Joint Centre for Excellence in Environmental Intelligence

Based in Exeter, the Joint Centre for Excellence in Environmental Intelligence  brings 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 are climate change, clean air, health and extreme weather events. 

Dr Kirstine Dale of the Met Office is 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 are a huge asset to the Joint Centre.   

Kirstine is joined by Professor Gavin Shaddick, who is 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 oversee the strategic direction of the centre. 
 

What are the aims of the partnership?

The Centre utilises 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: 

• Provides 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. 

• Facilitates 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

From its inception, the JCEEI has made an important contribution to the Met Office and the University of Exeter's approach to applied data science. However, since the JCEEI was established, the data sciences and AI landscape has evolved rapidly, and our challenge now is to determine the nature and scale of the opportunities as this space matures.  

Following a successful four years leading work in this area, the JCEEI wound down operations in March 2025 whilst we explore the future direction and most appropriate approach to our collaborative work. The Met Office remains committed to delivering on our obligations to partners on existing and planned activities, and we continue to work very closely with our friends at the University of Exeter.