After a year of weather whiplash, with record-breaking rainfall in winter and the driest July on record, the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH) is joining forces with the Royal Institution (Ri) to help make sense of our changing world.
The partnership will bring a series of inspiring public lectures to the Ri's famous theatre in London, exploring one of the most important issues facing all of us: water.
Our first lecture will be on 16 November 2026, looking at how floods and droughts are already shaping our lives, what we might expect to happen in the future and the solutions we can implement to protect ourselves from the impacts.
UKCEH scientists will uncover the secrets of past weather that landscapes hold and explore the new technologies which are reshaping our understanding of not just our changing climate, but the impact it has on our lives. We’ll also showcase how UKCEH science, through the Floods and Droughts Research Infrastructure (FDRI), is using innovative monitoring and data to help us better understand floods and droughts, driving practical solutions to protect communities and livelihoods.
This new partnership reflects a shared commitment between UKCEH and the Royal Institution to make trusted science accessible to everyone. UKCEH science will reach new audiences, address the misinformation and hyperbole around our environment and provide an evidence-led public voice on environmental science.
Dr Stuart Wainwright, UKCEH Chief Executive said:
"We are so excited to be partnering with such a respected organisation as the Royal Institution on this series of lectures on such an important topic that impacts us all. With its long and distinguished history of inspiring public engagement with science we are excited to bring our world-leading environmental science to new audiences and help more people understand the environmental challenges and opportunities that are ahead."
Katherine Matheison, Director at the Royal Institution said:
“We’re delighted to be launching this new partnership with UKCEH. We know there is strong demand from public audiences for trustworthy and engaging content about the science that is shaping our lives and our futures. By working closely with UKCEH’s experts, we’ll be able to show how leading-edge research will help address the challenges from droughts and floods. In the wake of the hottest, driest summer this country has ever seen, it’s crucial that the public are able to hear from scientists directly about how we address climate changes together. Our new partnership with UKCEH will be instrumental in enabling the Royal Institution to bring the latest research to the public.”
Alongside the public lecture programme, the partnership will also include a stakeholder event bringing together government, businesses and industry to discuss the future of water resilience in the UK.
Further lectures will take place in Spring 2027, including a family-friendly event designed to inspire people of all ages to discover the fascinating science of water.
Tickets for The new normal: how weather whiplash is shaping our lives are available now from the Royal Institution website.