Many NEST activities have community outreach elements. The soil erosion study in Anaocha LGA, for example, led to the introduction of primary environmental care ideas to the Anaocha communities. The most extensive community outreach activities of NEST, however, have been the Annual Research Competitions and Environmental Action Awards (EAA), conducted, with funding from the Ford Foundation, from 1992 to 1997. Over 42 research awards and 50 action prizes were made in these programmes that were very popular and reached most of the country.

NEST's library, open for consultation by subscribing members, also provides community service.