Research within PE&RC is primarily a bottom up activity of individual scientists within the context of the research groups. It is realised that, being financially supported by society at large through various mechanisms and working in a societal context, scientists should be able to communicate their research to society, translate science into societal values, and involve stakeholders at an early stage where possible and useful. PE&RC explores and stimulates possibilities and processes for addressing these issues and for developing educational elements to provide young scientists working in earth and life sciences, in particular, with the necessary skills. Part of this is realized via cooperation within the context of Wageningen Graduate Schools. PE&RC stimulates all its members (PhD students, post-docs and staff) to acquire in-depth knowledge of specific research issues, as well as to broaden his or her scientific scope and competences in order to be able to integrate the scientific work in other research areas, in a social context, and to function in non-scientific arenas (so called T-shaped skills). We consider that having T-shaped skills is important as they allow for scientific flexibility in further stages of a career. In particular post-PhD occupation requirements generally extend those of the specific PhD work. Yet, within the concept of T-shaped skills, PE&RC acknowledges that there are generalists (less in-depth knowledge but with a broad view) as well as specialists (specific in-depth knowledge but with a less broad view) to fulfil its mission and to warrant its unique niche in the scientific community.