RIN newsletter

The Research Information Network (RIN) August newsletter includes:

Keeping Research Data Safe 2 project which is inviting people to contribute to the data survey, if they have research datasets and associated cost information.

The RCUK Public Engagement with Research Team has announced the dates for the 2010 scheme aimed at supporting public engagement activities in National Science and Engineering Week 2010 (12-21 March). All seven Research Councils are involved in supporting the scheme, providing access for funds of up to £2,000 per project.

The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has published its annual higher education National Student Survey (NSS)

Also, Events and training courses which include

"Text mining hands-on course and training seminar", 5-6 October 2009, Cambridge,

"Vitae national research staff conference", 5 November 2009, London. "This national conference will enable attendees to consider the research environment and examine issues that impact on research staff across institutional and disciplinary barriers..."

UK Research Reserve (UKRR) - first members, incl UoEdinburgh sign up

15 UK higher education institutions (HEIs) were accepted by the UKRR Selection Panel at its inaugural meeting. These first members include the University of Edinburgh.

Shared across the the 15 participating institutions, over 14k linear metres of material will be processed during this first tranche of activity.

More information from the UKRR website.

For more information on the implications for EUL, please contact your Liaison Librarian

Bridging the Gaps - call for proposals (EPSRC)

The EPSRC are seeking outline proposals for their Bridging the Gaps call to help research organisations build a programme of activities that will stimulate creative thinking, across disciplines, reflecting institutional strengths and strategies.

They encourage applications that bridge the gaps between engineering and physical sciences (EPS) and other non-EPS research areas. In particular, they welcome proposals that include working with the social sciences and/or arts and humanities.

More information from the EPSRC website

Deadline for applications is 16 September.

Call for nominations for Biosciences Federation Science Communication Award 2009

Sponsored by Pfizer, this award recognises bioscience researchers from UK universities and institutes who make an outstanding and consistent contribution to communicating science to the public.

Awards categories are New Research (£500) and Established Research (£1500).

More information from the Federation's website

Nomination of researchers working in any sector of the biosciences, from UK universities or institutes, must be supported by a named representative from a Biosciences Federation Member or Associate Member Organisation by submission of a completed Nomination Form.

The deadline for receipt of nominations is 28 August.

Vitae researcher development conference 2009: realising the potential of researchers

8-9 September 2009,
Warwick

More information from the Vitae website

This conference will address strategic and practical implications of:
*sustaining the investment in our researchers in order to build research capacity and remain globally competitive;
*research and evaluation relating to the impact of researcher development and of researcher careers;
*the implementation of the Concordat, including the benchmarking process;
*the latest developments in policy relating to postgraduate researchers and practice to support researcher skills and career development.

Measuring up - the evolution of impact metrics

15 June 2009, London

Information from the seminar webpages

Run by the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers, this seminar will explore the evolution of impact metrics.

Research will be presented from the group responsible for the bibliometrics behind HEFCE's Research Excellence Framework (REF) pilot, and will conclude with a consideration of what future metrics might look like, particularly in those areas not currently well served by existing ones.

poster competition for early-career researchers

Research Councils UK is running Perspectives - a poster competition for early-career researchers. Open to postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers funded by the UK Research Councils.

More information at www.britishscienceassociation.org/perspectives

Finalists display their posters at the British Science Festival in September, at the University of Surrey in Guildford.

Cash prizes are awarded by a panel of expert judges.

Deadline for applications is 8 May 2009.