University of Kent

Research Professional (RP) provides a database of all the current funding opportunities available to academics and researchers in the UK. It’s very comprehensive, but has had a terrible website which was difficult to use. The new one is a great improvement, which is simple, easy, and intuitive. Kent has a subscription to it, so give it a go. It can be accessed here: http://www.researchprofessional.com/

The ESRC has updated its Funding Guide. It now includes relevant links to current Funding Opportunities and assessment information. It has also been re-formatted to provide guidance in chronological order from beginning to end of the grants process. Annexes have been removed and where appropriate the information is now included within the document. It can be accessed here:http://www.esrc.ac.uk/funding-and-guidance/guidance/applicants/research-funding-guide.aspx

This perennial favourite runs three times a year, and provides those attending with an overview of what makes a good application, and how to draft your application so that it is clear, readable and convincing. David Shemmings provides insights based on the ’Grants Factory’ method developed by Prof Andrew Derrington (formerly Dean of Social Sciences, now PVC at Liverpool) and Jacqueline Aldridge. These are always well attended, so do get in touch with Phil Ward (p.ward@kent.ac.uk) if you want to come along.

This is a rerun of last year’s sell-out seminar that offers a warts and all view of the European funding. The EC is notorious for the complexity of its applications, but unlike the UK funding for research is ringfenced and growing. Jenny Billings (CHSS) and Simon Thompson (Computing), both veterans of EU funding, offer their insights into the highs and lows of applying for, managing and reviewing European applications. It's open to all, and starts at 2pm in the Peter Brown Room in Darwin. Places are limited, so book early.

This will be a wide ranging discussion that will look at European engagement, from law to transport, from national archives to party politics. The Seminars offer a chance to find out about what research is happening across the University, and to meet others outside your School.
The speakers are:
o Simone Glanert (Law): How Common Is a Common Law Without a Common Language and a Common Discourse: (Uncommon) Thoughts on the European Union.
o Ben Hutchinson (SECL): International Challenges for National Archives.
o Roger Vickerman (Economics): Economic integration through regional and transport policies in Europe.
o Paolo Dardanelli (Politics & IR): European integration, party strategies, and state restructuring.
It's open to all, and will take place between 12:30 - 2pm in the Peter Brown Room, Darwin.

Jo Frost, our Brussels’ UK Research Office (UKRO) rep, will provide an insight into two key schemes within the EU funding firmament. Both events are free, but contact Phil Ward (p.ward@kent.ac.uk) if you intend to come.

o ERC Starting Grants (12:30-2pm, lunch provided). The next round of European Research Council Starting Grants is due to open in July, with deadlines early in the new year. These grants are very generous, offering those with 2-12 years postdoc experience up to €1.5m for 5 years. Competition is fierce, but success rates are on a par with those for Research Councils.

o Marie Curie Networks (2pm-3:30pm, tea and coffee provided). These are intended to encourage mobility for researchers within Europe. The focus of this talk will be on doctoral training, networks, and external collaboration. This year new funding schemes have been introduced that do not require other European countries to be part of the bid. All academic staff are eligible to apply. The schemes covered will be:
- Initial Training Networks (ITN): PhD Training & research networks with at least other 2 EU countries.
- *NEW* Innovative Doctoral Programme (IDP): PhD Training & research networks for a single country/institution.
- *NEW* European Industrial Doctorate (EID): Funding for PhD Training & research networks with industry. With at least one other EU country.
- Industry Academia Partnership (IAPP): 2-way partnership between academia & industry. With at least one other EU country.

The EPSRC Kent Peer Review Workshop which was due to be held this Wednesday 25th April, 12-2pm has unfortunately had to be postponed. A new date will be announced soon. Please contact Carolyn Barker (C.M.Barker-47@kent.ac.uk) for further information.

RESEARCH EXCELLENCE FRAMEWORK 2014: FOCUS ON EQUALITY

Dr Simonetta Manfredi, Reader in Equality & Diversity Management & Director of Centre for Diversity Policy Research & Practice, Oxford Brookes University & Professor Lucy Vickers, Law School, Oxford Brookes University

27 APRIL 2012, 11.45 am – 1.00 pm (a sandwich lunch will be provided)
Keynes Seminar Room 15

The REF 2014 (& RAE 2008) are by definition highly selective processes and have brought into focus the importance of promoting equality and diversity in research careers. This seminar will present the findings from research commissioned by the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) to investigate the processes adopted by HE institutions and panels in making decisions about inclusion of staff in the 2008 RAE. These recommendations have been included in the guidance developed for selection for the 2014 REF.

NEW RESEARCH AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KENT

The Centre for Diversity Policy Research & Practice at Oxford Brookes will also be using the seminar to launch a new independent research project involving a number of Universities, including the University of Kent, to examine the experiences and perceptions of individual academics relating to equality issues and research careers. Following the seminar, the researchers will be seeking volunteers to participate in further confidential qualitative interviews. The project aims to establish a better understanding of how to advance equality within research careers, particularly in the light of the gender & ethnicity differentials highlighted in the RAE 2008 submission rates. It is hoped that the findings will provide a more in-depth view of equality issues within research careers, and further information to help the University to continue to attract and retain talented researchers.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The seminar is aimed at research active staff, research leaders & managers & staff supporting the preparation for the REF, and is particularly timely and relevant at a time when all Universities are finalising REF Codes of Practice and briefing staff involved in the preparation of REF submissions on equality issues. Booking is through equalityanddiversity@kent.ac.uk.

If you are unable to attend the seminar or would like to find out more about taking part in the research project, please contact Tracey Lamb (T.A.Lamb@kent.ac.uk) or Dr Simonetta Manfredi (smanfredi@brookes.ac.uk ).

Prof John Baldock is pleased to announce the return of the PVC’s Lunchtime Seminars programme with an event that looks at the illegal exploitation of the environment.

‘Green Crime’

Wednesday 4th April 12.30pm-2pm
Venue TBC

The Coalition Government has pledged to be the 'greenest government ever’, setting out an agenda to safeguard the natural environment. Green crime, the illegal exploitation of the environment, is high on this agenda with half of the targets focusing directly on criminal activity or proposing legislation to help protect the environment. This PVC Seminar will be a wide ranging discussion on 'Green Crime', from the quantification of illegal behaviour, through to characterising 'green crime' in the jurisdiction and environmental activism when laws are perceived to have failed.

Speakers will include Chief Inspector Mark Harrison (English Heritage, and Honorary Research Fellow, SECL), Prof Bill Howarth (KLS), Dr David Roberts (DICE), Prof Chris Rootes (SSPSSR) and Dr Freya St John (DICE).

A light lunch is available from 12:30pm, together with tea and coffee, and the Seminar itself will start around 1pm.

All are welcome, but do let Phil Ward (p.ward@kent.ac.uk) know if you would like to come so that he can get a sense of numbers.

If you are planning to make an application to the HERA Cultural Encounters call (either as the Project Leader or as one of the Principal Investigators), it is important that you contact Lynne Bennett asap. The deadline is 4 May but costings for these are complicated and may take much longer than you anticipate.

Lynne attended a recent event in London on the call, and provided the following notes from the event. A few of these would apply equally to all large applications – so even if you’re not planning a HERA application, it’s worth having a look at the following:
- Large collaborative projects should be managed by a steering committee. Your application should include plans for the committee to meet regularly to review progress against milestones (associated travel costs can be included in the budget);
- All large collaborative projects should include costs for an Administrator at an appropriate level. In the case of a HERA application, where there are several European partners, it would be reasonable to have 2 or 3 administrators working on different aspects of the project;
- Project management should include regular team meetings and have a robust internal reporting system
- For any large AHRC application, knowledge exchange should be embedded throughout the project and should not be added as an afterthought. (The AHRC are VERY keen on ‘mutually-enriching’ collaborations with non-academic partners.);
- Non Academic Partners can be included but the AHRC will not pay for their time (only travel and subsistence);
Interdisciplinarity means ‘challenging the familiar and conventional’ and ‘moving the boundaries of the discipline’;
- Collaboration means that you can address familiar questions in new ways that would be impossible for a lone researcher;
- Read the rules – AHRC and the other funders are continually surprised at how many applicants fail to do this;
- The Project Leader must demonstrate in the application that he/she has the experience and skills to lead the project.