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NERI - National Environmental Research Institute, Denmark

The National Environmental Research Institute (NERI) is an independent unit at Aarhus University. One of its major objectives is to develop and disseminate knowledge on the structures, processes and linkages of significance for the use and protection of Denmark's environment and natural resources. NERI's mission is to provide a sound and informed scientific basis for making environmental decisions at the political, administrative and commercial levels.

NERI’s activities cover strategic research, consultancy services, monitoring and information in a broad range of scientific fields related to environment and nature. NERI has a wide field of expertise in research on the atmospheric environment, inland, coastal and marine waters, the terrestrial environment, wildlife ecology, Arctic environment, as well as environmental economics and policy analysis.

Research

NERI undertakes both applied research and development work directed at alleviating specific environmental problems as well as long-term strategic research. The research supports NERI's scientific consultancy and monitoring activities.

Monitoring

NERI runs the national topic centres for surface waters, marine waters, air, terrestrial nature and biodiversity and is scientifically responsible for these parts of the national monitoring programme. NERI is also responsible for collection of data concerning air, open marine waters and a number of animal and plant species, while regional centres are responsible for data collection for groundwater, lakes, watercourses, fjords, coastal waters and terrestrial habitats. NERI is responsible for assessment and reporting of monitoring data within the area of the topic centres and the overall assessment and reporting.

The goals of the monitoring programme are to:

  • meet obligations in relation to EU-legislation and national legislation
  • support the administration by documentation of the effect of national action plans and measures directed at the aquatic and terrestrial environments
  • meet obligations in relation to international conventions.

NERI cooperates internationally in the field of environmental data and reports data to international organizations and conventions, including the European Environment Agency.

Consultancy

NERI holds contracts to provide scientific advice to the Danish Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Climate and Energy, the Mineral Resources Administration for Greenland, as well as other public authorities, private organizations and enterprises. Advisory services are provided in the form of analyses, evaluations and replies to enquiries, as well as through the participation of NERI staff in various commissions and committees.

Researcher training

NERI contributes to training researchers as well as to further education within NERI’s competence areas. This takes place via training and supervision of PhD students and students engaged in dissertation preparation, research professorships, external lectureships, courses, etc.

NERI has 440 staff (180 scientific staff) and is located at three locations in Denmark: Roskilde, Silkeborg and Kalø. In principle NERI is financed entirely by external funding. Funding outside the ministerial contract has been increasing over the years, and now amounts to roughly 60% of the 50 million Euro annual budget.

Research at NERI is divided into the following departments:

  • Policy Analysis
  • Atmospheric Environment
  • Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology
  • Marine Ecology
  • Arctic Environment
  • Terrestrial Ecology
  • Freshwater Ecology
  • Wildlife Ecology and Biodiversity.