RIN - advice on paying open access publication charges

Research Information Network and Universities UK have produced a new guide to provide advice on paying open access publication charges: that is, fees levied by some journals for the publication of scholarly articles so that they can be made available free of charge to readers, immediately upon publication.

Paying for open access publication charges: Guidance for higher education and research institutions, publishers and authors

The guide also sets out recommendations for universities and other research institutions, publishers, research funders, and authors.

JISC have also published a report on the economics of open access publishing:
Economic Implications of Alternative Scholarly Publishing Models Exploring the costs and benefits

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.

Research Information Networks' briefing on scholarly journals in the current financial climate

An outline of three points of pressure on academic library's budgets and what they mean for a University's community are given in:
The Research Information Networks' briefing on scholarly journals in the current financial climate

For an Edinburgh University Library perspective, see Papers 3a and 3c of:
the Library Committee meeting on 11th February 2009.

CAS e-seminar - Finding “greener” research processes

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
19:00-20:00 GMT

May 19, 2009
11:00-12:00 GMT
14:00-15:00 GMT

To register, visit: http://casevents.webex.com

*Effectively search the scientific literature for green chemistry technologies
*Explore novel green discoveries in patents
*Find syntheses using green reagents and solvents
*Create alerts to inform you of green findings

Poster Design

ISiskills directs you to a couple of courses and leaflet about poster creation. Search for poster.

Books exist in the library on scientific writing and communication and include poster creation. Some classmark areas which would be good places to browse:
QA1778, Q222, Q223, T11 [PE1408]

See also Flora Grabowska's, a librarian at US's Vassar College:
list of poster design sites
look to the left menu

Third Science Learning and Teaching Conference (SLTC)

16-17th June 2009,
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh

The aim of this national conference is to bring together practitioners in the teaching of science disciplines in HE to share their experiences, identify common challenges and an opportunity to share effective practice. The conference programme will include keynote lectures; short oral presentations; hands on workshops; posters and exhibitions.

Early bird registration deadline is 31st March 2009.

for more information at http://www.sltc.info/