Embracing the wider possibilities of the digital environment

HVM was commissioned in 2019 by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) to design, facilitate and report on a small-scale pilot public dialogue on their Digital Environment Programme. The programme was independently evaluated by Resources for Change.

The dialogue participants created recommendations for NERC are summarised in the boxes below.

Dialogue participant recommendations

What is clear is that there is a real appetite to engage with the environment physically and virtually through, for example citizen science apps, sensors, wearable technologies and data visualisations. Participants felt there was an urgent need to use all technologies available to address pressing challenges such as climate change and pollutants in air and water.

The dialogue findings report is available here and the evaluation report here. A summary is provided below.