-----Original Message----- From: Julia Campbell Sent: 23 April 2003 11:35 To: Beatrice Campbell; Lynn Macgregor; Patricia Brown; Kerry Fairbairns Subject: BBSRC and NERC visit Stirling University: Wed 30th April & Thursday 1st May 2003 Importance: High

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Dear All

You may be aware that on Wed 30th April and Thurs 1st May, Stirling University is hosting an unprecedented visit from two Research Council representatives: Dr Guy Richards from the Animal Sciences Branch of the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Mrs Angela Morrison from the Science and Innovation Programme of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC). These research councils are particularly prestigious funders of research, and we are flattered that they have agreed to spend some time at Stirling and are thus very keen for as many researchers as possible to be involved with their visit. To find out how to be involved, please read on.

Programme

The visit will kick off with a lunchtime information/Q&A session from 12.30pm to 3pm on Wednesday 30th April in Room 4U5, Cottrell Building (sandwiches will be provided), where they will focus on current priorities and funding initiatives of BBSRC and NERC, along with other issues associated with winning research funds from the Research Councils (including NERC's new Peer Review College and Funding Framework). After the lunchtime session, researchers will have the chance to book short one-to-one meetings with the presenters, to discuss their own individual research ideas/bids/issues, with meeting slots available between 3pm and 5pm. Then, on the morning of Thursday 1st May, Dr Richards will be meeting with researchers at the Institute of Aquaculture, before heading back down south in the afternoon.

How to Book

If you would like to come along to the lunchtime session, all you need do is register your name with Sylvia Barnes in the Planning and Research Office by phoning x7041 or emailing sb18@stir.ac.uk (ideally as soon as possible, so that we can reserve a sandwich for you). If would also like to take advantage of the opportunity to have a one-to-one meeting with either of the presenters, Sylvia would be happy to let you know what timeslots are still available to book. If you are interested in being involved in Dr Richard's visit to the Institute of Aquaculture on the morning of 1st May, details of his visit can be obtained from Professor Randolph Richards (after Friday 25th April).

Research Areas Supported by BBSRC & NERC

BBSRC research areas fit within the following committees: Agrifood, Animal Sciences, Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Biomolecular Sciences, Engineering & Biological Systems, Genes & Developmental Biology, Plant & Microbial Sciences. This research council is relevant mainly to researchers in Aquaculture, Biological Sciences, Environmental Science, and Psychology. For more details, see http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/news/Welcome.html

NERC is interested in supporting research into terrestrial, marine and freshwater biology and Earth, atmospheric, hydrological, oceanographic and polar sciences and Earth observation. This research council is relevant mainly to researchers in Aquaculture, Biological Sciences and Environmental Science. For more details, see http://www.nerc.ac.uk/funding/

Stirling Successes

Stirling has had a good history of obtaining grants from both BBSRC and NERC. Since 1996, the following departments have been successful in obtaining funding from these research councils: * BBSRC: Aquaculture (8 awards), Biological Sciences (10 awards), Environmental Science (4 awards) and Psychology (5 awards). * NERC: Aquaculture (9 awards), Biological Sciences (30 awards), Environmental Science (15 awards).

And finally, some BBSRC/NERC upcoming deadlines......

BBSRC: 2nd May 2003: Basic Technology programme outline bids 6th June 2003: Sustainable Technologies Initiative 1st July 2003: Combating diseases in livestock initiative 14th July 2003 : Proteomics and Cell Function Initiative as well as all responsive mode grants

NERC: 2nd May 2003: Basic Technology programme outline bids 16th May 2003: Environmental Maths & Statistics discipline bridging awards 1st June 2003: small responsive mode grants 1st July 2003: standard responsive mode grants & consortium grants 1st Sept 2003: small grants in Marine & Freshwater Microbial Biodiversity thematic programme 15th Nov 2003: all fellowships

Hope you are able to be involved in this visit.

Best Wishes

Julia

********************************************** Julia Campbell Research Funding Support Officer Planning & Research Office Rm 3B1 University of Stirling x6690 **********************************************