Joint Centre for Excellence in Environmental Intelligence

Based in Exeter, the Joint Centre will bring together world-leading researchers from the University of Exeter and the Met Office, to pioneer the development of environmental intelligence research. The initial areas of focus will be climate change, clean air, health and extreme weather events.

Dr Kirstine Dale of the Met Office will be the Co-Director of the Joint Centre. Alongside her science training, Kirstine brings a wealth of expertise in designing and implementing new initiatives, her experience in strategy, partnerships and science programme management will be a huge asset to the Joint Centre.  

Kirstine will be joined by Professor Gavin Shaddick, who will be the University of Exeter Co-Director. Gavin is the Chair of Data Science and Statistics at the University, with world-leading expertise in data science applied to environmental challenges – both co-directors will oversee the strategic direction of the centre.
 

What are the aims of the partnership?

The ground-breaking new Centre will utilise data science and artificial intelligence to transform our understanding of the natural environment and develop solutions to real-world environmental challenges.

Bringing together expertise from both organisations, the Joint Centre will:

• Provide a hub for research and training to support a new global community in Environmental Intelligence and promote the UK as a global trailblazer in this new field.

• Facilitate collaboration between academia, business, governments and other stakeholders to develop solutions that are fit for purpose and evidence based.

• We are exploring collaboration with The Alan Turing Institute, the UK’s national centre for Data Science and AI, to provide leadership at the interface of environmental science and AI, together with the infrastructure to support development of a UK national capability.

Future collaboration

The ultimate vision is that the Joint Centre will attract the very best researchers, partners and sponsors who will work together to pioneer the use of Environmental Intelligence to enhance society’s resilience to environmental and climatic change and to build a more sustainable future.

The Joint Centre welcomes the opportunity to engage with a broad range of organisations and will look for opportunities to expand the expertise of the partnership.