Simon Gardner Email & Phone Number

Swindon, United Kingdom

Environmental science has long understood the data revolution. Forecasting and climate modelling have driven the need for ‘big data’ and the evolution of HPC, while Earth Observation data has been exploited for decades. The continued growth of communication systems and bandwidth, coupled with advances in miniaturisation and battery technologies, provides new potential to visualise processes in the environment at all scales. This puts digital capacity right at the heart of the drive to deliver… Show more Environmental science has long understood the data revolution. Forecasting and climate modelling have driven the need for ‘big data’ and the evolution of HPC, while Earth Observation data has been exploited for decades. The continued growth of communication systems and bandwidth, coupled with advances in miniaturisation and battery technologies, provides new potential to visualise processes in the environment at all scales. This puts digital capacity right at the heart of the drive to deliver leaps in understanding in environmental science and the formulation of solutions. By harnessing the power of supercomputing, we can create detailed virtual environments to simulate alternative futures, opening up the exploration of options for environmental regulation, management and investment. With autonomous platforms we can extend our reach in hostile environments, from the polar regions to the edge of space, collecting vast data sets more efficiently and sustainably. With advances in battery technology, miniaturisation and wireless communications, we can add ‘nowcasting’ to our forecasting capability to enable decision-making based on real-time feedback from the environment. Show less

Swindon, United Kingdom

As the Head of Innovation, I explored opportunities for NERC to achieve impact from existing investments in environmental research through focused innovation funding, translating outcomes into business practice and policy. This involved engagement with business and academic communities in the development of impact from environmental science, positioning NERC as a leader in the area of innovation.

Swindon, United Kingdom

I was seconded from the Environment Agency to the Science and Innovation Directorate in NERC as a Senior Project Manager (Data Innovation), where I supported the development of an environmental information and innovation hub.

Bangor, United Kingdom

The Collaboration for Environmental Evidence is an open community of scientists and managers working towards a sustainable global environment and the conservation of biodiversity. The collaboration seeks to synthesise evidence on issues of greatest concern to environmental policy and practice. CEE has formal charitable status and its objective is the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity through preparation, maintenance promotion and dissemination of systematic… Show more The Collaboration for Environmental Evidence is an open community of scientists and managers working towards a sustainable global environment and the conservation of biodiversity. The collaboration seeks to synthesise evidence on issues of greatest concern to environmental policy and practice. CEE has formal charitable status and its objective is the protection of the environment and conservation of biodiversity through preparation, maintenance promotion and dissemination of systematic reviews of the effects and impacts of environment management interventions, for the public benefit. Show less

Bristol, United Kingdom

I managed a diverse but inter-related group of portfolios for the Evidence Directorate including: Evidence Planning, Incident Management, Risk Management and Business Continuity Management; External Engagement (in particular, with the Research Councils, academia, Defra group and devolved government); and Knowledge Management.

Bristol, United Kingdom

Overview:I managed partnerships between the Environment Agency and external organisations in order to share data and information, expertise, and research. My work involved close cooperation with Defra, the Defra Network, and other central government Departments.My team worked widely with government, arms length delivery bodies, research councils, and academic institutions. They supported a number of joint evidence programmes across the Defra Network in the areas of Better… Show more Overview:I managed partnerships between the Environment Agency and external organisations in order to share data and information, expertise, and research. My work involved close cooperation with Defra, the Defra Network, and other central government Departments.My team worked widely with government, arms length delivery bodies, research councils, and academic institutions. They supported a number of joint evidence programmes across the Defra Network in the areas of Better Regulation, Sustainable Consumption, Waste Regulation, Water Quality and Water Resources. Show less

Overview:I was responsible for the strategic coordination of the Environment Agency’s EU and international science engagement. This role included oversight of: funding bids prepared under the 7th Framework Programme, LIFE, INTERREG and Marie-Curie funding streams; existing projects, including a portfolio of European Research Area Networks and participation in joint-call activities; ensuring good project governance, and maximising the impact of initiatives by extending research networks into… Show more Overview:I was responsible for the strategic coordination of the Environment Agency’s EU and international science engagement. This role included oversight of: funding bids prepared under the 7th Framework Programme, LIFE, INTERREG and Marie-Curie funding streams; existing projects, including a portfolio of European Research Area Networks and participation in joint-call activities; ensuring good project governance, and maximising the impact of initiatives by extending research networks into the policy domain. Extensive liaison with UK research funders and international partner organisations was required. Show less

Paris, France

Member of Evaluation Committee BiodivERsA joint call for international research proposals on, 'Understanding and managing biodiversity dynamics to improve ecosystem functioning and delivery of ecosystem services in a global change context: the cases of soils and sediments, and land- river- and sea-scapes'.

Swindon, United Kingdom

Innovation internships allow postgraduate or postdoctoral researchers to apply for intern positions based within a business or organisation and can last for up to six months. Some of these internships also invite researchers to apply for postings in policy or third sector organisations.Partners gain from having an intern undertake a focused piece of work, which aims benefit their specific organisation.Internships are particularly suited to early career researchers who are either nearing the… Show more Innovation internships allow postgraduate or postdoctoral researchers to apply for intern positions based within a business or organisation and can last for up to six months. Some of these internships also invite researchers to apply for postings in policy or third sector organisations.Partners gain from having an intern undertake a focused piece of work, which aims benefit their specific organisation.Internships are particularly suited to early career researchers who are either nearing the end of or have recently completed their PhD, and are able to embed NERC-funded research into a business, policy or third sector environment. Show less

United Kingdom

The 2014 REF was conducted jointly by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales (HEFCW) and the Department for Employment and Learning, Northern Ireland (DEL). The primary purpose of REF 2014 was to assess the quality of research and produce outcomes for each submission made by institutions.

Paris, France

Vice-chair of the evaluation process for the 2013/14 pan-European research call on 'Promoting synergies and reducing trade-offs between food production, Biodiversity and ecosystem services'. Chair of the policy evaluation sub-committee. This joint call is jointly run by the BiodivERsA network, and the Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE) Joint Programming Initiative (JPI).

Oslo, Norway

Vice-chair of the evaluation process for the 2012/13 Biodiversa pan-European research call on invasive species and biological invasions. Chair of the policy evaluation sub-committee.The call focuses on the following elements:T1: Demonstrating and characterising the impacts of biological invaders; T2: Understanding mechanisms of biological invasions and levers for mitigating and/or reversing the impacts of biological invaders; T3: Evaluating the interactions between biological… Show more Vice-chair of the evaluation process for the 2012/13 Biodiversa pan-European research call on invasive species and biological invasions. Chair of the policy evaluation sub-committee.The call focuses on the following elements:T1: Demonstrating and characterising the impacts of biological invaders; T2: Understanding mechanisms of biological invasions and levers for mitigating and/or reversing the impacts of biological invaders; T3: Evaluating the interactions between biological invasions and other global environmental changes; T4: Biological invasions and public perceptions; T5: Biological invasions and adaptation Show less

Tallinn, Estonia

Vice-chair of the evaluation process for the 2011/12 Biodiversa pan-European research call on biodiversity dynamics: developing scenarios, identifying tipping points and improving resilience. Chair of the policy evaluation sub-committee.

European Commission

Overview:I co-ordinated the ‘Scientific Knowledge for Environmental Protection’ (SKEP) European Research Area Network (ERA-Net) which was funded through the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme between 2005-2014. The multinational consortium was composed of public-sector funders of environmental research (government ministries, institutes, and delivery bodies) from 13 European countries. My lead role within the network, required me to work extensively across the European Union… Show more Overview:I co-ordinated the ‘Scientific Knowledge for Environmental Protection’ (SKEP) European Research Area Network (ERA-Net) which was funded through the European Commission’s 6th Framework Programme between 2005-2014. The multinational consortium was composed of public-sector funders of environmental research (government ministries, institutes, and delivery bodies) from 13 European countries. My lead role within the network, required me to work extensively across the European Union, building close relationships with partners and key stakeholder organisations (including the European Commission, EEA, USEPA, IMPEL, Network of EPAs). This 4-year science-policy focussed project was designed to improve research co-ordination and co-operation between the 17 SKEP participants through the better alignment of national programmes and the sharing of good practice in research management and dissemination. It gave rise to a second self-funded phase (between 2009 and 2014) which continued to facilitate closer working between the participating organisations.Ancillary responsibilities:- External auditor of monitoring and modelling of environmental quality for the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands (August-September 2008)- EA representation at Water Framework Directive (WFD) Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) Science-Policy Interface (SPI) Working Group;- External evaluator for the Finnish Environment Institute (Suomen ympäristökeskus) (February 2009) Show less

Overview:I worked to support the implementation and delivery of European environemntal legislation for which the Environment Agency was the competent authority.Job Responsibilities- Poland: Expert attached to the UK-Poland twinning project team concerned with implementation of the European Commission Nitrate directive prior to accession to the European Union in 2004. Provision of training to Polish Environment Ministry staff in Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznan and Katowice between… Show more Overview:I worked to support the implementation and delivery of European environemntal legislation for which the Environment Agency was the competent authority.Job Responsibilities- Poland: Expert attached to the UK-Poland twinning project team concerned with implementation of the European Commission Nitrate directive prior to accession to the European Union in 2004. Provision of training to Polish Environment Ministry staff in Warsaw, Wrocław, Poznan and Katowice between 2002-2004.- Member of the Protected Areas Group charged under the Water Framework Directive River Basin Characterization Project with producing a methodology for the identification of Protected Areas in England & Wales and accompanying GIS.- Agency lead for the revision of the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC). Responsible for the production of policy statements for the Environment Agency.- Netherlands: Member of EU Expert Group concerned with implementation and assessment of the effectiveness of Action Programmes under the Nitrate Directive (91/676/EEC)- Agency lead for designation policy concerned with the Shellfish Waters Directive (79/923/EEC)- Agency lead for designation policy under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC)- Spain, France: Project leader for the Agency on COASTAL-ERA, an FP6-funded Specific Support Action (SSA) concerning control objectives and target assurance levels for shellfish hygiene sites in Spain, France, the UK. Project partners include Institut français de recherche pour l'exploitation de la mer (IFREMER), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) and Conselleria de Pesca e Asuntos Maritimos (CCMM).- Bulgaria: Project expert on an Anglo-Czech project concerned with strengthening the capacity of health authorities in Bulgaria (Bathing Water Directive; Surface Water Abstraction Directive; Drinking Water Directive) Show less

Overview:This role was responsible for identifying forthcoming European environmental legislation and influencing its development (prior to it being published in the Official Journal of the European Union).Job Responsibilities- Member of the European Expert Group for revision of the Bathing Water Directive- Member of the Water Framework Directive Common Implementation Strategys Expert Advisory Forum for Reporting (EAF-R) concerned with the revision of the Standardised… Show more Overview:This role was responsible for identifying forthcoming European environmental legislation and influencing its development (prior to it being published in the Official Journal of the European Union).Job Responsibilities- Member of the European Expert Group for revision of the Bathing Water Directive- Member of the Water Framework Directive Common Implementation Strategys Expert Advisory Forum for Reporting (EAF-R) concerned with the revision of the Standardised Reporting Directive and dove-tailing its requirements with those of the Water Framework Directive- Member of a Temporary Expert Group as part of the Expert Advisory Forum for Priority Substances (EAF-PS). Attended Working Group meetings in ISPRA (Italy) concerned with arrangements for the analysis and monitoring of priority substances Show less

Overview:The responsibility of this post was to act as a national link between central government and Operational staff within the Environment Agency in order to ensure legislation was transposed and implemented effectively, to issue appropriate guidance, and to coordinate reviews of site designations.Job responsibilities:- Formulation of National Guidance and Policy on the interpretation of EU Directives- Revison of Agency Guidance concerning the chemical and biological… Show more Overview:The responsibility of this post was to act as a national link between central government and Operational staff within the Environment Agency in order to ensure legislation was transposed and implemented effectively, to issue appropriate guidance, and to coordinate reviews of site designations.Job responsibilities:- Formulation of National Guidance and Policy on the interpretation of EU Directives- Revison of Agency Guidance concerning the chemical and biological assessment of Sensitive Areas (Eutrophic) under the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive- Revision of Agency Guidance concerning the assessment and designation of surface-water Nitrate Vulnerable Zones under the Nitrate Directive- Agency coordination of the second and third reviews of surface-water NVZ's designated under the Nitrate Directive- Agency coordination of the 1999 expansion of designations under the Shellfish Waters Directive- Coordination of National Directives Returns to the DETR (including the last Standardised Reporting Directive return for 1996-1998 data)- Member of Monitoring Revue working group concerned with the re-alignment of Directives-based monitoring- Member of the National Aquatic Eutrophication Working Group concerned with the formulation of the Agency's Eutrophication Strategy- Advisory role to the UK Government and member of European Commission DGXI Expert Group concerning the revision of the Bathing Waters Directive Show less

Policy Fellow At The Centre For Science And Policy

The Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) at the University of Cambridge is dedicated to building links between policy professionals (.

Dphil, Fieldwork Between 1992-1995

Activities and Societies: I conducted fieldwork on hybrid poplar varietals between 1992-1995 at the Universiteit Instelling Antwerpen.

Dphil

Doctoral thesis: 'The effects of elevated carbon-dioxide and tropospheric ozone on the growth and development of hybrid poplar'. Funding.

Bsc (Combined Honours)

BSc (Combined Honours) Biology and Geography, 1st class joint honours Course Details: Final Year Course Units: Soil Ecology, Littoral.

Bsc, Business Management, 2(Ii)

Final Year Course Units: International Business, Business Policy, Financial Management, Psychology at Work, Applied Economics.