Joint International Call for proposals, in the area of Rapid Climate Change

Call for Outline Bids

Closing Date: 15th December 2003

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The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research, the Research Council of Norway and the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council invite eligible Dutch, Norwegian and UK researchers to submit proposals to a 4 million Euros joint call for proposals in the area of rapid climate change.

The aim of the joint programme is to build on the substantial ongoing investments made by all three research councils on the science of rapid climate change, in pursuit of objectives that will benefit from a cross-national effort. Successful proposals will address rapid climate change (past, present, future) in the North Atlantic region, with a main focus on the role of the thermohaline circulation and related processes. Cross- disciplinary approaches are encouraged. It is a requirement that all proposals include significant participation from eligible researchers from at least two of the three countries (according to eligibility conditions of each participating nation).

Outline bids meeting these requirements are invited by 15 December 2003. Proposals for awards of up to four years' duration will be considered, with post-doctoral and studentship conditions in line with requirements of the host nation. As well as presenting a science case and estimated resource requirements, outline bids will give an indication of how the proposed work builds on or complements existing activities elsewhere, how a cross-national initiative will benefit the science proposed, and explain the relevance to strategic national programmes.

Outline bids will be considered by a committee with a membership agreed by the three participating research councils, on the basis of the strategic criteria outlined above and judgement of feasibility. The proposers of highly ranked outline bids will be invited to submit full research proposals, with suggestions for strategic modifications, if appropriate. A total of up to 4 million Euros is available for this call.

Outline-bid forms, guidance notes, schedules, information on ongoing relevant science activities in the UK, Norway, The Netherlands and beyond, and national contacts can be found at http://www.noc.soton.ac.uk/rapid/sci/Jointcall.php. To facilitate cross-national collaboration, a dedicated search facility is available on this website to assist potential bidders in identifying suitable co-workers. Potential bidders are invited to contribute to the database, through the website.

Further details about the joint call or existing activities can be obtained through the national contacts: Meric Srokosz, UK, tel. +44 (0) 23 8059 6414, e-mail mas@soc.soton.ac.uk; Fridtjof Mehlum, Norway, tel. +47 2203 7415, e-mail fme@rcn.no; Hans de Boois, The Netherlands, tel. + 31 (0) 70 3440752, e-mail boois@nwo.nl.

The closing date for submission of outline-bid proposals is 15th December 2003, to be submitted by e-mail on the outline-bid form to Andy Parsons (andy.parsons@nerc.ac.uk).