From	Mike Hulme	Date	Sat May 18 17:25:51 2002
To	s.torok
Subject	In Tyndall
Simon, A version of this for In Tyndall please - you should add the relevant EPSRC web site if you can track it down. Mike _________________________________ EPSRC invests in adventurous ideas EPSRC is to establish an adventurous research fund. A total of £4.5 million has been earmarked for research projects that include a mixture of disciplines and as such may face barriers to selection under EPSRCs core research programmes. The pilot initiative will be launched with a call for outline proposals at the end of May. The closing date will be at end of July. Those successful at the outline stage will be asked to submit full proposals by December. The new funds principal novelty is an emphasis on funding people to work in other disciplines or between disciplines. EPSRC will fund any research project that falls within its centre of gravity. We are happy for it to be 49 per cent in another research council remit, so long as the majority is in the EPSRC remit, says Hylton. Equally, EPSRC has not capped how much money people can apply for. Another key difference is the way in which the proposals will be evaluated. It will be a two-stage process with outline proposals followed by full proposals. The outline stages of applying to the adventure fund are to be assessed anonymously. In addition, the initiative will have its own bespoke outline application form, proposal form and referees assessment form. EPSRC also hopes the initiative will go some way to changing UK research culture.