chris Walden
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
01235 445601
chris.walden@stfc.ac.uk
Geraint Vaughan
NCAS
0161 306 3931
geraint.vaughan@manchester.ac.uk
The Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa is the most diverse collection of its kind in the world, with around 3000 strains of marine and freshwater algae, protists and seaweeds.
Contacts
The European Incoherent Scatter Radar (EISCAT) UK Support Facility supports UK users of the EISCAT radars. These radars conduct research on the lower, middle and upper atmosphere and ionosphere, using the technique of incoherent scatter.
EISCAT website - external link
Contacts
Ian McCrea
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
01235 446513
ian.mccrea@stfc.ac.uk
Geraint Vaughan
NCAS
0161 306 3931
geraint.vaughan@manchester.ac.uk
The Facility for Environmental Nanoparticle Analysis & Characterisation (FENAC) provides nanoparticle imaging, analysis and characterisation from relevant samples including complex biological and environmental media.
NERC will no longer fund the FENAC after 31 March 2020. Environmental researchers across the NERC portfolio will continue to access analysis via the grant process utilising existing UK and international suppliers. Applicants wishing to use the facility after 31 March 2020 should contact the NERC science & facilities team.
Contacts
Professor Eva Valsami-Jones
Facility for Environmental Nanoparticle Analysis & Characterisation
0121 414 5537
e.valsamijones@bham.ac.uk
Tracey Timms-Wilson
Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
01491 692271
tmt@ceh.ac.uk
NERC science & facilities team
sfmt@nerc.ukri.org
The Field Spectroscopy Facility (FSF), based in the School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, provides well-characterised, fully calibrated spectroscopy instruments and integrated measurement systems covering the visible to thermal infra-red spectral regions (0·4 to 14·5 µ) which underpin NERC optical Earth Observation (EO) science, but which are also maintained and available for loan to users to support any ground-based remote sensing activity.
Contacts
Dr Andrew Gray
Operations Manager
University of Edinburgh
0131 650 5926
fsf@nerc.ac.uk
Professor Martin Wooster
Director of NCEO EO Instrumentation & Facilities
National Centre for Earth Observation & King's College London
020 7848 2577
martin.wooster@kcl.ac.uk
The Geophysical Equipment Facility (GEF) loans equipment suitable for land-based geophysical research to universities and other institutes engaged in research within the NERC remit. It also provides advice and training for project researchers.
- GEF (Edinburgh) - external link - is located within the Grant Institute at the University of Edinburgh and forms the central administrative node. It specialises in support for GPS, GPR and Geomagnetism.
- GEF (Leicester) - external link - SEIS-UK is located within the Department of Geology at Leicester University and specialises in support for Seismology.
- GEF (Durham & Southampton) - external link - OBIF (Ocean Bottom Instrument Facility) is located within Durham and Southampton Universities and specialises in seabed multi-sensor geophysical instrumentation.
Contacts
Mr A Hobbs
Geophysical Equipment Facility
0131 650 5927
alan.hobbs@ed.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
We provide high performance computing facilities to environmental scientists. Find out more about NERC's high performance computing facilities.
Contacts
Dr Frances Collingborn
01793 411981
frances.collingborn@nerc.ukri.org
The Ion Microprobe Facility (IMF) provides microanalysis of a wide range of Earth materials, including geochronology using U-Th-Pb dating of zircon and other U and Th bearing minerals and the analysis of a wide range of stable isotope ratios (H, Li, B, N, C, O, S, Si), trace elements (eg for rare-earth elements, large ion lithophile elements, high field strength elements) and light elements (H, Li, Be, B, C, N).
Contacts
Dr Cristina Talavera
Ion Microprobe Facility
0131 650 8527
cristina.talavera@ed.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
The Isotope Community Support Facility (ICSF) provides stable isotopic analysis primarily in support of high quality research in the full cycle of applied minerals research, from genetic modelling informing exploration and exploitation, through to remediation, eg of acid mine drainage.
NERC will no longer fund the ICSF after 31 March 2020. Environmental researchers across the NERC portfolio will continue to access analysis via the grant process utilising existing UK and international suppliers. Applicants wishing to use the facility after 31 March 2020 should contact the NERC science & facilities team.
Contacts
Dr A Boyce
Isotope Community Support Facility
01355 270143
a.boyce@suerc.gla.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
NERC science & facilities team
sfmt@nerc.ukri.org
NERC eligible researchers are able to apply to any of the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) large facilities located at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell, for free at the point of access. Applicants should contact the facility direct before submitting their application. Access to major STFC facilities is via their peer review processes, and not through NERC.
NERC maintains three facilities for provision of organic and light stable isotope mass spectrometry: East Kilbride (SUERC), Lancaster (CEH-Lancaster) and Bristol (School of Chemistry at the University of Bristol).
Life Sciences Mass Spectrometry Facilities website - external link
Contacts
Dr I Bull (Bristol)
01179 546967
ian.d.bull@bris.ac.uk
Dr J Newton (E. Kilbride)
01355 270138
j.newton@suerc.gla.ac.uk
Dr A Stott (Lancaster)
01524 595865
astott@ceh.ac.uk
Dr Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
The Mesosphere Stratosphere Troposphere Radar Facility (MSTRF) enables studies of atmospheric winds, waves, turbulence, surface temperature, pressure, humidity, rainfall and solar radiation.
Contacts
Dr D Hooper
Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
01235 445705
d.a.hooper@rl.ac.uk
Geraint Vaughan
NCAS
0161 306 3931
geraint.vaughan@manchester.ac.uk
This facility delivers professional technology to UK marine scientists.
National Marine Equipment Pool website - external link
Contacts
Colin Day
Programme manager, National Marine Facilities
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
023 8059 6109
cdy@noc.soton.ac.uk
Sam Winter
NMEP coordinator
National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
023 8059 6049
samw@noc.ac.uk
Natalie Clark
Marine planning officer
01793 442551
natalie.clark@nerc.ukri.org
National Marine Facilities is organised to assist UK science and supports over thirty research cruises every year, some twenty of which will be on NERC vessels operated by National Marine Facilities.
NERC services & facilities (S&F) will cease to centrally fund the NERC Airborne Research Facility (NERC ARF) from 30 March 2019, and so NERC ARF is no longer accepting new applications via the NERC services & facilities route. However, from April 2019 the former ARF capabilities are being extended and offered to the community by the National Centre for Earth Observation (NCEO) Earth Observation Instrumentation & Facilities (EOIF) Division.
Details of the developing airborne remote sensing capabilities that are available to deploy in the UK, in Europe and further afield can be seen on the NCEO website - external link
Environmental researchers across the NERC portfolio can therefore continue to access airborne remote sensing acquisition via the grant process by utilising this NCEO capability, or they may contact other UK / international suppliers. Users may email sfmt@nerc.ukri.org to discuss the options available beyond those provided by NCEO should they so wish. Any current NERC grant holders who have live research grants using the former NERC ARF should continue to liaise with the facility directly.
Contacts
To discuss science opportunities for using NCEO's developing airborne remote sensing capability:
Professor Martin Wooster
NCEO-Kings
martin.wooster@kcl.ac.uk
For detailed technical and planning information:
James Johnson
NCEO-Kings
james.johnson@kcl.ac.uk
Formerly the Molecular Genetics Facility, this four node facility provides access to various biomolecular research capabilities.
NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility website - external link
NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility - Edinburgh
The NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility - Edinburgh offers high quality sequencing and a flexible range of bioinformatic analyses.
Professor Mark Blaxter
0131 6506760
mark.blaxter@ed.ac.uk
Dr Matthew Arno
0131 6508678
genepool-manager@ed.ac.uk
NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility - Liverpool
Liverpool offers access to high-throughput sequencing and digital quantitation platforms as well as support in bioinformatic analyses.
Professor Steve Paterson
0151 7954509
s.paterson@liverpool.ac.uk
Dr Kathryn Jackson
0151 7958303
kathryn.jackson@liverpool.ac.uk
NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility - Sheffield
The NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility - Sheffield provides training and facilities to support a wide range of genetic and genomic studies that address ecological and evolutionary questions.
Professor Terry Burke
0114 2220096
t.a.burke@sheffield.ac.uk
Dr Deborah Dawson
0114 2220106
d.a.dawson@sheffield.ac.uk
NERC Biomolecular Analysis Facility - Birmingham
NBAF-Birmingham will no longer accept new applications for facility use. Current NERC grant holders who have grants using NBAF-Birmingham should continue to liaise with the facility directly.
Environmental researchers across the NERC portfolio will continue to access metabolomics analysis via the grant process utilising existing UK and international suppliers. Users may email sfmt@nerc.ukri.org to discuss future arrangements and the options available for them.
NEODAAS - Plymouth Marine Laboratory
The NERC Earth Observation Data Acquisition & Analysis Service (NEODAAS) supports UK research scientists with remote sensing data and information. NEODAAS provides a distinctive EO data processing and analysis service to the user community, predicated on fast access to key low-level data sets and the generation of higher-level products which provide a science gain. Bespoke analysis is performed on datasets, including historical data, which are a core part of this provision. This service is hosted at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory.
NEODAAS website - external link
Contacts
Mr Ben Taylor
Remote Sensing Data Analysis Service
Plymouth Marine Laboratory
01752 633432
benj@pml.ac.uk
Martin Wooster
National Centre for Earth Observation
020 7848 2577
martin.wooster@kcl.ac.uk
NEODAAS - Dundee
NERC will cease to fund the NEODAAS-Dundee Satellite Receiving Station (DSRS). Therefore, the DSRS will no longer accept new applications for facility use.
Current NERC grant holders who have grants using NEODAAS-Dundee should continue to liaise with the facility directly.
Environmental researchers across the NERC portfolio will continue to access remote sensing acquisition via the grant process utilising existing UK and international suppliers. Users may email sfmt@nerc.ukri.org to discuss future arrangements and the options available for them.
NERC will no longer fund the NERC Facility for Scientific Diving (NFSD) after 31 March 2018.
Environmental researchers across the NERC portfolio will continue to access dive support via the grant process utilising existing UK and international suppliers. Current NERC grant holders with existing dive capability agreements through the NFSD should contact NERC to discuss future arrangements and the options available for them.
Contacts
NERC service & facilities commissioning team
sfmt@nerc.ukri.org
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory (NIGL) is a comprehensive stable and radiogenic isotope laboratory facility that undertakes environmental, life, archaeological and Earth science research.
The facility is used for solid earth geoscience, geochronology, pollution, hydrology, climate change, archaeology, forensic and medical applications.
Stable Isotope Facility (SIF) - external link
Contacts
Professor Melanie Leng (Stable Isotopes)
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory
0115 936 3515
mjl@nigl.nerc.ac.uk
Dr Dan Condon (Radiogenic Isotopes)
NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory
0115 936 3191
dcondon@bgs.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
NERC provides support for natural abundance radiocarbon analyses via two facility nodes.
Contacts
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
NERC Radiocarbon Facility annual report (PDF, 290KB)
NERC Radiocarbon Facility (Oxford), Oxford University
Formerly ORADS (Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Dating Service), this facility is used for science-based/environmental archaeology projects.
Dr T Higham
NRCF (Oxford)
01865 285231
thomas.higham@rlaha.ox.ac.uk
NERC Radiocarbon Facility (East Kilbride), SUERC, East Kilbride
Formerly NERC RCL (NERC Radiocarbon Laboratory), this facility is used for earth and environmental science projects.
Dr P Ascough
NRCF (East Kilbride)
01355 260037
p.ascough@suerc.gla.ac.uk
Dr S Moreton
NRCF (East Kilbride)
01355 260037
s.moreton@nercrcl.gla.ac.uk
The British Antarctic Survey operates polar research stations in the Antarctic and Arctic on NERC's behalf. It also maintains two modern ice-strengthened research ships, a fleet of specially-adapted aircraft and various off-the-shelf and specialised vehicles.
Find out more about NERC's polar research facilities.
Contacts
Dr Ned Garnett
Head of atmospheric & polar science
01793 442543
ned.garnett@nerc.ukri.org
Dr Lisa Hole
Science programme officer
01793 444077
lisa.hole@nerc.ukri.org
The Space Geodesy Facility (SGF) at Herstmonceux supports geodetic and geophysical research through satellite tracking and related data products.
Contacts
Dr G Appleby
Space Geodesy Facility
01323 833 888
gapp@nerc.ac.uk
Adele Gardner
British Geological Survey
0115 936 3330
adga@bgs.ac.uk
The UK Geoenergy Observatories project will establish new centres for world-leading research into the subsurface environment. The knowledge they generate will contribute to the responsible development of new energy technologies both in the UK and internationally. The project follows the government's 2014 announcement that it would allocate £31 million to create world-class, subsurface energy-research test centres. The British Geological Society (BGS) is delivering the research infrastructure and will operate the facilities over their 15-year lifetime.
BGS has worked with the wider geoscience community to identify two preferred geological locations. More details about the plans for the two field research sites is available on the BGS website - external link.
It is intended that the field sites will become available for research from mid 2019.