Monthly Archives: December 2015

CaSE and EPC Launch Report into the Role of EU Membership in UK Science and Engineering Research

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The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) and the Engineering Professors’ Council (EPC) have launched a new report today (16 December) on the role of EU membership in UK science and engineering research.

EU Report front pageThe report aims to inform the debate ahead of the UK referendum on EU membership. It contains evidence and insight gained from analysis of available data and interactions with the science and engineering community.

A pre-publication copy has been submitted to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee Inquiry on the Relationship between EU membership and UK science. In addition to investigating the scale and scope of EU research funding, the report includes the results of a survey conducted by CaSE and the EPC to capture the views and experiences of over 400 researchers.

Key Findings:

  • 93% of researchers asked in the CaSE and EPC survey agreed that EU membership is a major benefit to UK.
  • Some regions of the UK are more dependent than others on EU funding in maintaining research capacity and infrastructure, and as a result could suffer disproportionate adverse impacts if this source was withdrawn.
  • The ability to attract academic staff to the UK through free movement of labour is important, particularly in science and engineering.
  • The role and benefits of EU membership to UK research is considered by researchers to be broader than just the funding for research that EU projects bring to the UK. The improvement in quality, reach and impact, facilitated by EU collaboration and coordination, helps to solve “Grand Challenge” problems in a way that would be much harder for any one country to achieve alone.

Please find more information and the full report here.

 

 

LMS TRAVEL GRANTS TO ATTEND SEVENTH EUROPEAN CONGRESS OF MATHEMATICS, BERLIN, 18-22 JULY 2016

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The London Mathematical Society (the UK’s learned society for the advancement of mathematics) is offering travel grants to support attendance of UK-based mathematicians at the Seventh European Congress of Mathematics in Berlin, 18-22 July 2016 (www.7ecm.de)

LMS would particularly like to support those mathematicians at an early stage in their career, including postdocs. You do not need to be an LMS member to apply.

Costs covered include international economy fares, accommodation and meals, and conference registration.

To apply for a travel grant, please download an application form from the LMS website:

https://www.lms.ac.uk/content/7ecm-2016-lms-travel-grants

Applications should be submitted to the Society by 5 February 2016 and applicants will be informed of the outcome by early March 2016.

 

EC Launches Consultation on IPR

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The European Commission has launched a consultation on the evaluation and modernisation of the legal framework for the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR).

Amongst the actions envisaged in the European Commission’s Digital Single Market strategy is the modernisation of IPR enforcement, focusing on commercial-scale infringements (the ‘follow the money’ approach) and its cross-border applicability.

The consultation consists of a set of questionnaires for different stakeholder groups, notably rightholders, the judiciary and legal profession, intermediaries, Member States and public authorities, citizens, and consumers and civil society. It will run until 1 April 2016.

Call for Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Fellowship Applications

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RoyalSociety

Final Reminder of Funder Deadline – 12 January 2016 

The Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin scheme is for outstanding scientists in the UK at an early stage of their research career who require a flexible working pattern due to personal circumstances such as parenting or caring responsibilities, or health issues.  This scheme offers holders the opportunity to hold appointments on a part-time basis or convert from full-time to part-time and back again to help match work and other commitments, such as parental or caring responsibilities.

Eligibility

  • The applicant must be able to demonstrate a current need for flexible support due to personal circumstances at the time of application. This can include current parenting or caring responsibilities (such as raising children or looking after ageing or seriously ill family members), clinically diagnosed health issues or other personal circumstances that create a need for a flexible working pattern.   [Although not made specific in the scheme guidance, in the past applicants have been unsuccessful where their caring responsibilities were outside the UK ].
  • Must be at an early stage of their research career (have completed their PhD but have no more than 6 years of research experience post PhD by 12 January 2016).
  • Must not hold a permanent post in a university or not-for-profit organisation in the European Economic Area (EEA) or in Switzerland.
  • Must be a citizen of the EEA or a be a Swiss citizen (or have a relevant connection to the EEA or Switzerland).
  • The research must fall within the Natural Sciences.

Please speak to Kelly or Emma in Research Support if you are considering submitting an application.  Applications must be submitted on eGap to Research Services by Tuesday 5 January 2016.

More information can be found on the Royal Society’s website here:

https://royalsociety.org/grants-schemes-awards/grants/dorothy-hodgkin/

https://royalsociety.org/~/media/grants/schemes/DHF-2016-scheme-notes.pdf