Annual Statement of Compliance with the Concordat to Support Research Integrity for Financial Year 2023-24

Contacts and raising concerns

Any parties wishing to raise concerns about the integrity of research conducted or commissioned by the Met Office are invited to contact the Met Office’s Research Ethics Officer in the first instance.

Introductory statement and Summary of Actions

The Met Office is a a government Trading Fund Agency owned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The Met Office exists to provide a national weather and climate capability, underpinned by a unified weather and climate model. It forms a key part of the UK’s defence and civil contingencies infrastructure. It is responsible for delivering the Public Weather Service (PWS) and National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS). It also represents a critical national capability in climate research, with a central role in meeting the Government’s requirements for climate evidence and advice. In addition, the Met Office works in partnership with academia and other UK and international centres of excellence, helping to pull through and exploit world-leading environmental science to deliver economic and social value.  This ensures that others in government and beyond can have trust and confidence in our research and service delivery.

The Met Office is committed to bringing integrity and openness to the research it conducts, or commissions, through the application of the principles of the Research Integrity Concordat (‘Concordat’). The Concordat provides a national framework for good research conduct and its governance. This ensures that others in government and beyond can have trust and confidence in our research and service delivery.

Governance

• Stephen Belcher, Chief of Science & Technology, is the named senior member of staff with oversight of research integrity in the Met Office.
• Simon Vosper, Director of Science is championing and promoting the application of the research integrity requirements in the Met Office.
• Rebecca McCoy is the Research Ethics Officer in the Met Office. She is responsible for establishing policies and systems for research integrity and providing advice on embedding the guidance’s requirements in the Met Office.

Queries about research integrity arrangements in the Met Office may be addressed to [email protected]

Mechanisms and processes to support culture of research integrity

The Met Office is proud of its international reputation for scientific integrity and this ethic pervades all its activities. The Met Office Strategy and Research & Innovation Strategy sets the direction, ambition and priorities.

The Met Office Hadley Centre Science Review Group (SRG) is held jointly with the Met Office Scientific Advisory Committee (MOSAC). Convening annually, the groups provide an independent assessment of the direction, quality and relevance of the Met Office's scientific research which underpins its weather, climate and oceanographic services.

Research integrity commitments are also advanced through our corporate values, policies and procedures. Our core value of being a ‘Force for Good’ is reflected in ethical standards, our promotion of socially and environmentally responsible activities. Our values align with our purpose to help people to make better decisions to stay safe and thrive.