THE RESEARCH COUNCILS

1. THE RESEARCH COUNCILS

2. Office of Science and Technology (OST)/ Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) • Science Budget 2005-06 to 2007-08 • The Government is substantially increasing spending on science. Between 1997 and 2007 the science budget will have more than doubled, rising to £3.4 billion. • This has enabled the Research Councils to substantially raise their support for research and make a major start repairing the scientific infrastructure. • The announcement on 7 March 2005 breaks down the three years of Government spending on science (2005-08). Total spend will top £10 billion, reaching £3.4 billion in 2007-08.

3. CSR: Comprehensive Spending Review • Science Budget 2008 – 2011 • Average of 5.4% per year increase in budget • (2.5 % in real terms).

5. http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/ Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a strategic partnership through which the UK’s eight Research Councils work together to champion the research, training and innovation they support. The Research Councils are the main public investors in fundamental research in the UK with interests ranging from bio-medicine and particle physics to the environment, engineering and economic research. RCUK works alongside the Office ofScience & Technology (OST) to support the UK’s finest academic researchers and to ensure the best investment of public money in research. The partnership is led by the RCUK Executive Group which comprises the eight Chief Executives of the Research Councils.

6. Research Councils UK • Launched on 1 May 2002 Research Councils UK (RCUK) is a strategic partnership of the eight UK Research Councils. RCUK work scientifically, strategically and operationally alongside the Office of Science and Technology to champion research, training and innovation in the UK. The partnership is led by the RCUK Executive Group comprising the Chief Executives of the research Councils. • Research Councils are the main public investors in fundamental research in the UK covering a wide range of disciplines including bio-medicine, particle physics, the environment, engineering and economic and social research. RCUK works in conjunction with OST to support the UK’s finest academic researchers to ensure the best investment of public money in scientific research excellence. • The OST 2004 Review of RCUK recommended some re-organisation of the RCUK top level management functions. The report and implementation plan can be found at www.ost.gov.uk/research/council.htm.. Under the new system, the RCUK Executive Group is responsible for all operational matters. This group meets monthly and is chaired by a Chief Executive, selected by its members.

7. The Research Councils • There are eight Research Councils, established under Royal Charter. The Department of Trade and Industry has statutory control of the Councils, supported by the Director General of Research Councils, Sir Keith O’Nions, in the Office of Science and Technology (OST). Council members are appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, who is answerable to Parliament for the Councils’ activities. • The UK Research Councils are: • Biotechnology & Biological Science research Council (BBSRC); • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC); • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC); • Medical Research Council (MRC); • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); • Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) (since 2005) • STFC (since 2006) • Further information about the Research Councils and their activities can be found at: www.rcuk.ac.uk

9. Merger: April 2007 Engineering & Physical Sciences Astronomy & Nuclear & Particle Physics

10. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) • www.epsrc.ac.uk • The EPSRC is the main UK government agency for funding research and training in engineering and the physical sciences to help the nation handle the next generation of technological change. • It works in partnership with universities to invest in people, scientific discovery and innovation to meet the needs of industry and society. • Its work is complementary to other research investors including other research councils, government agencies, industry and the European Union. It actively engages in and encourages partnerships and collaborations across disciplines, boundaries and the world and actively promotes public engagement in science, engineering and technology.

11. The Website: Funding for Researchers We fund research in a number of different ways. This section of the website will tell you about the various funding opportunities, as well as providing the Funding Guide, application forms and guidance on how to apply to EPSRC. One of our ways of funding research is through Calls for Proposals. These are requests for research proposals in specific areas. We manage our portfolio of research through Programmes, each covering a broad area. In each programme area you will find information on how we operate, strategy for development of the programme, targets for the year ahead, and reviews and consultations. We provide access to a number of Facilities and Services, such as high performance computing. Details of the services and how to apply to use them can be found in this section. Research proposals are assessed using peer review, with those involved collectively called the peer review college. More information is available on who makes up the peer review college, along with forms and guidance for those undertaking the roles of referee or panel member. Information for Grant Holders includes best practice in conducting research, advice on managing EPSRC research grants, and forms and guidance for completing Final Reports.

12. PS700 Alan Chadwick; Ingram Room 219 Programmes We fund a dynamic and evolving research portfolio, extending from fundamental research in mathematics, chemistry, computer science and physics to more applied topics in engineering and technology. Our research portfolio is determined overwhelmingly by the research community and is delivered through programmes. The programmes are run by Programme Managers, supported by teams of Associate Programme Managers. Each programme has its own objectives and strategies. These are formulated by Programme Managers after consultation with colleagues in academia, industry, government, learned societies, professional organisations and the Strategic Advisory Teams. Programme plans are endorsed by the Technical Opportunities Panel (TOP), the User Panel (UP) and by the EPSRC Council. Programme Managers work closely together to identify important multidisciplinary opportunities. While the importance of maintaining and strengthening individual research disciplines is acknowledged, major breakthroughs often occur when researchers from related disciplines work together. Many EPSRC research activities are co-funded between programmes, with proposals specifically designed to encourage multidisciplinary collaborations. Major cross-EPSRC activities include Novel Computation, Crime Prevention and Detection Technologies and the IDEAS Factory. We also have an active Public Engagement Programme. We manage the Research Councils' Energy Programme and the Basic Technology and e-Science Programmes on behalf of all the Research Councils. Longer-term priorities for EPSRC are provided in our Strategic Plan. A detailed statement of the Research Priorities and Opportunities identified within the EPSRC portfolio is also available. We welcome your comments on both of these documents.

13. Chemistry Engineering Information and Communications Technologies Infrastructure and EnvironmentInnovative Manufacturing Life Sciences Interface Materials MathematicalSciences Physics Energy Basic Technology e-ScienceCross-EPSRCActivities

14. Chemistry Programme • Research and training supported by the Chemistry Programme covers a wide range of chemistry, extending to the boundaries with other disciplines such as physics, materials science, engineering and the life sciences. The majority of the Chemistry Programme research grant funding is allocated through responsive mode, and assessed through the Chemistry Panel. • The objectives of the Chemistry Programme are to: • Maintain the health of the chemistry discipline through the support of high quality research. • Support key areas of chemistry research that offer particular scientific and industrial opportunities. • Facilitate research opportunities at the interfaces with other disciplines. • Provide support for a sufficient supply of postgraduate researchers in chemistry with the skills required to meet the needs of industry, public bodies and academia. • Following the International Review of Chemistry which has highlighted the need for more adventure in research, adventure continues to be encouraged in responsive mode but separate pump-priming activities are also planned. The programme continues to recognise the importance of both core chemistry and outreach to other disciplines. The flexibility of EPSRC support through responsive mode and for postgraduate training will continue to be promoted. • The Chemistry Programme also funds national services in mass spectrometry, computational chemistry, solid state NMR, X-ray crystallography, EPR and chemical database. PS700 Alan Chadwick; Ingram Room 219

15. PS700 Alan Chadwick; Ingram Room 219 • Physics Programme • The Physics Programme supports a broad portfolio of research and training in the areas of atomic and molecular physics, condensed matter, nuclear physics, optics and lasers and plasmas. • The objectives of the programme are to: • Increase the understanding and exploitation of the fundamental properties of matter and energy through the support of leading edge research. • Enhance the excellence of the research base by supporting a high quality portfolio of research and postgraduate training. • Support a pool of talented researchers at all stages of their careers. • Enhance the performance of other disciplines and user communities through the provision of knowledge and trained personnel. • Responsive Mode plays an important role in supporting high quality science and the research community is encouraged to make use of its flexibility. Applicants must contact the Programme Manager or the relevant Associate Programme Manager for consultation regarding the submission of proposals above £1 million. • A full list of mechanisms available for supporting research and collaboration can be found in Funding Opportunities. The Physics Programme has available up to four Postdoctoral Fellowships in Theoretical Physics each year - see latest call for proposals (closing date 18 October 2005).

16. Calls For Proposals Bridging the Gaps Between Mathematical Sciences, ICT and Engineering EPSRC would like to encourage researchers in the mathematical sciences, information and communication technology (ICT), and engineering to bridge the disciplines in their university and work more closely together. Issued: 26/10/05 Closing Date: 19/04/06 Call for Proposals to use the EPSRC Laser Loan Facility Call for applications to the EPSRC Laser Loan Pool for loan of the Coherent Frequency-Doubled Argon-ion laser. Issued: 20/10/05 Closing Date: 28/10/05 Capacity Building in Complexity Science Bids are invited to develop interdisciplinary researchers at all levels, with both theoretical and experimental skills, in complexity science. Issued: 14/10/05 Closing Date: 14/12/05 e-Science Core Programme Senior Research Fellow Expressions of Interest are invited from candidates with outstanding and internationally recognised academic credentials in a relevant aspect of e-Science research Issued: 07/10/05 Closing Date: 10/11/05 IDEAS Factory: Scientific Uncertainty and Decision Making - Call for Participants This is a call for participants to take part in a five-day sand-pit to look for innovative ways to address the problem of scientific uncertainty and decision making. Issued: 21/09/05 Closing Date: 23/11/05 PS700 Alan Chadwick; Ingram Room 219

17. PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION Complete Application Form 1 Send to EPSRC 7 6 2 Response EPSRC 3 Comments Sent to 3-4 Referees 5 8 8 4 Comments REJECT PANEL 9 RESULT

18. Responsive Mode • The majority of research funded by EPSRC is supported through responsive mode. The key features of responsive mode are: • No closing dates - applications may be submitted at any time. • No constraints on the field of research, providing the majority of it falls within our remit. Prominence is given to the applicant as the creative figure who determines the direction of the research. • Research quality, as defined by independent peer review, is the main criterion against which proposals are assessed. • Responsive mode funding can be used to support a wide variety of proposals, including feasibility studies, instrument development, equipment to support a number of research projects, overseas travel grants and visiting researchers, and long-term proposals to develop or maintain critical mass. Responsive mode funding is very flexible, with the scale of projects supported ranging from small travel grants to multi-million pound research programmes. High risk/high return research proposals, embracing new concepts or techniques, are particularly encouraged. • We welcome and actively encourage the involvement of industrial collaborators on responsive mode research proposals, particularly where the involvement can significantly help the progress of the research and the take-up of the research results. However, funding from a third-party is not mandatory. • Programme Managers and Associate Programme Managers are happy to discuss your ideas for responsive mode proposals before their submission. We particularly encourage discussion for proposals with a complex management nature, those involving large consortia or those consisting of more than one research theme. • In putting together a Case for Support for your proposal, you should consider how to best use the allowed page limits to reflect the nature of the project. • Proposals should be submitted using the Research Councils' Joint Electronic submission (Je-S) System. Select document type 'Standard Research'. Further information and guidance can be found in How to Apply.

19. CCLRC • The Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC or CLRC) is a UK government body that carries out civil research in science and engineering. It administers the UK's large scale facilities for materials research, laser and space science and alternative energy exploration on behalf of the government, the other UK research funding bodies, universities, and corporate research and development. • It employs about 1700 staff at three locations: • Chilbolton Observatory, near Stockbridge in Hampshire • Daresbury Laboratory. at Daresbury in Cheshire • Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, near Didcot in Oxfordshire PS700

20. CCLRC The Rutherford High Energy Laboratory was set up on the former RAF Harwell airfield between Chilton and Harwell in 1957, and merged with the Atlas and Appleton Laboratories in 1975 and 1979, respectively, to form the current laboratory. The CCLRC was set up to run RAL as well as Daresbury Laboratory in 1996 PS700

21. PS700 The National Science Foundation (NSF) PS700

22. The NSF – the US model – since 1950 Research funding begins with workshops and conferences to discuss the progress of science and engineering and what the US needs to accomplish in each field. Next, the agency publishes a notice about a funding opportunity (a "solicitation"), which invites researchers to submit proposals describing their ideas on how to meet a particular need. At any time, scientists and engineers are also welcome to send in unsolicited proposals Merit Review: Criterion 1: What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?Criterion 2: What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity? PS700

23. PS700 Alan Chadwick; Ingram Room 219

24. PS700 Alan Chadwick; Ingram Room 219