TOR1: The UK SCOR committee has the following remit:
1. To represent the UK at SCOR meetings
2. To assess and provide feedback on SCOR working group applications
3. To apply for funds to pay the SCOR annual subscription
4. To communicate and publicise SCOR activity to the UK community
5. To encourage and support engagement of UK scientists with SCOR activity
6. To promote equity, diversity and inclusion via its membership and activities
TOR2: The exact number of members of the UK SCOR committee is not fixed, but it must contain at least: one chair, one co-chair and two early career members (based on the Challenger Society definition: https://www.challenger-society.org.uk/ecr_definition).
TOR3: The responsibilities of the chair are to (i) manage the assessment of the SCOR working group applications, (ii) represent the UK at the annual SCOR meeting (and others that may require UK involvement on an ad-hoc basis), (iii) sit on the Royal Society Global Environment Research Committee, (iv) represent SCOR on Challenger Council and (v) apply for the 49% contribution towards the SCOR annual subscription from the Royal Society each year. If the chair is unavailable, then the co-chair or a deputy will be nominated to represent UK SCOR at meetings.
TOR4: The responsibilities of members are to support the chair in ensuring the committee delivers on the remit outlined in TOR1 and TOR3, as well as deputising for the chair if required.
TOR5: The UK SCOR committee will rotate and new members will be approved by the Challenger Council, with input and advice provided by the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility sub-committee. Initial terms will be for up to 3 years. Terms can be renewed for one year or three years for early career members. Chairs are recruited from current committee members and serve a three year term.
Agreed by UK SCOR committee meeting (4th of July 2022)
Latest News
Townhall on UK Arctic Ocean contribution to International Polar Year 32/33
The Arctic is one of the most rapidly-changing regions on our planet, with impacts on global sea-level rise, changes to our climate and weather patterns, and threats to our shared biodiversity and ecosystem services. With the international community rapidly mobilising towards the International Polar Year 32/33, and with new international programmes and initiatives now being shaped, it is timely for the UK Ocean Science community to come together and articulate what its unique offerings could be to Arctic research and technology.
This hybrid 2-day meeting, to be held at NOC Southampton, is intended to start this process. Recognising the Arctic Oceans role in global Earth and Human systems, anticipated outcomes include a high-level shaping of what the UK Arctic Ocean community would like to achieve over the course of the IPY, stimulation of new collaborations and proposals for grand Arctic challenges and a baseline from which wider integration with terrestrial, atmospheric and cryosphere communities, both in the UK and overseas, can be built. Discussions will continue in diverse forums, including the UK Arctic Science Meeting in September and at Challenger 2026.
This action is supported by the UK Arctic Office and UK Arctic and Antarctic Partnership
Further details and meeting registration link will be circulated in April together with a questionnaire to help shape the agenda and discussion
In the meantime…SAVE THE DATE
Potential Availability of NERC Ship Time During the 25/26 Programme Year
The NERC Marine Facilities Programme for 2025/2026 for the RRS Discovery and the RRS James Cook has been published on the Marine Facilities Planning website.
The RRS Discovery programme currently contains a 79 day alongside slot between the 2nd of November 2025 and the 19th of January 2026, which is available for science delivery if funded science projects can make use of this time. Due to the location of the vessel, the ship is most likely to be able to deliver fieldwork in the North and East Atlantic regions. Some support for science capability within the National Marine Equipment Pool is potentially available, although there is no capacity for use of autonomous vehicles or remotely operated vehicles. Any fieldwork within Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) will need the appropriate diplomatic clearance submitted to coastal states at least 6 months in advance, and to NMF with sufficient lead time for processing via the FCDO.
If interested in making use of this ship time, please contact NERC Marine Planning (marineplanning@nerc.ukri.org) ASAP to start discussions.
THE MARINE FACILITIES ADVISORY BOARD – CAN YOU HELP?
The Marine Facilities Advisory Board advises the National Oceanography Centre on marine facilities and services, including the Natural Environment Research Council’s National Marine Equipment Pool (NMEP), the British Oceanographic Data Centre and the British Ocean Sediment Core Research Facility.