Natural Sciences

UNESCO establishes an international normative framework for the natural sciences through Conventions, Recommendations, Commissions, Committees, and other agreements. The Conventions and agreements help develop national policies in the natural sciences and set-up international frameworks for collaboration between researchers.

We inform and advise on international and domestic natural sciences matters to UNESCO and UK (and devolved) government, ensuring that the UK is seen as a world-leading, and trusted, authority in global natural sciences policy.

Department for Science, Innovation & Technology

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Department for Culture, Media & Sport

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Division of Water Sciences

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission

Ocean Science Section

Ocean Observations and Service Section

Marine Policy and Regional Coordination Section

Division of Ecological and Earth Sciences

The UK National Commission for UNESCO ensures the UK’s leading specialists, intellectuals and academics are contributing to and shaping UNESCO’s natural sciences mandate. We also advise the UK and devolved governments on policy relating to UNESCO’s natural sciences activities.

Every accredited expert within our network is tasked with a specific committee or programme within UNESCO’s framework.

Professor David Drewry is the UKNC Non-Executive Director who has responsibility of the Natural Sciences portfolio.

UNESCO Chair in Sustainable Energy Technologies at Swansea University, led by Professor Matthew Davies

UNESCO Chair in Ocean Governance at the University of Portsmouth, led by Professor Pierre Failer

UNESCO Chair in the Development of a Sustainable Geoenvironment at Cardiff University, led by Professor Devin Sapsford

UNESCO Chair on Geoscience and Society at the University of Plymouth, led by Professor Iain Stewart MBE

UNESCO Chair on Informatics and Multi-hazard Risk Reduction at Loughborough University, led by Professor Qiuhau Liang

UNESCO Chair on Responsible Foresight for Sustainable Development at the University of Lincoln, led by Professor Ted Fuller

UNESCO Chair on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Engineering at UCL CEGE, led by Professor Dina D'Ayala

UNESCO Chair on Water Science at the University of Birmingham, led by Professor David Hannah

UNITWIN Network on Ecohydrological Interfaces Under Change at the University of Birmingham, led by Professor David Hannah and Professor Stefan Krause

UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at University of Dundee, led by Professor John Rowan

Dr Kirstin Lemon, British Geological Survey (BGS): Member of UNESCO Global Geoparks Council

Professor Marc Metzger, University of Edinburgh: Chair, UK Man and the Biosphere Committee

Dr John Siddorn, National Oceanography Centre (NOC): UK Delegation to the IOC

Professor Harry Dixon, UK Centre for Ecology & Hyrology: UK Committee of the International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)

UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) - UK Delegation to the IHP/National Committee

UK National Oceanography Centre - UK Delegation to the IOC

Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW)

British Hydrological Society (BHS)

UK UNESCO Global Geoparks Committee

UK Reproducibility Network (UKRN)

Met Office