Standing up for Science Workshops

Sense about Science will be running a free workshop ‘Standing up for Science‘ which allows you to find out how to make your voice heard in public debates about science and evidence.

Location: University of Manchester

Date: Friday 29th March 10am – 5pm

Register: Free via the website (here) deadline for registration is Thursday 28th Feb

This is a full-day event where you can meet other researchers who have experience with public engagement, learn from policymakers about how evidence can inform policy and speak with respected science journalists to find out what journalists expect from scientists and researchers. You can also find out how to involve the public in communicating your research – great for Impact and Public Involvement!

The event is free (although registration is required) and is aimed at STEM and social science early-career researchers (PhD students, post-docs welcome) and medical professionals.

For more details please visit the website.

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The Year Ahead for Physical Sciences, Engineering and the Environment

A version of this article first appeared on Research Professional 08/01/2019 

The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) will be announcing their priorities for the next five years in spring – so definitely worth keeping an eye on their websites!

Materials scientist Alison Davenport will report to the STFC this year on a review of the council’s consolidated grants, which account for £100m that the council awards annually in research grants each year.

Aerospace companies competing for a £92 million government contract to carry out a feasibility study on home-grown replacements for the EU’s Galileo Satellite Navigation System will find out if they are successful early this year. The UK is set to stop using Galileo for defense and critical national infrastructure after Brexit.

The NERC’s polar research ship (The RRS Sir David Attenborough) will be undergoing a year of sea trials before before it’s polar expeditions begin in 2020.

In the first few months of 2019 the government will review the implementation of the sector deals on automotive, artificial intelligence, aerospace and nuclear industries.

The year will close with a crucial meeting for UK space with the science minister and representatives from the UK Space Agengy attending the council meeting of the European Space Agency in November – the members will be tasked with setting funding levels.

Royal Society Drop-in Session Reminder

Our second (and final!) drop-in session for the Royal Society Research Grants will be taking place next week:

Thursday 1st November
Time: 12 – 1pm
Location: JD E246

This session is a chance for you to come and ask any questions you may have about the scheme – we will not be presenting any information.

Please feel free to drop by at any point within the hour to discuss your proposal or ask any questions that you have about the scheme.

If you can’t make it the session but are thinking of applying please contact your Research Development Officer to discuss your proposal.

For more information on the scheme please read our previous post – here.

Royal Society Drop-in Sessions

We’re expecting a high demand for the new round of Royal Society Research Grants and so to help manage this we will be hosting 2 drop-in sessions:

Tuesday 16th October
Time: 12 – 1pm
Location: JD E424

Thursday 1st November
Time: 12 – 1pm
Location: JD E246

These sessions are a chance for you to come and ask any questions you may have about the scheme – we will not be presenting any information.

Please feel free to drop by at any point within the time slots or if you can’t make it then contact your Research Development Officer to discuss the scheme.

For more information on the scheme please read our previous post – here.

Royal Society Research Grant

The Royal Society have announced the next round of Research grants which are now open for applications.

The scheme is for scientists at an early career stage (or returning from a career break) wanting to purchase specialised equipment and essential consumables. The scheme provides “seed corn” funding for new projects.

Award Amount: £20,000

Duration: 12 months

Closing Date: 14th November

For more information please visit the Royal Society Website or contact the Research Development Team.

**We will be holding a drop in session if you have any questions about this call – Please keep an eye on the blog for an update on the date/time/location of this session!**

The Alliance Hubert Curien Programme

The British Council and Campus France have come together to offer the Alliance Hubert Curien Programme. This is an opportunity for French and British researchers to work together to strengthen current research projects or strengthen collaborative links for the future.

Programme Summary:

The programme will fund the travel and subsistence of research teams in Britain and France to visit each other with the aim to encourage reciprocal mobility in both countries.

Amount: £2,240 (€2,500) available for each partner in each year.

Duration: 2 years

Deadline: Tuesday 4th October.

The outcome of the application will be received in February 2019 with travel in the first year to take from March in the first year.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be early career researchers (no more than 10 years post PhD) and must not hold a senior position.

Funding areas include:

• New nuclear
• Battery technologies
• Applied technologies to tackle climate change
• Mobility of the future

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For more information about this scheme please visit the British Council Website.

If you’d like to apply for this programme please get in touch with your International Development team.

Royal Society International Exchanges

The Royal Society International Exchange Awards are now open for applications. The current schemes that are available to apply for are:

China Cost Share Programme

£12,000 is available from the Royal Society and an additional £12,000 is awarded by the cost share partner, National Natural Science Foundation of China, to cover both teams international travel and subsistence.

£2,000 of the total budget may be used for research expenses or consumables.

The Duration of award is 2 years.

Closing Date: Tuesday 25th September

Japan/Taiwan Cost Share Programme

£12,000 is available from the Royal Society and an additional £12,000 is awarded by the cost share partner, Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan or Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, to cover the teams travel expenses for the international visits.

£2,000 of the total budget may be used for research expenses or consumables.

The Duration of award is 2 years.

Closing Date: Tuesday 2nd October

Standard Programme

This programme is available for travel to/from all countries outside of the UK with funding varying dependant of the project duration:

• £3,000 for 3 months to be spent on travel only.
• £6,000 for 12 months with £1,000 allowable for consumables.
• £12,000 for 24 months with £2,000 allowable for consumables.

Closing Date: Tuesday 2nd October

Are you eligible?

Activities must be based within the natural sciences including: physics, chemistry, mathematics, computer sciences, engineering, agriculture, biological and medical research, geography and experiment psychology. Social sciences, clinical and patient orientated research is not covered by this scheme.

Both sets of applicants must hold a PhD or have equivalent research experience and hold a contract at their institution that will extent beyond the project dates.

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For more information about the schemes please visit the Royal Society website. If you’d like to apply for any of these schemes please contact the Research Development Team.