RFAs: Exploring the Frontiers of Environmental Research 2026 (UK)

Deadline: 12-Nov-2026

The scheme supports early-stage environmental research that has the potential to significantly advance environmental science. It is particularly suited to researchers exploring new concepts, approaches, or research directions where preliminary investigations are needed before larger or more developed research programmes can be pursued. Projects should demonstrate why the proposed research is novel and explain how the outcomes could have a meaningful impact on the field. The funding encourages curiosity-driven environmental research rather than projects focused solely on established approaches or incremental developments. Funding Amount and Duration The full economic cost (FEC) of each project can range from £100,000 to £200,000. The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) will fund 80% of the full economic cost of an eligible project.

Key funding details include:

- Minimum project value: £100,000 FEC

- Maximum project value: £200,000 FEC

- NERC contribution: 80% of the full economic cost

- Maximum project duration: 2 years

- Research stage: Early-stage and exploratory

- Research focus: Environmental research with novel and transformative potential

What Type of Research Does the Scheme Support? The funding supports curiosity-driven environmental research that explores new ideas and directions. Projects should generally involve preliminary investigations that can generate evidence, test concepts, or establish a foundation for future research.

Suitable projects may focus on:

- Novel environmental research questions. - Early-stage investigations. - New research approaches or methodologies. - Emerging concepts in environmental science. - Research with potential to produce transformative advances. - Preliminary work that could inform future research programmes. Applicants should clearly explain what makes their proposed research different, innovative, or potentially transformative. Why It Matters Early-stage environmental research can be difficult to fund because promising ideas may require preliminary investigation before they are ready for larger research programmes. This opportunity provides support for researchers to explore these ideas and generate evidence that could influence future environmental science.

The scheme can help researchers:

- Investigate new environmental research concepts. - Test innovative approaches at an early stage. - Generate preliminary findings. - Explore new research directions. - Build a foundation for future research. - Demonstrate the potential impact of novel research ideas. Who Is Eligible? Applications are open to researchers based at UK research organisations that are eligible for NERC funding.

To be eligible:

- Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation. - The organisation must be eligible to receive NERC funding. - The proposed research should align with the aims of the Exploring the Frontiers of Environmental Research opportunity. - The project should focus on novel, early-stage environmental research with transformative potential. Only UK-based research organisations are eligible to apply. How the Funding Works The scheme uses the full economic cost (FEC) of a project to determine the funding contribution. Projects can have a total FEC between £100,000 and £200,000. NERC provides funding equivalent to 80% of the FEC. For example, if a project has an FEC of £150,000, an 80% NERC contribution would equal £120,000. The maximum award period is two years, giving researchers time to conduct preliminary investigations and develop evidence that can inform future research. How to Prepare an Application Applicants should ensure that their proposal clearly communicates the purpose, novelty, and potential significance of the research.

- Confirm organisational eligibility: Check that your UK research organisation is eligible for NERC funding.

- Define the research idea: Clearly identify the environmental research question, concept, or problem you want to investigate.

- Explain the novelty: Describe what is new about the proposed research and how it differs from existing approaches.

- Describe the preliminary investigation: Explain what early-stage work will be carried out and what the project is expected to discover or establish.

- Explain the transformative potential: Show how the findings could lead to significant advances or open new directions in environmental science.

- Demonstrate potential impact: Explain how the project outcomes could influence future research, knowledge, methods, or environmental science more broadly.

- Develop the project budget: Ensure the full economic cost falls between £100,000 and £200,000 and account for the 80% NERC funding contribution.

- Plan the timeline: Make sure the proposed research can be completed within the maximum two-year award period.

Common Mistakes to Avoid Applicants should avoid presenting the project as routine or incremental research. The proposal should clearly communicate why the research is exploratory, novel, and potentially transformative.

Other points to consider include:

- Do not overlook the UK-based organisational eligibility requirement. - Clearly distinguish the proposed research from existing work. - Avoid vague descriptions of the research question. - Explain why preliminary investigation is necessary. - Clearly describe the potential impact of the outcomes. - Ensure the project budget meets the £100,000–£200,000 FEC range. - Keep the proposed project within the two-year maximum duration. - Make sure the proposal aligns with environmental research and the objectives of the scheme. Key Points to Remember - The opportunity is for UK-based researchers. - Applications must come from UK research organisations eligible for NERC funding. - It supports early-stage, curiosity-driven environmental research. - Research should have novel and potentially transformative ideas. - The full economic cost must be between £100,000 and £200,000. - NERC funds 80% of the full economic