Our communities are groups of people who come together around a shared goal, shared interest or shared set of values. Communities are our key tool for engaging with our members, enabling them to generate ideas for events, publications, guidance, and policy work. Instead of work being coordinated by a centralised bureaucracy, work is coordinated by groups of members using agile management techniques. Communities allow us to adapt to the increased specialisation of the environment sector and deliver bespoke benefits for members.
The IAQM is the professional body for air quality professionals in the UK, acting as the voice for air quality by producing useful and timely guidance on matters affecting air quality professionals and by responding to Government consultations. The IAQM is committed to maintaining, enhancing and promoting the highest standards of working practices in the field and supports the development of professionals working in the sector.
We provide support to the work of the IAQM committee and the IAQM acts as the air quality community within the IES, providing support for professionals specialising in ambient and indoor air quality through events, tailored CPD opportunities and guidance. The IAQM also has a dedicated Early Career Network for those in the early stages of their career.
Events | Guidance | Membership
In the lead up to COP26, the IES established its first Challenge-Led community: the COP26 Community which focussed on championing the work of professionals in the environmental sciences, promoting the work of experts and evidence around climate change and driving change to ensure adaptation measures are accurate, ambitious and achievable. Throughout 2020 we ran a series of activities in our STAGES on the road to COP26 culminating in the publication of the Manifesto for Transformative Change.
Post-COP26 we have transitioned this community into a permanent Climate Action Community and welcome all members who are interested in getting involved.
Upcoming activity: Training: Engaging with the policy climate
Past activity: COP27 wrap-up | Forum: Managing and communicating climate risk | Gap analysis: What still needs to happen to reach net zero? | Manifesto for transformative change | From climate ambition to action journal | STAGES on the road to COP26 wrap-up
A multidisciplinary community providing a forum for thought-provoking, critical conversations around EIA from a science perspective. We aim to connect and support environmental scientists and practitioners working across a range of specialisms involved in the EIA process and facilitate meaningful discussions on topical issues related to EIA.
Recent activity: IES webinar: Implementing ESIA – What ESIA practitioners need to know about translating ESIA into action on the ground
Past activity:EIA Community Debate: Collaborating for better design | Webinar- The NATURE tool - Quickly assessing natural capital for EIAs | Guidance on proving competence in EIA
CEDHE provides representation and leadership to the environmental education communities. CEDHE and the IES work to ensure young people from all backgrounds are inspired to begin and sustain an environmental education – from primary to postgraduate.
CEDHE are an active networking organisation enhancing the quality of outcomes for education institutions teaching environmental disciplines. They facilitate connections between members and develop new avenues of international co-operation within the environmental science community.
Membership is for Further or Higher Education institutions delivering environmental programmes. All academic staff within the environmental unit can become part of the CEDHE network, whether they are involved in teaching, learning or research.
The Land Condition Community was established in 2017 in recognition that land condition professionals make up the largest proportion of our membership. We hold a number of community meetings a year and work collaboratively with members to decide on a yearly work plan of activities, including the provision of tailored CPD opportunities throughout the year. The work of the Community is member-driven with an elected Steering Group leading on Community objectives. The Community also has a dedicated network for Early Career Professionals, providing valuable opportunities for professional development and peer-to-peer learning.
Upcoming activity: Land Condition Community meeting | IES/MidLE Early Career Network event: Signposting soils and stones guidance | LCSR launch
Past activities: Webinar: Considering climate change in controlled waters risk assessment | IES forum: Assessing and addressing radon | ECN workshop - Communication: Getting comfortable with talking about the tricky stuff!
A community of like-minded professionals looking to promote an interdisciplinary approach to marine and coastal issues. We aim to develop tailored professional development opportunities to support researchers and professionals in the marine and coastal sector and to further advance the specialism through the promotion of their work and engagement with key stakeholders.
Upcoming activity: Turning the tide: Systems thinking for a sustainable ocean | IES webinar: Ocean literacy - how to change humanity's relationship with the ocean
Past activities: Webinar: The impact of land use on marine environments Tailored CEnv guidance | IES forum - Climate change and the marine environment | Ocean Decade Journal
The FWR Community was launched following the IES inheriting the mission of the Foundation for Water Research (FWR) in 2022. The Community will be a cohesive, innovative, and independent-thinking community of water professionals offering guidance and strategic thought leadership for the IES’s water activities.The FWR Community uses an integrated, systems-thinking approach to water issues and their interactions with land and air. The FWR Community will be launching a number of technical panels in 2023 to provide technical input and expertise to their activities in key topic areas within the water sector.
Sign up to the FWR newsletter | Freshwater Biology Handbook | Water Webinars
Who are they: The Society for the Environment (SocEnv) is a not-for-profit organisation incorporated by Royal Charter to license and award the titles of Chartered Environmentalist, Registered Environmental Practitioner and Registered Environmental Technician to professional individuals through its licensed members.
Relationship to the IES: The IES is a founder body and licensed to award Chartered Environmentalist, Registered Environmental Practitioner and Registered Environmental Technician.
Who are they: The Science Council is an umbrella organisation that brings together learned societies and professional bodies across science and its applications.
Relationship to the IES: The IES is a member body and is licensed by the Science Council to award Chartered Scientist.
Who are they: The SiLC Register is aimed at practitioners from a diverse range of professional bodies working in the assessment and management of land condition and brownfield regeneration who demonstrate a high degree of experience, competence and skill during their career. Registration is gained through examination.
Relationship to the IES: The IES joined SiLC as a supporting partner in 2019.
Who are they: Teach the Future is an inclusive, well organised and persistent campaign by secondary and tertiary education students to repurpose the education systems of the world, around the climate emergency and ecological crisis.
Relationship to the IES: We are a supporting partner in the campaign.
Who are they: Environment Analyst’s Brownfield & Regeneration Network brings together the entire brownfield community, including brownfield consultants and contractors, developers, landowners, planners, investors and regulators, to share insights, build connections and help define the future of the brownfield industry.
Relationship to the IES: The IES is a supporting partner of the Brownfield & Regeneration Network and has contributed to past events.
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