Connect: Issue 72

June 2009 Issue 72

Keeping you in touch with opportunities from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

www.epsrc.ac.uk

Amendments to policy for repeatedly unsuccessful investigators CONSTRUCTIVE feedback from our communities and stakeholders on recently announced Peer Review measures indicated there was significant support for modifying submission behaviour but some concerns regarding the detailed implementation.

EPSRC recently announced new measures to help alleviate pressure on all involved in our peer review process following the wide ranging consultation on peer review published in 2007 by RCUK and further advice from its council.

The new measures included changing the rules on the resubmission of proposals and the introduction of a temporary exclusion of 12 months for repeatedly unsuccessful applicants.

After careful consideration, EPSRC has made the following amendments in implementing this aspect of its published policy.

• EPSRC will now allow investigators more time to help adjust their submission behaviour before any restriction in applying for funding is introduced. The measures will now take effect from 1 April 2010.

• In addition, rather than being completely excluded from applying to EPSRC, investigators who satisfy the criteria will be permitted to submit one application during the 12-month period.

The criteria used to determine repeatedly unsuccessful applicants remain the same – applying to researchers (listed as the principal investigator on a proposal) who have: • Three or more proposals within a two-year period ranked in the bottom half of a funding prioritisation list or rejected before panel AND an overall personal success rate of less than 25 per cent.

There will be no change to the policy on resubmissions. As of 1 April 2009 EPSRC has no longer accepted uninvited resubmissions of proposals.

These amendments will help to minimise the risk of any unintended consequences and assist researchers affected by the policy while also retaining our objective - changing submission behaviour to safeguard peer review.

EPSRC values the feedback from all its stakeholders and wants to help all research communities secure funding for projects to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. We will carefully monitor the effect of all new measures introduced to help alleviate pressure on peer review as part of an ongoing process to help us maintain and further develop a world class research base.

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson launches new Digital Economy hubs

New centres will transform the way we live in Digital Britain THREE NEW centres will develop digital technology to transform the lives of the elderly, disabled, and people in rural communities.

The new research ‘hubs’, based in Nottingham, Newcastle and Aberdeen universities, will build on plans to provide universal connectivity to broadband in the UK. Part of the cross council Digital Economy programme, led by EPSRC, the hubs are the biggest investment ever made by the research councils in creating a Digital Britain.

Their mission will be to connect people with digital technology to radically improve the way we live, work, play and travel to ensure that everyone is included in our digital future. The centres will also develop new ways to utilise digital technologies to help business and stimulate economic growth.

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said: “The unique thing about the new hubs in Aberdeen, Newcastle and Nottingham is the focus on designing digital technology that includes people from all walks of life – this will ensure that everyone is part of our digital future.”

Highlights of research to be carried out include a small wireless body systems monitoring kit that could help revolutionise NHS emergency response systems; ambient Kitchens – equipped with sensors located in utensils, appliances, cupboards and work surfaces, to help dementia sufferers live independently; and integrated transport information systems to provide up to the minute travel planning advice across all modes of transport.

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk

Inside Biology 2 Synthetic steering group established

lives on 3 Concorde at Brooklands

3 Calls

Forthcoming EPSRC funding opportunities

funding to 4 New develop industrial opportunities

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

RESEARCHERS from both sides of the Atlantic joined together to explore new avenues in synthetic biology research.

It was EPSRC’s first international sandpit and was run in collaboration with the US National Science Foundation (NSF).

The topic was ‘New Directions in Synthetic Biology’ and participants from a diverse range of disciplines spent five days building new, multidisciplinary collaborations and devising highly innovative research projects.

EPSRC and NSF hope to shortly commit £5.5m to fund a selection of the most promising projects to arise from the sandpit.

International synthetic biology collaboration

New group to gauge public aspirations for synthetic biology research Professor Douglas Kell, chief executive of BBSRC, added: “This research has the potential to generate important new products and processes for UK bio-industries and it is vital that we capture these and remain competitive with technologies being pursued elsewhere, notably in the USA. It is important that we enable people to see what is being done and to contribute to shaping the nature and direction of the research.”

The group, of independent members, met for the first time in February 2009 and a workshop in March allowed wider discussion about the way forward.

The workshop built on an independent review commissioned by BBSRC that reported in 2008 on social and ethical challenges posed by synthetic biology. The steering group will meet again in May 2009 to consider the output from the workshop and to decide on an approach for this public consultation process.

EPSRC and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) have set up a steering group to gauge and understand public perceptions, aspirations and concerns regarding synthetic biology.

Dr Brian Johnson, a member of BBSRC’s Biosciences for Society Panel, will chair the group during the initial scoping and planning phase.

Synthetic biology is a fast developing area of science that applies engineering principles to biological systems. It offers unique opportunities to deliver significant benefits in areas such as therapeutics, environmental biosensors and potentially novel methods to produce food, drugs, chemicals or energy.

Both councils fund early-stage synthetic biology research across the UK. EPSRC chief executive Professor David Delpy said: “Our first priority is to identify how best to discuss this very new science with the public.

We are bringing together social scientists, engineers, physical and life sciences researchers, science communicators and representatives from NGOs to advise on such issues and to act as an independent oversight panel for the duration of this endeavour.”

Further information: www.epsrc.ac.uk

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Connect June 2009 Issue 72

Concorde soars again – at Brooklands The project is part of EPSRC’s Public Engagement programme and will help explain to visitors the roles played by advanced technologies, such as airframe and engine aerodynamics, in making Concorde the world’s only successful supersonic passenger transport.

The simulator, which first entered service in 1975, cost around £3m (around £20 million today). It was originally installed at Filton, where its realistic performance was used to train Concorde aircrew.

When Concorde operations ceased at the end of 2003, British Airways decommissioned the simulator. It was dismantled and transported to Brooklands Museum in 2004 where it has been restored and transformed into a usable and dynamic addition to the museum’s extensive aviation displays.

It is now housed in a specially refurbished building next to the Museum’s Concorde G-BBDG, providing an exciting addition to the popular Brooklands Concorde Experience.

The official opening ceremony for the simulator in its new home was led by Richard Noble OBE, the record-breaking driver and project director of the supersonic Thrust SSC and EPSRC-sponsored Bloodhound World Land Speed record attempts. Former chief Concorde Pilot Mike Bannister made the inaugural flight in the refurbished simulator.

ONE OF the most sophisticated aircraft simulators ever created has been officially re-commissioned at Brooklands Museum – four decades to the day after British Concorde made its maiden flight.

The five-year project was funded by EPSRC, led by a team from the University of Surrey and involving simulation experts XPI Simulation and dozens of museum volunteers.

The revitalised simulator will give museum visitors a pilot’s-eye view of Concorde flight, including the dramatic take-off procedures from New York as well as the thrill of breaking the sound-barrier.

Calls

To receive all the latest EPSRC call information direct to your inbox sign up for our weekly e-mail alert: www.epsrc.ac.uk/emailalert Environmental Nanoscience Initiative Closing date: 5 August 2009 The NERC, EPSRC, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Environment Agency and the United States Environmental Protection Agency are collaborating on a major joint research effort in Environmental Nanoscience.

This joint program aims to draw on complementary strengths in the UK and US to produce robust, validated models that accurately predict transport, fate and bioavailability of nanomaterials and their interaction with biological and ecological systems. Applications are sought from strongly interdisciplinary consortia, comprising both UK and US scientists to address these issues.

Contact: Nicola Goldberg, nicola.goldberg@epsrc.ac.uk

Low Carbon Shipping Closing date: 11 June 2009 The Research Councils’ Energy Programme vision for energy and climate change research is to position the UK to successfully develop, embrace and exploit sustainable, low carbon and/or energy efficient technologies and systems to enable it to meet the Government’s energy and environmental targets by 2020 and beyond.

Contact: Gareth Buchanan, gareth.buchanan@epsrc.ac.uk Nick Cook, nick.cook@epsrc.ac.uk Software Sustainability Closing date: 23 June 2009 Outline applications are invited to provide a research infrastructure which will aid the long-term sustainability of software which enables high quality research.

Contact: Sarah Fulford, sarah.fulford@epsrc.ac.uk

Research Council Follow-on Fund Call for Proposals Closing date: 27 August 2009 The lack of funds to demonstrate the commercial potential of ideas is seen as one of the major barriers to the take up and commercialisation of research results arising from the science base. This Follow-on Fund call aims to facilitate the commercialisation of research ideas arising from the research community.

The Fund provides financial support at the very early (pre-seed) stage of turning research outputs into a commercial proposition. The idea or concept must have a clear potential for commercial application and usually a background patent will have been filed.

Contact: David Mahoney, david.mahoney@epsrc.ac.uk

Complexity Science for the Real World Closing date: 30 June 2009 The EPSRC Cross-Disciplinary Interfaces Programme invites proposals for internationally leading, cross-disciplinary programmes of research which will develop and apply the tools and techniques of complexity science for tackling major societal research challenges. Grants funded against this call may be up to six years long, and will provide funding to support a suite of related research activities focusing on one major theme. Up to £10 million has been earmarked for this targeted activity; it is anticipated that we will fund three or four proposals.

Contact: Gavin Salisbury, gavin.salisbury@epsrc.ac.uk

Research in the Wild Closing date: 31 March 2010 Applicants are invited to apply for short-term funding to perform their ‘Research in the Wild’.

Projects are limited to up to 18 months in duration.

Proposals will go through an Expression of interest stage before Full Proposals will be invited. Expressions of interest will be assessed internally on a quarterly basis according to the timetable given.

This call will be open for 12 months after which it will be subject to review.

Contact: Pamela Mason, pamela.mason@epsrc.ac.uk John Hand, john.hand@epsrc.ac.uk

Nanotechnology Grand Challenges Closing date: 5 August 2009 Under the cross-council research programme, Nanoscience through Engineering to Application, we are currently scoping a call for our third Nanotechnology Grand Challenge which will be published at the beginning of June. This call will take into account the broader backdrop of living with climate change and the impact that this will have on our society and look at ways in which nanotechnology can make a positive contribution.

A two stage process will be used for this call: Outline Proposal stage, followed by a Full Proposal stage.

Contact: Nicola Goldberg, nicola.goldberg@epsrc.ac.uk

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Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

EPSRC Contacts Head of Materials Mechanical and Medical Engineering Annette Bramley 01793 444398 annette.bramley@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Information and Communications Technology Liam Blackwell 01793 444217 liam.blackwell@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Energy Multi-Disciplinary Applications Rachel Bishop 01793 444241 rachel.bishop@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Peer Review Susan Morrell 01793 444462 susan.morrell@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Digital Economy John Hand 01793 444394 john.hand@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Nanotechnology and Next Generation Healthcare John Wand MBE 01793 444335 john.wand@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Knowledge Transfer John Baird 01793 444047 john.baird@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Mathematical Sciences and Public Engagement David Harman 01793 444304 david.harman@epsrc.ac.uk

Be part of the future THE WORLD’S oldest peer reviewed journal is looking for articles for a forthcoming special edition.

Philosophical Transactions A publishes 24 themed issues each year covering different topics in physics, maths and engineering.

The annual ‘Visions of the Future’ special issues are devoted to the work of leading new researchers throughout the physical sciences and engineering.

The editions provide unique snapshots, reviewing past work and looking forward to new developments, that are of interest to both the researcher community and the public.

Researchers working in the physical sciences are invited to submit articles for consideration for the 2010 issue. This will be published during the Royal Society’s 350th Anniversary year.

Potential contributors should send a one-page abstract and a brief CV for consideration by the Editor-in-Chief, Sir Michael Pepper, to philtransa@royalsociety.org by 15 July 2009.

Further information: http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org

Head of Energy Research Capacity Jason Green 01793 444208 jason.green@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Engineering for Sustainability Philippa Hemmings 01793 444378 philippa.hemmings@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Cross Disciplinary Interfaces Kedar Pandya 01793 444317 kedar.pandya@epsrc.ac.uk Head of User Led Knowledge and Skills Alan Thomas 01793 442806 alan.thomas@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Infrastructure and International Jane Nicholson 01793 444065 jane.nicholson@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Physical Sciences Andrew Bourne 01793 444358 andrew.bourne@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Policy and Relationships for People Support Lucy Brady 01793 444147 lucy.brady@epsrc.ac.uk Maggie Wilson 01793 444333 maggie.wilson@epsrc.ac.uk Head of Business Relationships Emma Feltham 01793 444321 emma.feltham@epsrc.ac.uk Associate Director Research Capability Neil Viner 01793 444310 neil.viner@epsrc.ac.uk Associate Director Mission Programmes Alison Wall 01793 444176 alison.wall@epsrc.ac.uk Associate Director Research Base Programmes Clive Hayter 01793 444440 clive.hayter@epsrc.ac.uk Associate Director Economic Impact Vince Osgood MBE 01793 444084 vince.osgood@epsrc.ac.uk Senior Manager International Edward Clarke 01793 444438 edward.clarke@epsrc.ac.uk Senior Manager Public Engagement Joanna Coleman 01793 444209 joanna.coleman@epsrc.ac.uk

New initiative to commercialise EPSRC funded research EPSRC has launched a new partnership with Finance South East Ltd (FSE) to help commercialise research.

FSE will deliver a new two year pilot fund that will facilitate collaboration between universities and industry.

The Collaboration Fund, launched on 20 April, will provide grant funding of up to £100,000 to university projects. The commercial focus of the fund will be to accelerate innovation that have already received EPSRC research grants, through support to develop industrial or business applications.

The fund is available to all UK academic institutions that have previously received EPSRC research funding and wish to work in collaboration with a commercial partner to develop research into an industry application.

EPSRC has chosen to work with FSE because of its experience and success in managing proof-of-concept and early stage funds. FSE has over £20m of funds under management and early-stage proof-of-concept funding is one of its specialist areas.

EPSRC’s head of knowledge transfer John Baird said: “This pioneering initiative combines EPSRC grant funding with FSE’s expertise and will deliver practical support to researchers looking to explore the commercial potential of their work with a collaborative partner. Key benefits will include experienced mentors assigned to each project and access to funding advisors for help with business planning and the structure of a suitable longer term funding package.”

Contact: Zoe Courtney, zoe.courtney@financesoutheast.com

IDEAS Factory Contact Susan Morrell 01793 444462 susan.morrell@epsrc.ac.uk

For current grant maintenance and grant assessment enquiries Engineering Chris Elson 01793 444504 chris.elson@epsrc.ac.uk Technology Valerie Hibberd 01793 444560 valerie.hibberd@epsrc.ac.uk Science Jo Garrad 01793 444348 jo.garrad@epsrc.ac.uk EPSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1ET Telephone: 01793 444000 www.epsrc.ac.uk Editor: Christopher Buratta, christopher.buratta@epsrc.ac.uk Circulation amendments: connect@epsrc.ac.uk © Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council 2008.

ISSN 1476-6485

Mid-range facilities review – consultation last call EPSRC is undertaking a review of support for mid-range facilities to get a good understanding of the UK need for these facilities and to develop a framework for funding.

A consultation exercise with the research community to ascertain the present and future need for mid range facilities is being undertaken.

For details of the consultation please see: www.epsrc.ac.uk. Consultation responses must be submitted by 5pm on 12 June 2009.

Contact: Katharine Bowes, katharine.bowes@epsrc.ac.uk

Material may be reproduced providing the source is acknowledged.

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