Dear Colleague,

I have been advised by the NERC that there are a significant number of places left at their Radioactivity and the Environment (RATE) Brokerage Event happening on Monday 8 October in Bristol.

http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/rate/events/brokerage.asp

RATE is an £8m programme that aims to fund up to three consortium grants in order to deliver the RATE programme aims and objectives as defined in the Expert Group report (http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/programmes/rate/events/expert-report.asp).

The high priority science areas are:
– Improved knowledge of biogeochemical coupling including multiphase transport processes;
– Technological innovation for rock mass characterisation at a range of spatial scales;
– Learning from natural radioactive analogues and man-made contaminated environments (natural laboratories) to underpin models and assessments;
– Innovative approaches to ecosystem/food chain radionuclide uptake processes; for key radionuclide’s relevant to waste disposal facilities and contaminated land
– Improved understanding of effects of chronic exposure on plants and animals, and;
– As a cross-cutting theme: enhanced capabilities in model testing, scientific demonstration of robustness, and quantification of uncertainty.

There will be the opportunity of funding for up to twenty studentships tied to the consortium projects. The Announcement of Opportunity for the outline bid stage and the full bid stage will be published on 2 October 2012.

The aim of the brokerage event is to bring the community together to provide the background to the programme and the call, and also act as a networking opportunity for the community to form ideas for proposals to submit to the call.

If you think you have capabilities that may be relevant and would like to attend the event please submit an on-line registration form as soon as possible.

Regards,

Kevin.

Dr K M Smith
Theme Leader for the Energy & Environment Futures Programmes
Programmes Directorate
Science and Technology Facilities Council

kevin.smith@stfc.ac.uk
www.stfc.ac.uk/Business+and+Innovation/19415.aspx