Headlines and highlights from September 2024

Improving UK resilience to floods and droughts

UKCEH and NERC are leading the first ever UK Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI). This £38million investment will lead to improved understanding of how, when, why and where floods and droughts occur, as well as crucial evidence to protect lives, homes and businesses.

'Win-win' solutions to global nitrogen crisis

The most comprehensive scientific review of the global nitrogen cycle, led by UKCEH for the UN, outlines 150 ‘win-win’ measures to significantly reduce nitrogen pollution while saving billions in costs across a range of industries. 

How the Amazon became a biodiverse paradise

A UKCEH-led modelling study provides new understanding on the origins of the rich biodiversity found in the Amazon rainforest.

Dengue fever risk sites in Europe identified

A research breakthrough led by UKCEH is enabling scientists to accurately predict towns across Europe where there is a high risk of dengue fever.

Soil moisture droughts to rise with climate change

Extreme soil moisture droughts in the UK, lasting 90+ days, could occur more frequently in the future under climate change, impacting farming and water availability, new research shows. 

Investigating the impacts of biotech pesticides

UKCEH is involved in new research into biotech pesticides focused on developing better ways to assess the ecological risks of these new plant protection technologies.  

Be wary of growing biomethane crops on peat

Crops like maize are increasingly grown for biomethane as an alternative to fossil fuels. But cultivation on drained peat emits three times more CO2 than it saves by not using natural gas.

Mind the gap in biodiversity data

Monitoring species’ populations helps us understand changes in biodiversity but gaps in monitoring data can lead to misleading results. A recent paper highlights key steps to consider. 

Citizen scientists rally to combat yellow-legged hornet threat

The public are urged to continue to use their eyes, ears, and the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ smartphone app to report possible sightings of the yellow-legged hornet. 

One-stop shop for information on status of Oxfordshire rivers

Amid increasing public concern about the state of our rivers, a new portal jointly developed by UKCEH provides a wealth of data and information about water courses in Oxfordshire.

Training courses with UKCEH scientists

• Transforming environmental data in R. 12-14 November 2024. Location: Wallingford and online. Cost from £499. Sign up here.
• Spatial analysis in QGIS and R - an introduction for environmental scientists. 19-22 November 2024. Location: Online. Cost from £499. Sign up here.
• Water requirements of freshwater ecosystems. 4 & 5 November 2024. Location: Online. Cost from £249. Sign up here.
• How to write highly cited papers. 12-13 February 2025. Location: Online. Cost from £199. Sign up here.
• Ecosystem integrity assessment. 5 & 6 March 2025. Location: Online. Cost from £299. Sign up here.

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