Case studies

Environment Research Funders' Forum

The Environment Research Funders’ Forum brings together the UK's major public sector sponsors of environmental science. Its goal is to maximise the coherence and effectiveness of UK environmental sciences funding.

In 2007, the Environment Research Funders’ Forum undertook a long term horizon scanning study to identify the most important dimensions of uncertainty for the environment that could impact on the UK’s interests over the next twenty years.

The study was carried out in three phases:

• Phase 1: consultation, in which over 100 individuals took part in a series of workshops or in depth interviews to identify the broad themes of strategic importance to the UK and to the environment. These inputs were used to create a long list of dimensions of uncertainty.
• Phase 2: prioritisation, in which participants used an online voting process to draw up a shortlist.
• Phase 3: validation, in which Environment Research Funders’ Forum members attended a workshop to review the shortlist and agree the final set of dimensions of uncertainty.

48 individuals from across government, academia, environmental organisations and research institutions were interviewed during phase 1 using the ‘Seven question’ methodology but with one additional question (Q2 in the list below) added. Interviews were mainly carried out face to face or, where this was not possible, over the phone. They were completely confidential and transcripts were verified by interviewees afterwards.

The questions used were:

• If you could speak to someone from the future (say 2032) who can describe the environment in the UK what would you ask?
• What are the main drivers that are shaping the future of the UK environment?
• What is your vision for the environment in (say) 2032?
• What will happen if your vision is not realised?
• What needs to change (relationships, legislation, working practices, for example) to ensure your vision happens?
• What are the recent successes and failures that we can learn from?
• What needs to happen now?
• If you had absolute authority, is there anything else you would do?

Interviewees described a number of themes of importance for the future of the environment. These themes varied widely: from environmental science issues (such as climate change, energy and land use) to economic and social science issues (such as drivers of growth, consumption and attitudes to the environment); from educational issues (such as public engagement and education about the environment) to policy issues (such as joining up thinking, metrics and instruments). The outputs from the interviews fed directly into development of the dimensions of uncertainty.
The responses are documented in volume 3 of the project report, which can be downloaded from the Environment Research Funders’ Forum web site.

Still interested?

The views of Dr. Michio Kaku – theoretical physicist, author and science advocate – in his book Visions were based on more than 150 interviews conducted with leading scientists.