The mission of the Natural Environment Research Council is:

• to promote and support, by any means, high quality basic, strategic and applied research, survey, long-term environmental monitoring and related postgraduate training in terrestrial, marine and freshwater biology and Earth, atmospheric, hydrological, oceanographic and polar sciences and Earth observation;
• to advance knowledge and technology, and to provide services and trained scientists and engineers, which meet the needs of users and beneficiaries (including the agricultural, construction, fishing, forestry, hydrocarbons, minerals, process, remote sensing, water and other industries), thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the effectiveness of public services and policy and the quality of life;
• to provide advice on, disseminate knowledge and promote public understanding of the fields aforesaid.