Tuesday, 6 October 2009
Opportunity: Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowships, c/d 6 Oct 2009
Each year the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust aims to award 100 Travelling Fellowships to British citizens. Each Fellow receives a grant to cover return and internal travel, daily living and travel insurance within the countries visited. Categories for application include Business & Finance and Science, Engineering & Enterprise. For further information and to apply, visit the Trust's website. Closing date 6 October 2009.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
R&D Society news: David Fishlock, 1932 - 2009
The R&D Society was saddened to learn of the death on Friday 18 September 2009 of David Fishlock, a longstanding R&D Society member and former editor and valued contributor to the R&D Society newsletter. He was well regarded as a science and technology writer, with an influential career including being technology journalist for New Scientist, science correspondent for the Financial Times and founder of R&D Efficiency. Obituaries have been published in the Times and the Financial Times.Members may wish to note that Scott Keir, the R&D Society administrator has details of David Fishlock's funeral and an address for flowers.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Policy Input: Royal Society policy study: The Fruits of Curiosity: science, innovation and future sources of wealth, c/d 11 Sep 2009
The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science, has opened a major policy study, The Fruits of Curiosity: science, innovation and future sources of wealth, that will review the landscape for UK science and innovation policy and explore its direction over the next 10-20 years. They are requesting views on some important questions, to ensure that their recommendations take account of the UK R&D community.
The study will measure the different forms of value created by science, engineering and medicine for the UK’s economy and society and will consider the role that science will play in equipping Britain to meet future economic, social and environmental challenges.
The Royal Society believes that it is timely to review these issues ahead of the forthcoming General Election and Spending Round, and to seek to influence debates about what lies beyond the current 10-Year Investment Framework for Science and Innovation.
The Royal Society believes that if the study is to realise its full potential, it is vital that they draw on insights, expertise and experience from a variety of settings, and have asked the R&D Society to encourage our members and contacts to submit their views.
The Society has listed a number of questions they would like answered in a Call for Evidence (PDF). In your submission, you may answer as many or as few of the questions listed in the call for evidence as you feel able to. Key questions of relevance to R&D Society members and contacts include:
The study will measure the different forms of value created by science, engineering and medicine for the UK’s economy and society and will consider the role that science will play in equipping Britain to meet future economic, social and environmental challenges.
The Royal Society believes that it is timely to review these issues ahead of the forthcoming General Election and Spending Round, and to seek to influence debates about what lies beyond the current 10-Year Investment Framework for Science and Innovation.
The Royal Society believes that if the study is to realise its full potential, it is vital that they draw on insights, expertise and experience from a variety of settings, and have asked the R&D Society to encourage our members and contacts to submit their views.
The Society has listed a number of questions they would like answered in a Call for Evidence (PDF). In your submission, you may answer as many or as few of the questions listed in the call for evidence as you feel able to. Key questions of relevance to R&D Society members and contacts include:
- 1. What role should curiosity-driven research play in the UK science base in the next 15-25 years?
- 2. Which elements of policy for science and innovation over the past 10 years have been successful and should be maintained? Where is there room for improvement?
- 9. How can we make research careers – within academia or industry – a more attractive option for young people, both within the UK system and from abroad?
- 11. Does the standard career-track model need to be re-evaluated? Should we take more account of the movement of skilled individuals between academia, industry and business?
- 12. How can we strengthen science and innovation in all parts of the private sector in the UK, and further improve the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the public and private sectors?
- 13. How can we improve the scale and contribution of private sector R&D?
- 14. What initiatives (e.g. tax credits) have been successful or not with regards to supporting innovative businesses in the UK? How can the UK better support business?
- 17. What role should public sector R&D outside the ring-fenced science budget (e.g. departmental spending, government procurement and national laboratories) play in supporting the UK science base?
Thursday, 10 September 2009
R&D Society PR: Dame Wendy Hall honoured for inspiring role in UK research and development, issued 10 September 2009
Dame Wendy Hall honoured for inspiring role in UK research and development
Web pioneer and leading campaigner for women in science receives nineteenth Duncan Davies Medal from the Research and Development Society for making an outstanding contribution toward making the UK the best-performing research and development environment in the world.
Professor Dame Wendy Hall DBE FRS FREng is the recipient of the 2009 Duncan Davies Medal awarded by the Research and Development Society. Dame Wendy will accept the medal at a lecture she will give to the R&D Society on the evening of 12 October 2009 at the Royal Society, London.
The Duncan Davies Medal is awarded annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution toward making the UK the best-performing research and development environment in the world.
Dr David Kingham, Chair of the R&D Society, commented, "Dame Wendy is a leading academic researcher who is passionate about business, maintaining links and providing expertise to innovative companies large and small. Her work as a role model and advocate of fair opportunities for women in science and engineering careers is benefiting UK R&D well beyond her own subject area of web technology. She’s been an inspiration to both men and women in the UK, and we’re pleased to award Dame Wendy our highest honour."
On hearing of the award, Dame Wendy commented, “I’m deeply flattered by the offer of this award – I can’t believe the company I find myself in when I look at the list of previous recipients. I am pleased that this award recognises my commitment to attracting more women into computer science. I believe my research area of the semantic web will open up a whole new wave of businesses, applications, services and R&D processes in the future, which the UK could lead, if it takes advantage of the talents of the very best men and women. I look forward to discussing this at the R&D Society event in October.”
Dr Duncan Davies was the third President of the R&D Society, and began his presidency in 1982, shortly after retiring as Chief Scientist and Engineer at the Department of Trade and Industry. Passionately concerned about R&D in the UK, he took a very active interest in the work of the Society. His sudden demise in 1986 came as a harsh blow to the Society and to UK R&D. To acknowledge the debt that it owed to Duncan Davies's leadership, the Society decided to establish a medal in his memory. Dame Wendy joins an esteemed list of recipients including Sir David King, Sir Robin Saxby, Lord Kumar Bhattacharya, Dame Bridget Ogilvie and Lord Sainsbury.
Dame Wendy will speak on “Research 2.0: the Age of Networks” on 12 October 2009 at 6.30pm, where she will discuss the development of Web Science, the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing need for interdisciplinary research, and how this may drive universities to radically change.
Notes for Editors
Biography: Professor Dame Wendy Hall DBE FRS FREng
Wendy Hall is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and was Head of the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) from 2002-2007. She has published over 400 papers in areas such as hypermedia, multimedia, digital libraries, and Web technologies.
She was Senior Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2005-2008 and is a Past President of the British Computer Society (2003-2004). She is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology and a founding member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council. In 2008 she was elected as President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and is the first person from outside North America to hold this position.
She was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list in 2000, and became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the same year. She was awarded a DBE in the New Year’s Honours list in 2009, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009.
A longer biography is available at http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/wh/
Synopsis of “Research 2.0: the Age of Networks”
Full event listing at: http://www.rdsoc.org/09L7.html
Since its inception the Web has changed the ways we communicate, collaborate, and educate. In a very short-space of time we have come to live in a web-dependent society within a web-dependent world. There is a growing realization that a clear research agenda aimed at understanding the current, evolving, and potential Web is needed. Web Science embraces the study of these phenomena. In this seminar we will consider what Web Science is, and why it is important, as well as presenting ideas about how we can study the Web as both a technical and social phenomenon. We will use this discussion to explore the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing need for interdisciplinary research undertaken by international teams to tackle the major problems faced by the world today. Researchers are increasingly using the power of social networking tools to undertake their work.
The role of government is crucial in setting policies to create an environment in which such research can flourish but in the age of networks universities may also have to radically change in order to facilitate such exciting and necessary developments and better train people to meet the needs of businesses in the future.
Web pioneer and leading campaigner for women in science receives nineteenth Duncan Davies Medal from the Research and Development Society for making an outstanding contribution toward making the UK the best-performing research and development environment in the world.
Professor Dame Wendy Hall DBE FRS FREng is the recipient of the 2009 Duncan Davies Medal awarded by the Research and Development Society. Dame Wendy will accept the medal at a lecture she will give to the R&D Society on the evening of 12 October 2009 at the Royal Society, London.
The Duncan Davies Medal is awarded annually to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution toward making the UK the best-performing research and development environment in the world.
Dr David Kingham, Chair of the R&D Society, commented, "Dame Wendy is a leading academic researcher who is passionate about business, maintaining links and providing expertise to innovative companies large and small. Her work as a role model and advocate of fair opportunities for women in science and engineering careers is benefiting UK R&D well beyond her own subject area of web technology. She’s been an inspiration to both men and women in the UK, and we’re pleased to award Dame Wendy our highest honour."
On hearing of the award, Dame Wendy commented, “I’m deeply flattered by the offer of this award – I can’t believe the company I find myself in when I look at the list of previous recipients. I am pleased that this award recognises my commitment to attracting more women into computer science. I believe my research area of the semantic web will open up a whole new wave of businesses, applications, services and R&D processes in the future, which the UK could lead, if it takes advantage of the talents of the very best men and women. I look forward to discussing this at the R&D Society event in October.”
Dr Duncan Davies was the third President of the R&D Society, and began his presidency in 1982, shortly after retiring as Chief Scientist and Engineer at the Department of Trade and Industry. Passionately concerned about R&D in the UK, he took a very active interest in the work of the Society. His sudden demise in 1986 came as a harsh blow to the Society and to UK R&D. To acknowledge the debt that it owed to Duncan Davies's leadership, the Society decided to establish a medal in his memory. Dame Wendy joins an esteemed list of recipients including Sir David King, Sir Robin Saxby, Lord Kumar Bhattacharya, Dame Bridget Ogilvie and Lord Sainsbury.
Dame Wendy will speak on “Research 2.0: the Age of Networks” on 12 October 2009 at 6.30pm, where she will discuss the development of Web Science, the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing need for interdisciplinary research, and how this may drive universities to radically change.
Notes for Editors
Biography: Professor Dame Wendy Hall DBE FRS FREng
Wendy Hall is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Southampton and was Head of the School of Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) from 2002-2007. She has published over 400 papers in areas such as hypermedia, multimedia, digital libraries, and Web technologies.
She was Senior Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering from 2005-2008 and is a Past President of the British Computer Society (2003-2004). She is a member of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology and a founding member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council. In 2008 she was elected as President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), and is the first person from outside North America to hold this position.
She was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday honours list in 2000, and became a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in the same year. She was awarded a DBE in the New Year’s Honours list in 2009, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society in 2009.
A longer biography is available at http://users.ecs.soton.ac.uk/wh/
Synopsis of “Research 2.0: the Age of Networks”
Full event listing at: http://www.rdsoc.org/09L7.html
Since its inception the Web has changed the ways we communicate, collaborate, and educate. In a very short-space of time we have come to live in a web-dependent society within a web-dependent world. There is a growing realization that a clear research agenda aimed at understanding the current, evolving, and potential Web is needed. Web Science embraces the study of these phenomena. In this seminar we will consider what Web Science is, and why it is important, as well as presenting ideas about how we can study the Web as both a technical and social phenomenon. We will use this discussion to explore the opportunities and challenges posed by the increasing need for interdisciplinary research undertaken by international teams to tackle the major problems faced by the world today. Researchers are increasingly using the power of social networking tools to undertake their work.
The role of government is crucial in setting policies to create an environment in which such research can flourish but in the age of networks universities may also have to radically change in order to facilitate such exciting and necessary developments and better train people to meet the needs of businesses in the future.
Friday, 31 July 2009
Opportunity: Exhibit at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition 2010, c/d 31 July 2009
The Royal Society is inviting proposals from commercial and academic organisiations for the 2010 Summer Science Exhibition, its most prestigious annual event. 2010 is the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary and to celebrate, the Society is holding an extended annual Summer Science Exhibition at the Southbank Centre in London from 26 June - 4 July 2010. Surrounded by a packed 9-day festival of events, the Exhibition will form the high-profile centrepiece of the Society’s anniversary year.
More information about the Exhibition, including FAQs, selection criteria, and an on-line proposal form, is available at Propose an exhibit via the Society's website. Closing date 31 July 2009.
More information about the Exhibition, including FAQs, selection criteria, and an on-line proposal form, is available at Propose an exhibit via the Society's website. Closing date 31 July 2009.
Opportunity: British Engineering Excellence Awards, c/d 31 July 2009
The British Engineering Excellence Awards have been launched to celebrate the UK's engineering succeses. Entries will be scrutinised by a high level independent panel of judges, and winners will be presented with their awards on 1 October 2009 at the Globe, London.
The Awards are open to any business with a design engineering function, which has shown measurable innovation within the judging period of January 1st 2008 - June 30th 2009. Categories include Start Up of the Year, Small Company of the Year, Design Engineer of the Year and New Product of the Year.
The awards are free to enter, entries should be made online by the closing date of 31 July 2009.
The Awards are open to any business with a design engineering function, which has shown measurable innovation within the judging period of January 1st 2008 - June 30th 2009. Categories include Start Up of the Year, Small Company of the Year, Design Engineer of the Year and New Product of the Year.
The awards are free to enter, entries should be made online by the closing date of 31 July 2009.
Tuesday, 9 June 2009
Opportunity: BBSRC Strategy Panels and Research Committees, c/d 9 June 2009
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is looking to appoint high calibre, committed individuals from the academic and industrial sectors to its Strategy Panels. The Strategy Panels advise BBSRC on how best to deliver world class basic and strategic science. There are seven BBSRC Strategy Panels, including Bioscience for Industry and Bioscience for Society.
Members are drawn from universities, research institutes, Government departments and industrial user organisations, and BBSRC is keen to appoint members to the Panels with experience of industry relevant to the BBSRC Mission, particularly in the areas of food security and bioenergy.
Appointments are for one year in the first instance, with a minimum time commitment of two two-day meetings a year and time for grant review. An attendance fee of £170 per day and reasonable travelling expenses is payable.
Further details, including the Expression of Interest form is available on the BBSRC website. The deadline for applications is 9 June 2009.
Members are drawn from universities, research institutes, Government departments and industrial user organisations, and BBSRC is keen to appoint members to the Panels with experience of industry relevant to the BBSRC Mission, particularly in the areas of food security and bioenergy.
Appointments are for one year in the first instance, with a minimum time commitment of two two-day meetings a year and time for grant review. An attendance fee of £170 per day and reasonable travelling expenses is payable.
Further details, including the Expression of Interest form is available on the BBSRC website. The deadline for applications is 9 June 2009.
Monday, 8 June 2009
Opportunity: NERC’s Science and Innovation Strategy Board (SISB, c/d 8 June 2009
NERC, the Natural Environment Research Council is inviting self-nominated applications for membership of its Science and Innovation Strategy Board from across the NERC science domain. The SISB is the key source of advice to NERC on science and innovation matters. For the 2009 round, applications from those with expertise in physics, atmospheric sciences, geo- and palaeochemistry, marine biogeochemistry, geophysics, ecology, solar and terrestrial physics or a relevant business sector background would be particularly welcome. All applications will be considered on merit. Deadline for applications, which should be made via the NERC website: 8 June 2009.
Saturday, 30 May 2009
Opportunity: London Technology Fund Competition 2009, c/d 30 May 2009
The London Technology Fund Competition 2009 is seeking entries. Prizes include a share of up to £1m in investment funding, over 100,000 worth of training and advice and a ‘speed dating’ event offering the opportunity to meet major technology corporates.The company must be based in London; be an SME; be at the seed stage (having an idea), start-up stage (prior to trading) or early stage of development (and still losing money at the pre-tax level); be operating in one of the following areas of technology: communications, computer (hardware, semiconductors and software), internet technology, other electronics related areas, biotechnology, medical (instruments, pharmaceuticals and healthcare), emerging technologies, energy, environment, physical sciences and engineering, new materials, and value added manufacturing. The deadline for submission of entries is 30th May 2009. Winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held on 4th November 2009.
Early applicants (those entering before the end of March) will also receive a free copy of the publication Sources of Finance and Advice for SMEs in London, which features the R&D Society.
Early applicants (those entering before the end of March) will also receive a free copy of the publication Sources of Finance and Advice for SMEs in London, which features the R&D Society.
Friday, 29 May 2009
Opportunity: Royal Society Hauksbee Awards, c/d 29 May 2009
The Royal Society is delighted to invite nominations for the Hauksbee Awards; a new set of awards developed to recognise the unsung heroes of science, as part of the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary celebrations.
These awards have been created to recognise and reward individuals who excel in their roles supporting UK science. The awards are open to any individual working to support science research or education (eg laboratory technicians) in categories including universities, industry and the public sector.
Nominations are invited from senior colleagues and consist of a completed nomination form and a recent CV of the nominee. The winners will receive a Royal Society engraved bronze medal and a £500 gift, presented at an award ceremony in February 2010.
More information about the awards, including the nomination form and selection criteria can be found at royalsociety.org/hauksbee. The deadline for nominations is Friday 29 May 2009.
These awards have been created to recognise and reward individuals who excel in their roles supporting UK science. The awards are open to any individual working to support science research or education (eg laboratory technicians) in categories including universities, industry and the public sector.
Nominations are invited from senior colleagues and consist of a completed nomination form and a recent CV of the nominee. The winners will receive a Royal Society engraved bronze medal and a £500 gift, presented at an award ceremony in February 2010.
More information about the awards, including the nomination form and selection criteria can be found at royalsociety.org/hauksbee. The deadline for nominations is Friday 29 May 2009.
Thursday, 7 May 2009
Event: research connection 2009, Prague, 7 and 8 May 2009
The European Commission is holding a conference, research connection 2009, in Prague on 7 and 8 May 2009, for scientists, entrepreneurs and researchers interested in research and innovation. The European Commission budget for research and innovation is increasing each year, and the conference aims to give participants first-hand information about priorities, objectives and participation rules. The participation fee will be €50 for the two days. One-day passes will be available for €30.
Friday, 24 April 2009
Funding: Scottish Enterprise/RSE Enterprise Fellowships c/d 24 April 2009
Researchers in Scottish universities can apply for a Scottish Enterprise/RSE Enterprise Fellowship to develop a spin-out business around technological ideas. These Fellowships will be tenable for a period of one year commencing on or around October 2009. The aims to increase the commercialisation of the Scottish academic research base, raise understanding of commercialisation throughout Scottish universities and research institutes, and to create sustainable companies with high-value jobs. The programme is funded by Scottish Enterprise and delivered by the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Apply via their website, closing date 24 April 2009.
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