Research Data Scotland will provide a service for accessing public sector datasets that have the potential to save money time and lives.

It will offer safe, secure and cost effective access to data for research, innovation and investment by enabling its users to deliver insight and understanding that will help create a more successful country through increased wellbeing, sustainable and inclusive economic growth, and improving the health of the nation.

We will work collaboratively with data...

Purpose

The purpose of the Atmospheric Analysis Facility for GHGs is to analyse air samples to measure concentrations and fluxes of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O, including stable isotopes), usually to quantify GHG emission from soils, ecosystems and water bodies.

Capabilities

The Atmospheric Analysis Facility for GHGs is equipped to analyse air samples to measure concentrations and fluxes of greenhouse gases (CO2, CH4 and N2O, including stable isotopes).  Analytical capability includes...

Purpose

The purpose of the Conwy Research Catchment Observatory is to study landscape-scale processes for water, soil and vegetation across a whole river catchment - encompassing an array of land use and soil types from upland mountains and moors to the river-estuary transition zone (RETZ) and coast.  This observatory contributes to the Upland Water Monitoring Network (listed separately below) and also provides an experimental research platform.  It is increasingly recognised that the emergent...

Purpose

The purpose of the UKCEH GroDome Facility is to enable controlled experimental studies of a wide range of organisms and pathogens.  The space available in the GroDome allows larger experiments than could be contained in controlled environment rooms, and the GroDome environment is better suited to insect survival.  Along with studies looking at the effect of environmental changes on plant growth and development, the GroDome is used to study the relationships between plants, disease (eg...

Purpose

The purpose of the Mobile AQ Labs is to measure air quality, pollution sources, emissions and depositions.  They can be deployed in flexible combinations for field-campaigns in different ecosystems and above urban areas.                

Capabilities

Three mobile laboratories are housed in a 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter Van, a Chill trailer and an 8ft sea container; all insulated and feature air-conditioning and electrical installations that can be connected to a local power supplies.  The...

The Quantum Computing and Simulation Hub (QCS Hub) is a collaboration between 17 UK universities and is one of four hubs within the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme.

Working with an extensive network of academic, industrial and governmental partners, we are focused on the critical research challenges for quantum computing, across a broad range of hardware and software disciplines.

As well as addressing the technical challenges in providing quantum computing and simulation at scale...

Purpose

The purpose of the Microplastics Analysis Facility is to detect the presence of plastics in the environment so that researchers can understand their fate, bioavailability and interactions with wildlife.  This research helps governments, consumers and industry to tackle the growing pollution and harm caused by plastic litter and microplastic particles in the environment - in our soils, freshwaters, oceans and food chains. 

Capabilities

The Microplastics Analysis Facility is equipped to...

The NERC Field Spectroscopy Facility maintains and provides a pool of state-of-the-art spectroscopy instruments for use by the UK research community. We are also develop and deliver training courses, development and improve EO instrumentation and work with national bodies in support of calibration/validation exercises. 

Our equipment pool contains field spectrometers; logging and field portable sunphotometers; UAV sensors including a hyperspectral imager with LiDAR, Sentinel 2/WorldView-Matched...

Purpose

The purpose of the UKCEH Aquatic Mesocosm Facility (CAMF) is to enable controlled experimental studies of simulated shallow lake ecosystems.  For example to study the effects of climate warming on freshwater communities, or to disentangle how different external drivers or stressors influence the structure and function of shallow lake ecosystems.  Understanding how inland freshwater lakes work is important because they provide us with ecosystem services such as water supply, flood...

Purpose

The purpose of the Biological Records Centre (BRC) is to provide national leadership and coordination for collecting wildlife species records across the UK.  Wildlife and biodiversity surveillance is largely carried out by public volunteers, often through specialist interest groups and national recording schemes, and is supplemented by professional surveys to fill gaps.  Biodiversity sustains healthy ecosystems and the natural resources and services (collectively 'natural capital') that...