Tag Archives: Science

Scientists – spend a week with an MEP

Posted on by

uuuuuuuuu

​The MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme 2015 is calling for applications from researchers who would like to interact with Members of  the European Parliament (MEPs) and provide scientific expertise. The aim of the scheme is to enhance knowledge-based decisions and to facilitate better public awareness of EU policies and to foster greater mutual understanding.

Successful applicants will be paired with MEPs and will be invited to Brussels later in 2015 for a week where they will have the opportunity to follow MEPs in their daily political activities and learn about EU policy in the area of research. There would then be follow-up event organised by the MEPs which could include workshops, visits to local research facilities, press conferences and exhibitions.

The selection criteria specify specific fields of research, which are linked to the priority areas of the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment bureau (STOA), an in-house service which also uses external expertise and provides its services to the European Parliament’s Committees. These are:

  • Eco-efficient transport and modern energy solutions;
  • Sustainable management of natural resources;
  • Potentials and challenges of the Information Society;
  • Health and life sciences; and
  • Science, technology and innovation policy.

These areas are to be understood in a broad sense and both natural scientists in state-of-the-art innovative areas (energy storage, renewable energy, photonics, innovative production etc.) and social scientists (jobs and growth, indicators, foresight etc.) are encouraged to apply.

There is no research funding available but researchers participating in the scheme will be reimbursed for travel and accommodation when the come to Brussels.

The deadline for applications is 31 July 2015 and all details on the application process can be obtained form the invitation document.

BBSRC Responsive mode research grants

Posted on by

BBSRC - Bioscience for the future

The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council invites applications for its responsive mode scheme, on any topic within it’s portfolio.

Applications should be made to the appropriate committees according to the research topic:

  • research committee A evaluates proposals related to animal disease, health and welfare
  • research committee B evaluates proposals related to plants, microbes, food and sustainability
  • research committee C evaluates proposals related to genes, development, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics approaches to biology
  • research committee D evaluates proposals related to molecules, cells and industrial biotechnology

Grants may be used for research projects, technology development, equipment or use of existing facilities, new facilities or infrastructure provision, research networks and coordination and summer schools. Small pilot projects, proof-of-concept studies etc may also be supported.

Principal applicants must be resident in the UK and hold an academic staff appointment, lecturer level or equivalent, at a higher education institution, research council institute or a BBSRC approved research organisation.

Grants are tenable for up to five years.

Closing dates:  28 April 2015, 23 September 2015

For further information go to: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/apply/deadlines/

£10 million HEFCE fund to support collaborative research on policing and crime reduction

Posted on by

crime pic

On 28 January 2015, HEFCE announced a new £10 million Police knowledge Fund, administered via its Catalyst Fund and supported jointly with the Home Office.

Established in partnership with the College of Policing, the fund will encourage police forces to collaborate with experts from academic fields such as criminology, economics, neuroscience and computer analytics in order to better understand crimes, to develop innovative ways of policing and more responses to crime.

The call has not been released yet, however more information are expected in due course on the HEFCE website: please click here.

Call for proposals: Does human spaceflight affect the perception and uptake of STEM subjects?

Posted on by

UK Space Agency logo  esrc logo

The UK Space Agency, in partnership with the Economic and Social Research Council, invites proposals for the call: Does human spaceflight affect the perceptions and uptake of STEM subjects?

It aims to fund social research into the effects of human spaceflight programmes and the correlation between astronaut programmes and the interest in and uptake of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among children.

Proposals for studies must address the following areas:

  • levels of engagement with STEM subjects in school, especially at key stages two and three
  • social mobility, namely the increased engagement in STEM from disadvantaged students and schools in underprivileged areas
  • knowledge of societal usefulness of space

It is anticipated that funding in the region of £300,000 to £350,000 will be available, over three years. This may cover research time, research assistants and other resources relevant and necessary to the proposed research.

This call is open to researchers at research organisations eligible for ESRC funding.

Closing date: 13 October 2014

For further information go to: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/353124/Human_Spaceflight_and_STEM_-_Call_for_proposals_II.pdf

 

Newton Fund: building science and innovation capacity in developing countries

Posted on by

The Newton Fund is part of the UK’s official development assistance. Its aim is to develop science and innovation partnerships that promote the economic development and welfare of developing countries.

The fund is £75 million each year from 2014 for 5 years. It will be administered by The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Activities under the fund will be managed by a core group of Delivery Partners, including: the Royal Society, Royal Society of Engineering, The Royal Society of Chemistry, British Academy and The Academy of Medical Sciences, The British Council (in collaboration with the UK Higher Education International Unit), Research Councils UK (RCUK), Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and the Met Office.

The funding will be allocated in varying proportions across 15 partner countries, all of which are emerging economies. All programmes must be match funded so that partnerships are on an equal basis and must also assist with the economic development of the partner country.

Partner countries are:  Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.

The fund will cover 3 broad categories of activity:

  • people: improving science and innovation expertise (ie: ‘capacity building’), student and researcher fellowships, mobility schemes and joint centres
  • programmes: research collaborations on development topics
  • translation: innovation partnerships and challenge funds to develop innovative solutions on development topics

The Newton Fund should promote the long term economic development and welfare of people in partner countries and unlock new opportunities for HEIs to contribute and build partnerships. Challenges such as the alleviation of poverty, improvement of energy and water quality, as well as innumerable other social, environmental and cultural benefits which could ultimately lead to increasing the economic growth of partner countries as well as the UK should be addressed.

Calls are likely to be opened at different times according to the country and the programme area. For all current research calls go to:

Multi-country calls  No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Brazil The joint Research Councils UK-CONFAP research partnerships call opened on 4 August. The application form and guidance for applicants will be available from 18 August 2014. The deadline for applications is 17 October at 16:00 UK time.

Calls for Chile Newton-Picarte fund No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for UK-China Research and Innovation Partnership Fund Ten calls now open with the Met Office as the delivery partner. Deadlines: 1 September 2014 & 27 February 2015.

Calls for Colombia Newton-Caldas Fund No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Egypt No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for India Two calls for India’s Newton-Bhabha fund are now open, with more expected shortly.

  • DBT-MRC Joint Centre Partnerships (Deadline: 29 September at 16:00)
  • Joint Global Research Programme: Women’s and children’s health (Deadline: 21 October at 16:00)

Calls for Indonesia No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Kazakhstan Newton-Al Farabi Partnership Programme No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Malaysia No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Mexico No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Philippines No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for South Africa No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Thailand No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Turkey No calls are open at the moment.

Calls for Vietnam No calls are open at the moment.

Newton Fund programme descriptions

For regular updates on the fund visit the HE International Unit website

Full details can be found on the UK government website

For further information, contact the External Projects Team.

International Exchange with China

Posted on by

This fund is for scientists who want to stimulate new collaborations with leading scientists in China through either a one-off visit or bilateral travel. Similar schemes are also available for Taiwan and Ireland.

Funding Body: Royal Society

Scheme: International Exchanges Scheme- China cost-share programme

Overview: This stimulates new collaborations within the natural sciences between scientists in the UK and China.

The UK applicant must apply to the Royal Society and the Chinese applicant must apply to NSFC. Both applicants must have completed a PhD or have extensive experience at an equivalent level. They must hold a permanent or fixed term contract in an eligible organisation in their respective countries. The participation of junior scientists is encouraged.

Budget: The Royal Society provides up to £12,000 for the UK team’s airfare to China and the Chinese team’s subsistence whilst in the UK. Up to £2,000 of this amount may be spent on research expenses and consumables. An additional £12,000 equivalent is available from NSFC to the Chinese team’s airfare to the UK and the UK team’s subsistence whilst in China.

Deadlines: 21 October 2014 (this call repeats annually)

Further Information: https://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/international-exchanges/

 

Royal Society priorities include

  • Promoting science and its benefits
  • Recognising excellence in science
  • Supporting outstanding science
  • Providing scientific advice for policy
  • Fostering international and global cooperation
  • Education and public engagement

china-uk_handshake

Host a conference in humanities or social sciences

Posted on by

The British Academy has launched their annual call for people to hold conferences at the academies London base. The remit for conferences is that they fit around the theme of humanities and social sciences. Plus they are looking for proposals for conferences that will be pivotal events and of lasting significance in the field. This is a chance for leading and emerging scholars to examine current and future issues surrounding novel, dynamic, innovative and exciting subject areas.
Funding Body: British Academy
Scheme: Conference Programme
Overview: The British Academy invites proposals for its 2015 conference programme. This supports conferences on subjects in the humanities and social sciences held at the British Academy’s premises in central London. The academy will support up to six conferences in 2015, with up to 135 participants each.
Any UK-based scholar is eligible to submit a proposal.
Budget: The academy provides the venue, facilities and catering; contributes to travel and accommodation for convenors, speakers and chairs; and promotes and administers the conferences. Themed volumes of essays arising from the conferences may be published in the Proceedings of the British Academy series.
Deadlines: 21 February 2014 –annual call
Further Information: http://www.britac.ac.uk/events/events_proposals_conferences.cfm

Looking to collaborate with the US?

Posted on by

The British Council are running the Global Innovation Initiative which will providing funding for university research collaborations between the UK and US working with either Brazil, China, Indonesia or India.  Science, technology, engineering and mathematical research issues of global significance will be supported through this scheme. The research competition opens on 28th October, with a deadline of 16th December.

Academics interested in applying are encouraged to contact their potential partners now to prepare for the call launch.  Only 20 grants are expected to be supported, with project values proposed between £100,000 – £150,000.

The goals of the scheme are:

  • To increase the global mobility of students, researchers, faculty, and higher education administrators from the U.S., the UK, and other countries;
  • To develop a cadre of people in the U.S., UK, and other countries who have the international experience, outlook and knowledge to confront global challenges and operate in a global context;
  • To encourage international collaborations that develop capacity across a range of universities in the U.S., the UK, and other countries;
  • To forge university and business linkages that support a globally mobile talent pool and a multinational base for the exchange of discovery and innovation.

Further information: http://global-innovation-initiative.org/ 

Please contact externalprojects@staffs.ac.uk if you are developing a proposal for this call.

Prestigious Awards Releasing Scientists from Teaching

Posted on by

The Royal Society has launched a call for Research Professorships. These awards come up highly infrequently and they are extremely prestigious. The aim of these awards is to release the best scientists from teaching and administration, allowing them to focus on research. There is plenty of time to consider an application, as bids are due in on 13 March 2014.

Funding Body: Royal Society

Scheme: Research Professorship

Overview: These prestigious posts provide long-term support for internationally recognised scientists of outstanding achievement and promise. The Professorships may be awarded in any field across the natural sciences. Applicants can be of any nationality, and applications are particularly welcomed from scientists currently resident outside the UK.

Budget: The scheme provides salary costs, a one-off start-up grant and research expenses. Appointments are usually made for up to 10 years.

Deadlines: 13 March 2014

Further Information: http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/research-professorship/

 

Franklin-front

Royal Society Industry Fellowships

Posted on by
422

The Royal Society, in collaboration with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Natural Environment Research Council, Rolls-Royce and BP, invites applications for its industry fellowships.

This scheme is for academic scientists who want to work on a collaborative project with industry and for scientists in industry who want to work on a collaborative project with an academic organisation with a university department or a not-for-profit research organisation.

It aims to enhance knowledge transfer in science and technology between those in industry and those in academia in the UK. It is anticipated that fellows will establish personal and corporate links between the two sectors in the UK as a foundation for their long-term future development.

The scheme provides the applicant’s basic salary while on secondment. The employing organisation continue to pay national insurance and pension contributions. Research expenses may be claimed up to the value of £2,000 per year.

All natural sciences, including agriculture, mathematics, biotechnology, environmental research, medical and engineering sciences, are eligible. Projects at any stage from fundamental science to industrial innovation will be supported.

Applications involving spin-offs or small companies are encouraged.

Awards can be for any period up to two years full time or four years pro rata.

Closing date 16 Oct 13 (Forecast)

For further information go to: http://royalsociety.org/grants/schemes/industry-fellowship/