The NERC Research Grants Handbook has been updated. There are a number of changes including the new requirement for Knowledge Exchange plans to accompany all Standard, Consortium and Partnership research grant applications. It can be found here: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/application/researchgrants/grantshandbook.doc.
May 30, 2008
ESRC-ICSSR India-UK Scholar Exchanges 2008
The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Indian Council for Social Science Research are are inviting applications under a new scheme for India-UK scholar exchanges (see http://www.esrc.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/opportunities/international/esrc-icssr08.aspx?ComponentId=26699&SourcePageId=5964#0) .
The purpose of the scheme is to strengthen the quality and potential of research in both countries by building greater research interaction. The scheme is aimed at established scholars in either country to undertake clearly specified research collaborations between India and UK. Funding will be available for academic visits of 1-3 months to recognised research organisations, including universities and research institutes.
Applicants must be ordinarily resident in the appropriate country and employed, with an appointment of at least three years, in a research or academic position in a recognised research or academic institution in that country. They must also hold a PhD or equivalent qualification, and have held this for at least three years by July 2008 (i.e. since at least July 2005).
The Councils are particularly interested in applicants about to be able to make major contributions in their research area. In this first round of exchange awards, the Councils are concerned to encourage applicants who have established, begun to establish, or are on the verge of establishing, international recognition in their research field.
The Councils expect to be able to make up to 10 awards during 2008, with arrangements for the visit to be completed by not later than March 2009, and the visit to be taken up during academic year 2008-09. The Councils expect but do not require that five of the exchange visits will be to the UK and the other five to India.
How to make an application
Proposals should be submitted on the ESRC-ICSSR Scholar Exchanges Application Form (MS Word). The deadline for proposals is at 4pm local time on Thursday 17 July 2008.
Applications for UK scholars wishing to visit India have to be submitted to ESRC. Application and all supporting materials (1-2-page CVs of Exchange Scholar and Lead Collaborator) should be sent to The Registry, ESRC in hard copy.
AHRC – Important Changes to Research Grants Scheme
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) Research Committee agreed an important change to the Research Grants Scheme at its meeting on 21 May 2008.
From January 2009 the AHRC will move to ‘open deadlines’ for research grant applications (Standard, Speculative and Early Career routes). This means that from January 2009 applicants will be able to submit standard, speculative and early career research grant applications at any time without having to worry about submitting for specific deadlines. The 5 June 2008 grants deadline will therefore be the last under the old ‘closing dates’ arrangements.
The March 2009 closing date of the research leave scheme is not affected by this move to open dates for research grants nor are any other deadlines under strategic programmes or other funding schemes.
More information on this will be included in the new funding guide, which will be issued later this year.
May 29, 2008
Invitation to tender – Innovative People – NESTA’s Policy and Research Unit
NESTA (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts ) is launching a new research strand on innovative people and is inviting tenders from researchers for three distinct research project areas:
- Youth-led user innovation
Provide evidence and examples of the frequency and type of youth-led innovation, organisations utilising this innovation and the benefits, challenges and impact of youth-led innovation for organisations and young individuals.
- The characteristics and behaviours of innovative individuals within organisations
Identify the characteristics (attitudes, abilities, skills) and behaviours of innovative individuals within organisations, and assess whether these characteristics can be developed in other organisations, and the methods for this.
- Third age entrepreneurs: Innovative business start-up in mid-life and beyond – understanding the drivers and removing the barriers
Analyse the drivers and benefits of, and any barriers to, innovative business start-up in mid-life and beyond, with the aim of identifying new policy and programme directions, and what is needed to overcome gaps in financial and other support.
- How to apply
The closing date for applications is 12 noon (BST) on 1 July 2008. For further information, including the full invitation to tender and guidance notes please go to www.nesta.org.uk/working-with-npru or email research@nesta.org.uk.
Residential Workshop – Making a successful research grant proposal
The Missenden centre is offering a small, practical, hands-on residential workshop on writing research proposals led by two experienced academics with a record of success in grant applications. Details of this event can be found here: http://www.missendencentre.co.uk/s14.htm
May 28, 2008
Arcadis Geraghty & Miller International Ltd – Vacancies
Arcadis have some exciting opportunities for graduates and post graduates in Geology, Geotechnics, Hydrogeology, Chemistry, Engineering (chemical, civil and mechanical) and Environmental Science.
A service consulting and contracting company with current openings in all aspects of our business and all geoographic locations.
for more information please visit: www.arcadisgmi.com
Worcester Business School Academic Staff Seminars
Wednesday, 11th June, MB 1.145, 12:30-2
Dr Colin Price (UW), ‘Unreal art. A new medium for artistic expression? Galleries and installations.’
May 21, 2008
Scholarly Writing Retreat 6th-8th July 2008, Centre for Academic Writing, Coventry University
Scholarly Writing Retreats are an antidote to the growing pressure on academics and postgraduates to publish. They are particularly valuable in providing protected space, time, and freedom from distractions. By encouraging academics and postgraduates to abandon their email for a designated period, retreats offer invaluable release from the plethora of requests, enquiries etc. Retreats are also intensely motivating because delegates are able to achieve-and often to exceed-the writing goals they set for themselves.
The Centre for Academic Writing (CAW) at Coventry University is pleased to announce the opportunity for academics and postgraduates from across the UK and elsewhere to participate in a Scholarly Writing Retreat.
Following the success of a number of internal Scholarly Writing Retreats, applications are now being accepted for an external retreat which will take place from 5pm on Sunday 6 July to 5pm on Tuesday 8 July 2008.
The venue will be the Woodside Hotel and Conference Centre in Kenilworth, Warwickshire: http://www.sundialgroup.com/woodside/.
Delegates will be in residence at this attractive and well-appointed venue throughout the duration of the retreat in order to concentrate on writing for publication or other scholarly outputs.
A characteristic of CAW’s Scholarly Writing Retreats is the expert individual feedback offered to delegates. Individualised writing consultancy will be provided throughout the retreat. Up to 20 hours are protected for intensive drafting of a chosen project, and for generating ideas through discussion with the facilitator and colleagues, planning, revising, and editing. In addition, delegates will be sent pre-retreat preparation guidelines to enable them to maximise their potential writing outcomes.
The purpose of this residential event is to support delegates in developing their writing skills and in contributing to their publications profile. Participants should identify a writing project, such as a journal paper, thesis chapter or other scholarly output as their intended outcome for the retreat. When an applicant’s place is confirmed, s/he will be asked to submit an outline of this writing project. A feedback response to delegates’ proposed project plans will be supplied prior to the retreat.
To book a place at the Scholarly Writing Retreat and for more information contact:
Penny Gilchrist
Administrator
Centre for Academic Writing
Coventry University
Priory Street
Coventry
CV1 5FB
Tel: 024 7688 7900
Fax: 024 7688 7902
email: p.gilchrist@coventry.ac.uk
PhD Summer School, Centre for Evidence and Policy, Kings College, London
This Summer School is intended for MPhil/PhD students registered at UK Universities undertaking research on topics relevant to public policy.
Details can be found on the website:
May 20, 2008
New Website Initiative
www.graduatejunction.com was designed to help graduate researchers make contact with other researchers interested in their work. The idea is to connect people who would otherwise not be aware of each other, perhaps in different groups, departments or institutions. Increasing communication can prevent duplication of effort and help the spread of new ideas, benefiting the entire research community.
Contact Daniel Colgate (d.m.colegate@durham.ac.uk) if you want any further information.
