Connect: Issue 66

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October 2008 Issue 66 Keeping you in touch with opportunities from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council www.epsrc.ac.uk Inside 4 Physics/LSI Signpost 5 Calls Forthcoming EPSRC funding opportunities 6 EPSRC Annual Report 2 Doctoral Training Account Changes 3 Identity Management Research Consortia THROUGHOUT 2008 the EPSRC Delivery Plan 2008-2011 has been communicated through a variety of routes to ensure that the messages within it reach as wide an audience as possible. The Delivery Plan describes EPSRC’s high level priorities, the approaches and principles that will be used to achieve these priorities and the key drivers and influencing factors. EPSRC’s head of communications, Lucy Brady, said: “It is vitally important that we communicate our plans and priorities to the academic community effectively because it is the academic community who will ultimately deliver the ongoing success we are seeking.” EPSRC chief executive Professor David Delpy formally launched the Delivery Plan at the Open Meeting at the Royal Society in March and this was followed by a series of individual and regional university meetings. Communicating the EPSRC Delivery Plan The format of these meetings varied from a single presentation covering the overall Delivery Plan to more comprehensive events with individual sessions on each of the priority areas. The events were positively received and well supported, enabling EPSRC to engage in debate with around 1,500 people across the UK. These forums have provided valuable feedback for EPSRC to take forward in future planning. Dr Brady added: “Discussing our plans with researchers was a key part of forming the Delivery Plan and these continuing discussions will help to shape our future priorities and goals.” The Delivery Plan can be viewed on the EPSRC website or a summary brochure is available by contacting Gemma Hyde, [email protected] Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk Priorities Key messages within Delivery Plan Identification of key priority themes addressing important societal challenges All research disciplines have an important role to play in these themes The largest proportion of our budget will be invested in investigator led research and training We want to encourage researchers to be even more ambitious Need for us all to demonstrate the wider impact of science and engineering research on society and the economy NANOSCIENCE THROUGH ENGINEERING £39m TOWARDS NEXT GENERATION HEALTHCARE £36m OTHER CROSS COUNCIL THEMES £26m TOWARDS BETTER EXPLOITATION (KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE) £482m SECURING THE FUTURE SUPPLY OF PEOPLE (TRAINING) £592m ESSENTIAL PLATFORM (RESEARCH) £866m DIGITAL ECONOMY £103m ENERGY £220m

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Edition 66 of our newsletter. In this edition: Doctoral Training Account Changes, Identity Management Research Consortia, Physics/LSI Signposting, Calls, Forthcoming EPSRC funding opportunities, EPSRC Annual Report.

Transcript of Connect: Issue 66

Page 1: Connect: Issue 66

October 2008 Issue 66

Keeping you in touch with opportunities from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council www.epsrc.ac.uk

Inside4 Physics/LSI Signpost 5 Calls

Forthcoming EPSRC funding opportunities

6 EPSRC Annual Report 2 Doctoral Training Account Changes 3 Identity Management

Research Consortia

THROUGHOUT 2008 the EPSRC Delivery Plan 2008-2011 has been communicated through a variety of routes to ensure that the messages within it reach as wide an audience as possible.

The Delivery Plan describes EPSRC’s high level priorities, the approaches and principles that will be used to achieve these priorities and the key drivers and influencing factors.

EPSRC’s head of communications, Lucy Brady, said: “It isvitally important that we communicate our plans and priorities to the academic community effectively because it is the academiccommunity who will ultimately deliver the ongoing success we are seeking.”

EPSRC chief executive Professor David Delpy formally launchedthe Delivery Plan at the Open Meeting at the Royal Society inMarch and this was followed by a series of individual and regionaluniversity meetings.

Communicating the EPSRC Delivery Plan

The format of these meetings varied from a single presentationcovering the overall Delivery Plan to more comprehensive eventswith individual sessions on each of the priority areas. The eventswere positively received and well supported, enabling EPSRC to engage in debate with around 1,500 people across the UK.These forums have provided valuable feedback for EPSRC to take forward in future planning.

Dr Brady added: “Discussing our plans with researchers was a key part of forming the Delivery Plan and these continuingdiscussions will help to shape our future priorities and goals.”

The Delivery Plan can be viewed on the EPSRC website or a summary brochure is available by contacting Gemma Hyde,[email protected]

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk

PrioritiesKey messages within Delivery Plan

• Identification of key priority themes addressing important societal challenges

• All research disciplines have an important role to play in these themes

• The largest proportion of our budget will be investedin investigator led research and training

• We want to encourage researchers to be even moreambitious

• Need for us all to demonstrate the wider impact of scienceand engineering research on society and the economy

NANOSCIENCE THROUGH ENGINEERING

£39m

TOWARDS NEXTGENERATION HEALTHCARE

£36m

OTHERCROSS

COUNCILTHEMES£26m

TOWARDSBETTER

EXPLOITATION(KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE)

£482m

SECURING THEFUTURE SUPPLY

OF PEOPLE(TRAINING)

£592m

ESSENTIALPLATFORM

(RESEARCH)

£866m

DIGITALECONOMY£103m

ENERGY£220m

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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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DETAILS of EPSRC’s Doctoral Training Accounts (DTA) allocations will be announced earlier in the academic year in future – givinguniversities more time to recruit. This was one of the recommendationsof a recent review of the Doctoral Training Account mechanism.

As part of a simplified process for 2009, universities will be providedwith a grant letter with an institutional allocation broken down by theprogrammes that contribute to DTA funding.

Departmental breakdowns will not be included, and earmarkedfunds will no longer be itemised, though it is expected universities will continue to honour existing commitments to earmarking within the research base programmes.

Through these changes, DTA funding should be announced several months earlier than previously to bring it in line with the student recruitment cycle.

Last year, EPSRC commissioned consultants DTZ to review howuniversities have used Doctoral Training Accounts. The report wasdelivered in April 2008 and a summary is available on the EPSRC website.

The report found that universities valued the flexibility the DTAprovided and were able to use it to attract high quality people, providestudents for new appointments and to ‘seed’ new areas of research.

EPSRC and the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have launched a post doctorate research partnership for technologies with real impactthrough measurement applications.

Up to £13m will be available to support research at NPL, which willbenefit UK economy through both research ideas and the developmentof post doctorate researchers with the skills required to deliver excellentapplied science in a commercial or research environment.

On June 16, Steve McQuillan, managing director of the NationalPhysical Laboratory, and EPSRC chief executive Professor David Delpysigned a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a StrategicPartnership between NPL and EPSRC.

An initial call for proposals under this partnership opened in Augustfor grants in the areas of energy, software security, quantum electricalstandards and quantum terahertz detection.

A further call will follow in November, when further opportunitieswill be advertised on the EPSRC website.

The partnership provides for the award of up to 45, three-yeargrants for post doctorate researchers to work on projects in areasproposed by NPL over the next 3 years.

Universities can apply for an overhead between 40% and 80% and NPL will provide £2,000 towards travel and subsistence through the requested resources.

The researchers will be recruited by universities but spend half theirtime working at NPL on NPL project work.

Contact: Alan Brewin, [email protected] Heathman, [email protected]

Establishment of an EPSRC – NPL Post Doctorate Research Partnership

Operationally, universities reported that the relatively latenotification of funding made it more difficult to recruit, and theflexibility of duration and stipend was not used as widely as might be expected or in the way intended. The report made a number of recommendations with regard to:

• Making the DTA more strategically responsive

• How DTAs operate to recruit and retain the best students

EPSRC will be developing its response to this as part of its broaderpostgraduate training strategy.

Targeted training support, associated with the EPSRC missionprogrammes and User led Knowledge and Skills, will be providedseparately through Doctoral Training Centres and Knowledge Transfer Accounts.

Proposals for the development of a more strategic approach to allocating DTA funds at the programme level will be discussed by EPSRC and its advisory bodies over the coming year.

Contact: Neil Viner, [email protected] Ben Rendell, [email protected]

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk/PostgraduateTraining/DoctoralTrainingAccounts/DTAReview.htm

Above: Professor David Delpy (left), chief executive EPSRC and Steve McQuillan, managing director, NPL.

Changes to EPSRC Doctoral Training Accounts

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Ensuring Privacy and Consent in Identity Management Infrastructures

Outcome of GrandChallenges ConsultationEPSRC received a very positive response to its recent consultation on Grand Challenges in chemical sciences and engineering.

More than 150 ideas were submitted from 32 organisations and a report highlighting the outcomes and next steps can be downloadedfrom the EPSRC website.

EPSRC is now organising a workshop, to be held in early November,to bring together a representative sub-set of the chemical sciences andchemical engineering research communities.

The participants will exchange ideas about potential GrandChallenges; expanding on the outcomes of the consultation.

A significant number of places at the workshop will be allocatedfollowing an open call for participants.

Participants at the workshop will discuss Grand Challenges in eight themes that were proposed by the Advisory Group as a result of the consultation:

• Personalised healthcare and monitoring

• Sustainable and efficient synthesis and manufacture

• Clean energy

• Water for life

• CO2 capture and utilisation

• Chemistry of, for and from life

• Molecular systems engineering

• Synthesis, assembly and manufacture by design

EPSRC would particularly like to encourage researchers in the areas of catalysis, modelling and simulation, measurement and analysis,chemical reactivity and fundamental chemical physics to apply to attendthe workshop.

The Advisory Group noted that there were some significant cross-cutting scientific challenges in these areas which could aid progressin many of the highlighted themes.

There will be a competitive process following the workshop to determine which Grand Challenges are taken forward by EPSRC.The workshop participants will be required to produce evidence as to the timeliness and impact of each challenge.

Contact: Katie Daniel, [email protected]

International Review ofUK Materials ResearchEPSRC’s draft action plan in response to the International Review of Materials Research is now available.

The review took place in January 2008 as part of an ongoing series of international reviews organised by EPSRC in partnership withlearned societies.

The reviews provide an independent assessment of the quality and impact of UK research.

In January, a panel of internationally-leading experts benchmarkedthe strength of UK materials research activity against world competitorsand highlighted any gaps or missed opportunities.

The draft action plan sets out responsibilities and actions inresponse to recommendations made in the review. This followsconsultation on the review report published in April 2008.

Interested parties are invited to comment on the draft action plan.Please email completed forms, available on the EPSRC website, to [email protected] by 31 October 2008.

EPSRC will publish a finalised action plan in November 2008.

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk/2008MaterialsIR

which inspire citizen confidence by improving privacy and enablingconsent as an integral part of future procurements.

The projects were developed as part of a 5 day residentialinteractive workshop involving more than 30 participants and a numberof independent stakeholders. Five projects were generated ranging from deeply technical identity management infrastructures, sociologicalvalues and privacy visualisation techniques.

Three were chosen, the first, ENCORE, deals with giving consent forthe use, storage and sharing of personal data and suggests it would beeasy as turning on a tap, and to make revoking it as easy as turning itoff. Secondly, VOME is a research project that aims to reveal and utiliseexternal representations of end users’ ideas and concepts surroundingprivacy and consent. Finally, pvnets’ goal is to generate a detailedunderstanding of individuals’ and organisations’ conceptions of privacy and identity cross a range of contexts and timeframe.

Participants had the opportunity to discuss the issues withrepresentatives of the Home Office and the Identity and PassportService as well as with a victim of identity theft.

Further information: http://networksecurityip.wordpress.com

NEW research consortia will tackle privacy, consent and identity theft issues.

EPSRC, the Technology Strategy Board’s Network Security InnovationPlatform and the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) areworking together to invest in a number of new multidisciplinary researchand innovation consortia.

The resulting major multidisciplinary research programmes shouldenhance understanding and deliver solutions on how the next generationof identity management infrastructures can offer assured privacy, anddepend on truly informed consent.

These research programmes will enable UK industry, universities,local authorities, and other research and technology organisations towork in collaboration to address key research challenges.

Over the next few years governments, including the UKGovernment, and businesses around the world will be making substantialinvestment in identity management infrastructures and supporting theimplementation of initiatives to transform delivery of public and privatesector services.

In order to prepare UK businesses for competition in this globalmarket, practical and cost effective solutions need to be developed

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Promoting Success: International EngagementEPSRC wants to enable the best UK research organisations to workwith the best organisations from the rest of the world.

As part of an ongoing commitment to this aim, it is consultingwith the academic community to help to promote internationalopportunities and showcase success.

EPSRC’s international manager Dr Hannah Foreman said: “To further enhance our international research analysis we would like to hear how you have used funding to collaborate overseas. Who are you working with, why have you chosen to work with themand what have you achieved?”

EPSRC funds a wide range of research and training in collaborationwith international partners and more than £400m is invested throughour current grant portfolio in projects with an element of internationalcollaboration.

Funding for international collaboration is embedded in EPSRC’sprogrammes and UK applicants can use responsive mode and other routes such as Networks and Overseas Travel Grants to fundrelationships with overseas partners.

An analysis of this international portfolio has led to production of the EPSRC funding map.

Every grant current on 1 March 2008 with an element ofinternational collaboration has been counted. Where a grant has

two or more international partners, the total grant value has been split equally between them for the purpose of creating the map.

Contact: Hannah Foreman, [email protected]

Physics/Life SciencesInterface Signposting EPSRC’s Physical Sciences and Cross-Disciplinary Interfacesprogrammes have highlighted the Physics/Life Sciences interface as a priority area for funding.

The Physics/Life Sciences interface signpost has been active since 1 April 2008, and up to £8m funding will be made available over the next year.

The first Physics responsive mode panel to consider proposals on this signposting list was held in July and the results are availablethrough EPSRC’s Grants on the Web.

The signposting list allows proposals in priority areas to be ranked against each other, separate from the main responsive mode list, although the primary criterion for funding any proposal is research quality.

Currently, Physics responsive mode panels are held in January,April, July and October. The Physics/Life Sciences interface signpost will operate at each of these panels and EPSRC continues to encouragethe submission of high quality proposals in this area.

In order to be considered for Physics/Life Sciences interfacesignposting, the physics component of a proposal must fall within the areas of physics covered under the remit of EPSRC’s PhysicalSciences programme: atomic, molecular and optical physics, condensedmatter physics, quantum information processing, optics, lasers, plasma physics, soft condensed matter physics and surface science.

Within EPSRC, the Cross-Disciplinary Interfaces programme enablesthe engineering and physical sciences community to engage with the life sciences.

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact EPSRC for advice regarding remit and whether their proposed project fits the signposted area.

Contact: Zoe Brown, [email protected] Chmura, [email protected]

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk/signposting

Discontinuation of Free Membership ofProfessional Bodies SchemeEPSRC will discontinue support for its Free Membership of Professional Bodies scheme from 30 September 2008.

Free membership of selected professional bodies for EPSRC-fundedstudents was introduced in 2002 as a pilot scheme. The main objectivewas to determine whether such an incentive would enable EPSRC both to build a closer relationship with students and to track theircareer progress more effectively.

The landscape has changed since 2002, and other sources ofinformation regarding doctoral graduate destinations have improved.

Support for students already signed up to the scheme will continue for the full duration of their membership – as per the current agreement.

Contact: Anita Howman, [email protected]

Naked Scientist Recognisedby Royal SocietyTHE ‘Naked Scientist’, aka Cambridge University’s Dr Chris Smith, has won the Royal Society’s Kohn award for science communication.

His weekly BBC radio show, ‘The Naked Scientists’ was praised for bringing science to a wider audience.

The show, which is also available to download via the BBC, featuresdiscussion and interviews with high-profile scientists and is aimed atnon-specialist audience.

The project is funded by EPSRC and the Wellcome Trust.

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CallsResearch Councils’ Energy Programme Sandpit in Airport OperationsClosing date: 2 October 2008Call for participants to attend a five day residential event to be held in Manchester, 10-14 November 2008. Contact: Gareth Buchanan, [email protected]

Richard Bailey, [email protected]

Joint EPSRC and POST Postgraduate Initiative 2009Closing date: 3 October 2008A 3 month secondment opportunity to the Parliamentary Office ofScience and Technology (POST) open to EPSRC funded PhD students. Contact: Karen Manning, [email protected]

Integrated Biorefinery Technologies Initiative Research and Technology ClubClosing date: 15 October 2008Research underpinning the development of biological processes for the production of chemicals, materials and polymers to replace petro-chemical derived sources has been identified as an area where increasedinvestment in research is required to underpin the needs of industry.Contact: Kristine Cherry, [email protected]

Thermal Management in the Process Industries – Call for Full ProposalsClosing date: 29 October 2008The Research Councils’ Energy Programme is seeking to supportresearch concerned with the efficient use of thermal energy in existing process industry plants and in the design of new plants. Contact: David Holtum, [email protected]

Focussed-Ion-Beam Nanofabrication – Open Call for Access Closing date: 1 November 2008Researchers from UK higher education institutions can apply for freeaccess to use the focussed ion-beam nanofabrication facilities at theLondon Centre for Nanotechnology.Contact: Paul Warburton, [email protected]

Knowledge Transfer Accounts (KTAs) Closing date: 5 November 2008We are inviting business cases from any organisation eligible to receiveEPSRC grants but, to be successful in the competition, applicants willneed to be able to point to a significant base of high-quality, EPSRC-funded research on which the proposed KTA will be able to draw.Contact: Alex Hulkes, [email protected]

Carbon Capture and Storage Closing date: 6 November 2008Call for consortium proposals in underpinning research in Carbon Capture and Transport.Contact: Jacqui Williams, [email protected]

EPSRC-NPL Post-Doctoral Research Partnerships Closing date: 6 November 2008An initial call for proposals under this Partnership is now open forgrants in the areas of energy, software security, quantum electricalstandards and quantum terahertz detection.Contact: Robert Heathman, [email protected]

Alan Brewin, [email protected]

Collaborative Research with China on Cleaner Fossil Fuels Closing date: 11 November 2008Funding is available for UK-based researchers to build collaborationswith researchers in China, where possible following on from earlierproject missions, visits and discussions.Contact: Hayley Dash, [email protected]

Senior Media Fellowships – Extensions Call 2009 Closing date: 11 November 2008We invite current Senior Media Fellows to apply for an additional two years to build on their achievements in their current fellowship.Contact: Joanna Coleman, [email protected]

Katherine Miller, [email protected]

Senior Media Fellowships 2009 – Call for ProposalsClosing date: 11 November 2008We invite applications for Senior Media Fellowships from leading academicresearchers with media experience who wish to spend time working moreproactively with the mass media.Contact: Joanna Coleman, [email protected]

Katherine Miller, [email protected]

Partnerships for Public Engagement – 13th Call for ProposalsClosing date: 11 November 2008This call is for public engagement projects that communicate the excitement of fundamental and applied research in science and engineering.Contact: Katherine Miller, [email protected]

MRC, EPSRC and BBSRC Discipline Hopping Grant SchemeClosing date: 12 November 2008The scheme is designed to encourage researchers to develop imaginativeways of using techniques or expertise from the engineering and physicalsciences to tackle biological or medical research questionsContact:MRC – Paula Clements, [email protected] EPSRC – Caroline Batchelor, [email protected] – Liz Hayes, [email protected]

Decentralised off-grid Electricity Generation in Developing Countries Closing date: 13 November 2008This call is designed to address issues of rural electricity generation, or electricity coupled with complementary energy vectors such as heat and energy storage.Contact: Neil Bateman, [email protected]

Diet and Health Research Industry ClubClosing date: 14 November 2008Second call for applications that fall within the remit of BBSRC, but may also include aspects of MRC’s and/or EPSRC’s remit. Contact: Emma Feltham, [email protected]

New Materials Research Equipment Services – Open Call for AccessClosing date: 22 November 2008Researchers from UK higher education institutions can apply to useequipment at seven new services. These services provide free access at pointof use to UK academic researchers, including travel and accommodation.Contact: www.epsrc.ac.uk/ResearchFunding/

FacilitiesAndServices/MatsEquipment/default.htm

Discipline Hopping in Information and CommunicationTechnologies – Open CallOpen CallThis is an open call for discipline hopping awards to provide ICTresearchers with an opportunity to experience research in anotherdiscipline and vice versa. Contact: Claire Hinchliffe, [email protected]

For up to date information and details of how to apply seewww.epsrc.ac.uk

Email alertsRegister to receive latest funding opportunitiesYou can now register on our website to receive a weekly alertcontaining details of our latest calls for proposals. To register visit:www.epsrc.ac.uk/emailalert

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EPSRC ContactsHead of Materials Mechanical and Medical EngineeringAnnette Bramley 01793 [email protected]

Head of Information and Communications TechnologyPeter Hedges 01793 444217 [email protected]

Head of Energy Multi-Disciplinary ApplicationsRachel Bishop 01793 444241 [email protected]

Head of Peer Review Susan Morrell 01793 444462 [email protected]

Head of Digital EconomyJohn Hand 01793 444394 [email protected]

Head of Nanotechnology and Next Generation HealthcareJohn Wand MBE 01793 444335 [email protected]

Head of Knowledge TransferJohn Baird 01793 444047 [email protected]

Head of Mathematical Sciences and Public EngagementDavid Harman 01793 444304 [email protected]

Head of Energy Research CapacityJason Green 01793 444208 [email protected]

Head of Engineering for SustainabilityPhilippa Hemmings 01793 [email protected]

Head of Cross Disciplinary InterfacesKedar Pandya 01793 444317 [email protected]

Head of User Led Knowledge and SkillsAlan Thomas 01793 442806 [email protected]

Head of Infrastructure and InternationalJane Nicholson 01793 444065 [email protected]

Head of Physical Sciences Andrew Bourne 01793 444358 [email protected]

Head of Policy and Relationships for People SupportAndrew Bourne 01793 444358 [email protected]

Head of Business Relationships Emma Feltham 01793 444321 [email protected]

Associate Director Research CapabilityNeil Viner 01793 444310 [email protected]

Associate Director Mission ProgrammesAlison Wall 01793 444176 [email protected]

Associate Director Research Base ProgrammesClive Hayter 01793 444440 [email protected]

Associate Director Economic ImpactVince Osgood MBE 01793 [email protected]

Senior Manager International Edward Clarke 01793 [email protected]

Senior Manager Public Engagement Joanna Coleman 01793 [email protected]

IDEAS Factory ContactSusan Morrell 01793 444462 [email protected]

For current grant maintenance and grant assessment enquiriesEngineeringChris Elson 01793 444504 [email protected]

TechnologyValerie Hibberd 01793 444560 [email protected]

ScienceJo Garrad 01793 444348 [email protected]

EPSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1ETTelephone: 01793 444000 www.epsrc.ac.uk

Editor: Christopher Buratta, [email protected] amendments: [email protected]

© Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council 2008.

ISSN 1476-6485

Material may be reproduced providing the source is acknowledged.

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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EPSRC Annual ReportEPSRC’s Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 is now available from the EPSRC website.

The report reviews the research council’s work and achievements throughout the year, illustrating how it has continued to build on its reputationfor funding world-class research in engineering and the physical sciences.

It also contains EPSRC’s annual accounts.

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk/annualreport

Are you engaging?ARE YOU a Researcher or PhD student looking for funds to support your publicengagement activities during National Science and Engineering Week 2009?

If you are funded by one of the seven Research Councils you could be eligiblefor a RCUK National Science and Engineering Week Award 2009.

National Science Week is an excellent opportunity to reach both the public and academic audiences.

Funds of up to £2,000 are available per project to successful applicantsworking in any academic discipline who wish to engage the public with issuesrelating to science and engineering.

The scheme is open to grant holders and postgraduate students funded by any one of the seven Research Councils. Individuals working in Research CouncilInstitutes and Centres may also be eligible.

The closing date for applications is Monday 13 October 2008.

Contact: Kate Miller, [email protected]

Further information: www.rcuk.ac.uk/scienceweek

Periodic Table of the VideosA COMPLETELY new experiment in science communication is aiming to promote Chemistry and Chemical Engineering to a wide audience, particularly younger people.

The Periodic Table of Videos is an on-going collaboration between Nottingham-based video journalist Brady Haran and Professor Martyn Poliakoff and colleagues at the University of Nottingham.

They have recorded 118 videos, one for each chemical element, and posted them on www.periodicvideos.com as well as on YouTube.

The project was funded by EPSRC’s Driving Innovation in Chemistry and Engineering (DICE) initiative, together with support from the University of Nottingham.

Shooting started in June and the project was complete by mid-July. By early August it had already attracted nearly 1.5m ‘hits’ and the video on sodium had been viewed more than 100,000 times on YouTube.

There has been extensive media coverage and enthusiastic comments have been posted on the YouTube pages and on blogs across the world.

Interaction with UK schools and teachers will begin in September and plans are well advanced for updating the videos and ensuring continued public interest in the project.