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Earth System Science ES4 Summer School

NERC announcement of opportunity

This call is now closed.

NERC is seeking proposals to manage the ES4 Summer School for 2009-2012. Closing date for proposals is 28 January 2009, 16:00, via the Research Councils Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S).

Introduction

A key aspect underpinning a number of the challenges outlined in NERC's new strategy is the need to support and train the next generation of environmental scientists. The Earth System Science ES4 Summer School is one of a number of activities in which NERC is investing in order to meet this challenge.

A single award (expected to start March 2009) will be made to operate the school for 2009-2012.

Requirements

The expectation is that the ES4 summer school will be managed either by a single organisation or by an organisation leading on behalf of a consortium (with the possibility of the school being hosted by a different member of the consortium each year).

The aim is to attract 5-10% of NERC research students (20-30 candidates), with the course possibly being offered to non-NERC students and researchers (eg, from NERC Centres, the Environment Agency, Met Office, etc.) for whom training in Earth System Science is valuable. In such instances, it will be the responsibility of the individual concerned to provide funding.

It is anticipated that the school will run for two weeks, with NERC providing support to cover the following: administrative costs, accommodation and course materials for NERC students, T&S for participating lecturers, and a finale event. External students / researchers are welcome, but should be charged the real costs for attending the course.

The ES4 summer school should be aligned with good equal opportunities policy and must provide / address the following:

  1. A broad introduction to the key topics in Earth System Science, whilst addressing the interactions and dynamic processes that link the Earth's biotic and abiotic components.
  2. Training and hands-on experience (including but not exclusively focussed on modelling) in the scientific integration needed to understand large-scale processes and interactions in the Earth system.
  3. Opportunities to enable early-career environmental researchers to appreciate how their own specialised studies fit into the broader context.
  4. Involvement of renowned international lecturers.
  5. Encouragement to all course participants to widen their scientific networks and to build on relationships with a view to developing future collaborations.

In managing the ES4 Summer School, the successful proposal needs to show evidence of how it is going to address the following requirements:

  1. Publicity / promotion of ES4.
  2. A balanced programme of lectures, seminars and practical exercises involving renowned national and international researchers.
  3. Provision of accommodation / catering.
  4. Teaching facilities.
  5. Development of an on-line resource for use before, during and after each Summer School.

The proposal should include a clear description of the planned management structure for the Summer School, detailing who will be involved in running the school and what their responsibilities will be. A clear timetable of the steps required to deliver each summer school should also be included.

An Annual Report consisting of a number of metrics must be delivered to NERC on completion of each ES4 summer school.

Eligibility

Open to all eligible UK research organisations (Higher Education Institution, NERC Research or Collaborative Centre) or other NERC recognised research organisation.

Assessment

Assessment of proposals will be made by amongst other criteria, fit to specification, track record and cost effectiveness.

Funding

Total funding of £150k (indicative funding of £37·5k PA at 80% FEC) is available to run the ES4 Summer School, to be held annually for each of the following years: 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Application procedures and deadlines

Applications must be submitted using the Research Councils Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S) to Scheme 'Directed' and Call 'ES4 Summer School'.

To use this system, the applicant's Research Organisation must be registered as a Je-S user. Full details are available on the Je-S website. Further information can also be obtained by contacting the Je-S Helpdesk by email or by telephone on 01793 44 4164.

Applicants must ensure that their application is received by NERC by 16:00 on 28 January 2009. They should leave enough time for their application to pass through their organisation's Je-S submission route before this date. Any application that is received after the closing date, is incomplete or does not meet NERC's eligibility criteria will be returned to the applicant and will not be considered.

The Principal Investigator must submit form Je-SRP1 (NERC) detailing the financial request, together with a Case for Support and a Justification of Resources. All attachments submitted through the Je-S system, including the Case for Support, are to be completed in single-spaced typescript of minimum font size 11 point, Arial font, with margins of at least 2cm.

The Case for Support will have two parts:
Part 1 – Previous Track Record (in relation to managing similar activities - up to 2 sides of A4)
Part 2 – A Description of the Proposed Activity (up to 5 sides of A4). To include: summary, objectives, proposed school programme, proposed school logistics / organisation, timetable, proposed management plan (structure and participants responsibilities), measures of success, additional information.

The Justification of Resources should be completed as a separate section. Up to an additional 1 side of A4 may be used for this purpose. Example resources are as follows:

  1. Directly Incurred Staff costs (eg administrative staff, technical support, etc.)
  2. Directly Incurred T&S costs (eg T&S costs for guest lecturers / keynote speakers, accommodation costs for students, etc.)
  3. Directly Incurred Other (eg promotional material, teaching facilities – lecture theatre, computing facilities, consumables, etc., venue costs, etc.,)
  4. Directly Allocated Staff costs

Note: Students will be required to pay their own travel costs

Checklist

The following should be submitted to NERC via the Je-S system:

  1. Application Form (Je-SRP1 (NERC))

Attachments to include:

  1. Case for Support incorporating the Previous Track Record (up to 2 sides A4) and Description of Proposed Activity (up to 5 sides A4). NB: This is one attachment in the Je-S system.
  2. Justification of Resources (up to 1 side A4)
  3. Letters of support from any named Project Partners (up to 2 sides A4 each)

Please note that for joint applications the Previous Track Record, Description of Proposed Activity and Justification of Resources, should be common to all component parts of the application and are submitted by the lead organisation. Page limits are fixed regardless of the number of component Research Organisations.

Further information

Sophie Hodgson
Tel: 01793 418024

Related links

 

External links