The third annual joint NERC – BES Science Policy Interactions workshop (5- 6 May, in London) is now open for applications – but be quick; the closing date is 11th April at 17.00.

The Science Policy Interactions workshop is an opportunity for early-career researchers to find out first hand from policy-makers how they can inform decision-making with scientific evidence. Thirty early-career participants (no more than 12 years since finishing their PhDs – and either members of the BES or NERC-funded researchers) are joined at the workshop by those with experience of working in Government Departments, agencies or Parliament, and a number of peers with experience of informing policy development. Over the course of two days there is ample opportunity to interact with these individuals, through a series of presentations, case-studies and communications exercises.

A networking dinner on the evening of the first day allows participants to get to know one another, and hopefully contribute to another aim of the workshop – to create a cohort of well-informed, enthusiastic and engaged researchers who can help the BES, NERC and one another in engaging decision-makers with scientific advice.

To find out more, visit the BES website or contact the BES Policy Team for information.

This afternoon government departments have published details of their budget allocations for 2011-2015. This follows on from higher-level budgets allocated in the Treasury’s Comprehensive Spending Review published in November.

DEFRA has outlined the annual expenditure for each of its Arm’s Length Bodies – including Natural England, the Environment Agency and Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) – over the next four years. £45 million of budget cuts arm’s length bodies – approximately 5% in-year reductions- has already been decided for 2010/11.

Expenditure on the Environment Agency flood protection programme is expected to be over £2.1 billion between 2011 to 2015- or £540 million per year – roughly equivalent to 8% reduction in spending compared to the previous four years. Capital expenditure on flood protection will also be cut by over £100million by 2012. Natural England will have its resource budget cut by an average of £10million per year, with the deepest cuts taking place in 2012 (£12.8million) and 2013 (£14.2million).

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) also published its annual grant letter, detailing expenditure for the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) from 2011-12 to 2014-15. The full grant letter also indicates expenditure for 2012-13, the year that a new system for student finance will be implemented.

Science and research funding allocations were also published today by BIS, on behalf of the Business Secretary, Vince Cable and Universities Minister, David Willetts MP. Annual research council capital expenditure will decrease by over £212,000 over the next 4 years- up to 46% less than in 2010-11. However the Medical Research Council – which supports and directs medical research in universities and hospitals across the country- will see its resource budget increase by up to 5%, to approximately £574.6 million per year over the course of the spending review. The new UK Space Agency will also be allocated resource funding of up to £769.7 million overall. Roughly £205.6 million will be spent on the space agency in 2011/12.

Applications are invited for a new, six month, policy placement secondment opportunity to work within the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Environment and Rural Group, based in London.

This secondment is offered as part of NERC’s policy placement fellowship scheme which allows researchers and other staff involved in environmental science research to work closely with policy-makers within government and other public and third sector organisations in the UK. Such placements have proved valuable in significantly enhancing links between NERC science and science evidence and policy teams in government and regulatory bodies, enabling improved science evidence for UK policy.

The policy placement will involve working alongside an economist and policy officials as part of a small team that will lead the gathering and analysis of evidence to determine how bio-energy can contribute sustainably to the government’s renewable energy and climate change goals for 2020 and 2050. This is part of a wider portfolio of work being undertaken in conjunction with other government departments, to help determine the role bio-energy can play in the UK’s future low carbon energy mix.

Further details are available from the NERC website.
Please see “fellowship placement current opportunities” PDF.

The closing date for applications is Monday 22 November 2010.

Applications are invited for a new, six month, policy placement secondment opportunity to work with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Science and Strategy Directorate based in Stirling.

This secondment is offered as part of NERC’s policy placement fellowship scheme which allows researchers and other staff involved in environmental science research, to work closely with policy-makers within government and other public and third sector organisations in the UK. Such placements have proved valuable in significantly enhancing links between NERC science and science evidence and policy teams in government and regulatory bodies, enabling improved science evidence for UK policy.

The purpose of this policy placement is, in conjunction with SEPA’s Human Health Working Group, to promote SEPA’s understanding of the Environment and Human Health research ‘landscape’ in the UK, including the dissemination of research outputs and translation of evidence into robust environmental policy & regulatory practice.

Further details are available here.

Please see “fellowship placement current opportunities” PDF for additional information.

The closing date for applications is Monday 15 November 2010.

NERC is pleased to announce the next round of Knowledge Exchange Call (KE Call), with a closing date of 4pm on 3 November 2010.
The Call’s aim is to promote the exchange of knowledge, people, skills and expertise between the research base and those in the user community who can make use of this.
To reflect NERC’s strategic alignment of knowledge exchange funding to key areas of impact and the implementation of its knowledge exchange programmes, we particularly welcome proposals in the following areas, and will be prioritising funding in these areas:
- Marine renewable energy
- Water security
- Financial services
– Environmental monitoring

Further information on the KE Call is at: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/using/schemes/kecall.asp.

NERC will run the KE Call and the KE Fellowships schemes together: applicants may submit a proposal to either of these schemes at the same time. Proposals may be linked, if appropriate, although they will be assessed separately as stand alone applications. Information on KE Fellowships is at: http://www.nerc.ac.uk/using/schemes/kefellows.asp.

Expressions of interest are invited to attend a 3 day sandpit as part of the NERC/Defra Marine Renewable Energy Research Programme.

The aim of the sandpit is to fund research project(s) which will develop an understanding of the environmental benefits and risks of up-scaling marine renewable energy schemes on the quality of marine bioresources (including biodiversity) and biophysical dynamics of open coasts.

The sandpit will be taking place from the 8-10 December 2010.
The closing date for expressions of interest is 16:00 on Thursday 14 October 2010

For further information and contacts please visit the programme webpage.

The scheme promotes partnership between eligible research organisations and public or private sector organisations, and enhances the training of the student who can spend between 3 and 18 months in a workplace outside the academic environment.

The CASE partner should provide the impetus and initial requirement for the studentship and must supplement the student’s maintenance grant by at least £1000pa.

The closing date for applications is 16.00 on 14 October 2010.

As well as an open round for applications within NERC’s remit, up to five studentships will be awarded in each of the six priority areas listed below, to facilitate collaboration with private sector partners:
a) water
b) energy
c) Food and agriculture
d) resource management (minerals, forestry, waste etc)
e) financial services (risk management and valuation, including insurance)
f) environmental monitoring

Visit the Call’s web page for further information.
The JeS form will be available from 1 September, and more detailed guidance will be on the web page before the end of August.

Applications are invited for a new, six month, part time (25-30%), policy placement secondment opportunity, to work with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on its Atmosphere and Local Environment Programme (ALE) in London.

This secondment is offered as part of NERC’s policy placement fellowship scheme which allows researchers and other staff involved in environmental science research to work closely with policy-makers within government and other public and third sector organisations in the UK.

The purpose of this policy placement is to lead a strategic review of the Atmosphere and Local Environment Programme’s portfolio of recent and current research on the impacts of air pollution on ecosystems. This will ensure that future evidence needs for national and international policy development are met as well as strengthening science to policy processes between Defra and NERC.

Further details.

Please see “fellowship placement current opportunities” PDF.

The closing date for applications is Tuesday 31st August 2010.

The deadline for applications to take part in the second BES – NERC Science Policy Interactions workshop is rapidly approaching. There are now only two working days left before the deadline of 5pm, 16th April 2010.

The workshop is taking place on 18th – 19th May at the Defra Innovation Centre, Reading. The BES and NERC will cover the cost of accomodation and a networking dinner for all participants.

This workshop is aimed at early career researchers who are members of the BES and/ or funded by NERC and is aimed at supporting attendees’ science to policy activities through:

- Provision of information about means of engagement with policy and how this can best proceed, with some sessions including input from Defra and Environment Agency policymakers

- An opportunity to practice communication skills

- Establishment of a science – policy professional network to facilitate ongoing science to policy discussion and sharing of best practice

The workshop itself is funded by NERC and BES, including accommodation in Reading for one night, refreshments for both days and a dinner on the evening of 18th May. Travel costs are not covered by NERC and BES. Further information and an application form are available from http://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/policy/policy_training.php. If you require further information, please contact Lesley Aspinall at NERC (e-mail laa@nerc.ac.uk)

The Ecosystem Services for Poverty Alleviation programme has launched formally, following the approval of the Department for International Development. The ESPA programme, a partnership between the NERC, Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and DFID, was established in 2007 but the past two years have seen the development of the concept of the programme. Today, the three funders announced that funding had been agreed. The project has been formally launched under the banner of the Living With Environmental Change partnership.

Funding for the ESPA programme will total £40.5 million, combining £27 million of DFID’s development research funding together with £13.5 million of UK Research Council funding. The ESPA programme will explore the sustainable management of ecosystems and how this can contribute to poverty alleviation in developing countries.

The first call for applications has opened: Funding Stream 1 is a one-off opportunity for shorter-term, innovative, conceptual development type projects submitted as a Programme Framework grant.
Funding Stream 2 has two submission opportunities: one to win catalyst funding through a Partnership & Project Development grant, in preparation for a second submission opportunity for a larger Research Consortium grant. Further details can be found at the NERC website. The closing date for submissions is 3 March 2010.

Source: Research for Development