Department of CS newsletter

The UK government has recently updated its guidance for ‘Trusted Research’ which aims to get the most out of international collaboration whilst protecting intellectual property, sensitive research and personal information.
 
The Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) has produced its latest advice and guidelines in consultation with the sector and has published this in an accessible format online. The information covers important subjects such as personal data, research data, export controls, intellectual property and cyber security. It is particularly relevant to researchers in STEM subjects, dual-use technologies, emerging technologies and commercially sensitive research areas but we would encourage all of our academic leaders to familiarise themselves with this information and to please share it with colleagues.
 
In addition to the ethical framework surrounding research, we are operating in an increasingly complex international and regulatory environment and as a university and individuals we need to make sure we are complying with the relevant Government legislation.
 
We know that this can frequently seem like an additional burden to our colleagues so we are working on our University’s response to this.
 
Over the coming months we will be taking forward a number of activities to strengthen, streamline and improve the accessibility of guidance materials and support arrangements in relation to international research activities. We will shortly make some more announcements about export controls and associated travel and visitor requirements.
 
The University is committed to providing an effective support environment for our international activities. We will do so in the context of the University’s global influence (one of the University’s new strategic themes) to increase activity in an international context and address global challenges.
 
While we cannot alter the fact that our vital international work is increasingly complex, we will do everything we can to make meeting these essential requirements as simple as possible.

David Barker (Director of Compliance & Risk) and Andrew Walsh (Director of Research and Business Engagement)
For further information contact sarah.chatwin@manchester.ac.uk

Further information that has been published on the EPSRC website.  This provides an overview of the changes and what this means for the EPSRC assessment process:
https://epsrc.ukri.org/files/funding/change-to-pathways-to-impact-epsrc-external-briefing/
And follows on from the further supplementary information that UKRI released on their website last week: https://www.ukri.org/news/pathways-to-impact-research-councils-call-specific-guidance-now-available/

EPSRC web-pages are being updated and we are working closely with UKRI to ensure that this is done as quickly as possible.

Event:  05-Mar-2020 (11am-1.15pm), Room F41, Sackville Street Building
 
Colleagues from The Royal Society will hold an open meeting at the University. The event will include a presentation on the Society’s funding portfolio, advice on preparing a successful application and perspectives on applying for and receiving RS funding from two University Research Fellowship holders from Manchester. There will also be the opportunity for a question and answer session with the RS team and informal discussion.
 
To register for this event please visit the link below.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/royal-society-open-meeting-tickets-94628782235

Party kicks off at 4.30pm with drinks, snacks and music. See attached file.

https://www.ukri.org/news/calls-launched-to-strengthen-best-practice-and-explore-new-approaches/

UKRI announced two pilot calls to trial streamlined application processes. The calls, led by EPSRC and NERC are part of an approach they are exploring of ways to reduce administration for applicants engaging with UKRI and will identify and pilot new approaches designed to improve the experience of applicants. The two calls are:

EPSRC New Horizons
EPSRC’s £10M New Horizons fund will support up to 50 highly transformative research projects across mathematics and the physical sciences. The projects will be funded via a streamlined process, with a focus on the transformational potential of the research. Applications will be invited up to a value of £200k for 2 years, without costing required in the application. The proposal paperwork submission will only consist of an anonymous four-page case for support, with a further two pages outlining the team’s ability to deliver. Successful projects will provide detailed costings after a decision has been made.

NERC Pushing the Frontiers of Understanding £10M pilot to fund successful proposals at the level of award to facilitate ground-breaking discovery over 3-4 years. NERC will fund projects via a streamlined process, with focus on the proposed transformational research (five pages), and the skills and track record of the individual (two pages). Successful proposals will be asked for a justification of resources after a decision has been made. Proposals are welcomed across the environmental science remit.

Full guidance will be available when the calls are published in the coming weeks on the EPSRC and NERC websites.

Deadline: 15-Apr-2020
 
These grants are awarded to support visits for collaborative research at the interface of mathematics and computer science, either by the grant holder to another institution within the UK or abroad, or by a named mathematician from within the UK or abroad to the home base of the grant holder.
 
The maximum award is £1,000. Up to an additional £200 may be claimed over £1,000 to cover childcare costs which are additional to normal childcare costs.
 
For more details and to download an application form, see https://www.lms.ac.uk/grants/computer-science-small-grants-scheme-7. Please send enquiries to lmscomputerscience@lms.ac.uk.
 

Sandpit event: 06 March at Digital Catapult, London
Deadline: 30-April-2020

https://not-equal.tech/call-for-collaborations/
The EPSRC funded Social Justice through the Digital Economy Network Plus, aka Not-Equal, is pleased to announce their 2nd Call for Collaborative Proposals. Projects can be up to 8 months in length, starting 01-Sep-2020 and applicants can request up to £40k (80% FEC claimable).

We are seeking innovative cross disciplinary projects from UK Higher Education Institutions in partnership with one or more non-academic entities.
Projects should align with our Not-Equal Challenge Areas:
• Algorithmic Social Justice
• Digital Security for All
• Fairer Futures for Business and Workforces
And should also respond to our Second Call Key Topics:
• Recognition
• Redistribution
• Enablement and Radical Trust
• Proactive Resilience and Reparation
• Accountability and Care

Need help finding collaborators?
- Catalyst - Online Matchmaking Tool
- Sandpit Events -The one day Sandpit Events will bring together partners from across the Not-Equal network, with the aim to facilitate collaborations, drive innovation and lay the foundations for potential research projects.
- Virtual Q&As - three sessions on 12, 18 and 24 March 2020 to enable applicants to ask any questions about the application and review process. Login details coming soon.
- ECR Writing Surgery -giving Early Career Researchers (ECRs) practical writing advice and provide training in the art of grant writing. This two hour workshop will take place on 19 March 2020 at Newcastle University and can also be attended virtually. To register your interest please email notequal@newcastle.ac.uk

Prof Steve Furber is quoted in a piece from the New Statesman, discussing the outcomes of two reports he led for the Royal Society on computer science in British schools. Both reports found a severe lack of specialised training among staff, and the second report – launched after a government shake-up of computing education – found a drop in students taking the new course. The two reports led to the announcement in 2017 of £100 million of investment in a National Centre for Computing Education.

CEAS will be hosting two City of Trees planting days this year. See advert.