Thirteen POL sea level scientists have just returned from a two-day symposium "Sea level rise and coastal flooding - understanding the risks", at the Royal Society in London. The joint National Tidal and Sea Level Facility (NTSLF) and Challenger Society Sea Level Special Interest Group hosted event attracted about 100 delegates.

Researchers came from 18 universities in the UK, New Zealand and France with other delegates representing the UK's:

• flood risk assessment, management and modelling consultancies;
• insurance industry;
• engineering consultancies;
• natural resources researchers;
• specialist equipment suppliers;
• providers of scientific evidence informing UK policy on climate change, energy and global climate change impacts.

Chris de Grouchy, Head of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Flood Management Division, welcomed everyone and introduced the workshop. Following Chris, Prof Alan Thorpe, Chief Executive of the Natural Environment Research Council introduced NERC and the NTSLF. Six themed sessions then covered all aspects of sea level science - ranging from fundamental research at a global level to operational forecasting and risk management.

• Session 1 -Impacts of sea level rise
• Session 2 - Sea level variability and observations of sea and ice (I)
• Session 3 - Modelling future sea levels
• Session 4 - Vertical land movement
• Session 5 - Sea level variability and observations of sea and ice (II)
• Session 6 - Risk management and operational forecasting

Prof Andrew Willmott, Director of the Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory, ended the symposium with a round-up and closing remarks.

The Proudman Oceanographic (POL) scientific research focuses on oceanography encompassing global sea-levels and geodesy, numerical modelling of continental shelf seas and coastal sediment processes. This research alongside activities of surveying, monitoring, data management and forecasting provides strategic support for the wider mission of the Natural Environment Research Council.

As a public funded body it is part of our remit to inform the public of the science and research undertaken at the laboratory. Attending events like the 'Ocean Awareness Weekend' at the Blue Planet Aquarium offers the opportunity for our scientists to meet members of the public and present the laboratory's work.

The Natural Environment Research Council is one of the UK's eight Research Councils. It uses a budget of about £ 350m a year to fund and carry out impartial scientific research in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the next generation of independent environmental scientists. It is addressing some of the key questions facing mankind, such as global warming, renewable energy and sustainable economic development.