From	PJ Valdes, Geographical Sciences	Date	Fri, 21 Jan 2005 17:21:02 -0000
To	Keith Briffa, Eystein Jansen
CC	oyvind.paasche@geo.uib.no
Subject	Re: EU
Keith, It is purely a matter of resources, and since Simon will be doing the millenial stuff with the Hadley model within IMPRINT, and I think that probably my resources will be best focussed in some of the other work packages. But it is possible and I will try to do it if the opportunity arises. Cheers Paul --On 21 January 2005 17:12 +0000 Keith Briffa wrote: > Great Paul > but I still do not see , if we do get funded, why you can not do some > runs (in keeping with the wider hemisphere isotope records) that fit with > your wishes within IMPRINT. > > At 15:16 21/01/2005, PJ Valdes, Geographical Sciences wrote: >> Keith and Eystein, >> >> Thanks for your comments. Without modelling MILLENNIUM is a very much >> weaker project. I admit that I am attracted to doing something with them >> because I have wanted to get more involved in the last 1000 years, and >> it would be a good opportunity to run our new isotope enabled version >> of the Hadley model. >> >> However, IMPRINT is a much stronger project overall and and I also >> prefer the broader range of timescales offered by IMPRINT (although >> whether we have ended up being too broad is another issue). Given this >> and the other things discussed, I will decline the offer from Danny >> Carroll >> >> Best Wishes >> Paul >> >> --On 20 January 2005 22:24 +0100 Eystein Jansen >> wrote: >> >>> Hi Keith and Paul, >>> >>> I think Millennium might be a problem, but if the project does not >>> employ a hierarchy of models and have a comprehensive modelling >>> component it is hard to see how it fits the work program of the call. >>> We disussed this kind of situation in one of our first meetings and >>> agreed that we on an institutional basis should not be involved in >>> competing projects, and I think we need to re-emphasise this agreement >>> in our London meeting. I also gave Valerie the same opinion as some of >>> the people in her lab had been asked to join the McCarroll proposal >>> This said, it is clear that we have work to do with Imprint, we need to >>> scrutinize budgets and the size of the partnership, look at how we best >>> focus the science and give enough funds to the critical aspects. I do >>> hope that the Imprint partners remain loyal to the project and that we >>> keep it as intended: the best paleoscientists in Europe joined >>> together. Best regards, >>> Eystein >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> At 13:31 +0000 20-01-05, Keith Briffa wrote: >>>> Paul >>>> there is no doubt that Danny's project presents >>>> something of a problem for us. As far as I >>>> understand ,yes, it and IMPRINT are the only two >>>> contenders. I know (confidentially) that they >>>> have been criticised for not having any >>>> modelling . Danny approached Hans von Storch >>>> (and presumably others) , but Hans decided not >>>> to go with them . At the outset of our >>>> deliberations regarding IMPRINT , we did discuss >>>> the possibility that we would impose an >>>> exclusivity clause on participants - asking them >>>> to agree not to subscribe to any other project >>>> (I think Rick Battarbee had been involved in >>>> another project that did this) . Hence at least >>>> several of us , in the early (HOLCLIM) stage >>>> agreed to this - but it was never reinstituted >>>> after the project expanded to its present size. >>>> Personally , I worry that we are too large and >>>> possibly could be seen as not focused enough - >>>> but this is then hard to square with the recent >>>> referees' comments suggesting our geographic >>>> scope was too narrow! On paper , I believe the >>>> whole formulation and partnership of IMPRINT is >>>> superior to MILLENNIUM , but that did not stop >>>> me being interested when Danny asked me, some >>>> time ago , if I would also them. Like you , I do >>>> not wish to cut off possible fingers in possible >>>> pies - but I felt that I could not be formally >>>> included in both . >>>> The problem is that one has no idea which way >>>> the anonymous referees will view the judging >>>> criteria. Surely , in terms of scientific scope >>>> , our project is superior (though how well it >>>> ever works and how well we integrate in practise >>>> is any ones bet ). >>>> The bottom line as I see it is that as only one >>>> project can be funded , MILLENNIUM should still >>>> be seen as competition - with you as part of it >>>> , it would be much stronger competition. >>>> As for the funding - I know things are >>>> ill-defined at best at present. I do not think >>>> anything should be seen as rigid - though we >>>> certainly have too large a group . >>>> >>>> Don't know if this helps >>>> Keith >>>> >>>> At 12:47 20/01/2005, you wrote: >>>>> Keith, >>>>> >>>>> I've just tried to phone you but you were not in your office. >>>>> >>>>> I have been contacted by Danny Carroll and >>>>> invited to join his EU project MILLENNIUM. I >>>>> gather that this project has also passed the >>>>> first hurdle and, according to Danny, there are >>>>> only two such projects so I assume that >>>>> MILLENNIUM is directly competing against >>>>> IMPRINT. >>>>> >>>>> The modelling he wants me to do is different to >>>>> anything I will be doing for IMPRINT so there >>>>> is no scientific reason why I shouldn't say yes >>>>> to him, and of course it would also allow me to >>>>> keep a foot in both camps! However there are >>>>> clear political/strategic issues to consider >>>>> and I rate IMPRINT higher on my agenda, even >>>>> though (judging from the IMPRINT indictative >>>>> money which was very low for Bristol despite >>>>> having Colin, Sandy and myself involved) it >>>>> seems likely that the IMPRINT resources will be >>>>> very limited. >>>>> >>>>> Before I respond to him, I wanted to know if >>>>> you (or anyone else at UEA) are involved in >>>>> MILLENNIUM. From what I can see, it is very >>>>> close to your interests. If you are not, was >>>>> this because you wanted to focus entirely on >>>>> IMPRINT. >>>>> >>>>> Don't misinterpret this email. As I said, I do >>>>> see IMPRINT higher than MILLENNIUM. However, I >>>>> would just like more info before deciding how >>>>> best to respond to Danny. >>>>> >>>>> Cheers >>>>> Paul >>>>> >>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------- >>>>> Prof. Paul Valdes Tel: +44 (0) 117 3317 222 >>>>> School of Geographical Sciences Fax: +44 (0) 117 928 7878 >>>>> University of Bristol Email: P.J.Valdes@bristol.ac.uk >>>>> University Road Http: www.bridge.bris.ac.uk >>>>> Bristol BS8 1SS >>>>> --------------------------------------------------------------- >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Professor Keith Briffa, >>>> Climatic Research Unit >>>> University of East Anglia >>>> Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K. >>>> >>>> Phone: +44-1603-593909 >>>> Fax: +44-1603-507784 >>>> >>>> http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/people/briffa/ >>> >>> >>> -- >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Eystein Jansen >>> Professor/Director >>> Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research and >>> Dep. of Earth Science, Univ. of Bergen >>> Allégaten 55 >>> N-5007 Bergen >>> NORWAY >>> e-mail: eystein.jansen@geo.uib.no Phone: +47-55-583491 - Home: >>> +47-55-910661 Fax: +47-55-584330 >>> ----------------------- >>> The Bjerknes Training site offers 3-12 months fellowships to PhD >>> students More info at: www.bjerknes.uib.no/mcts >>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> -- --- >>> >> >> >> >> --------------------------------------------------------------- >> Prof. Paul Valdes Tel: +44 (0) 117 3317 222 >> School of Geographical Sciences Fax: +44 (0) 117 928 7878 >> University of Bristol Email: P.J.Valdes@bristol.ac.uk >> University Road Http: www.bridge.bris.ac.uk >> Bristol BS8 1SS >> --------------------------------------------------------------- > > -- > Professor Keith Briffa, > Climatic Research Unit > University of East Anglia > Norwich, NR4 7TJ, U.K. > > Phone: +44-1603-593909 > Fax: +44-1603-507784 > > http://www.cru.uea.ac.uk/cru/people/briffa/ > > --------------------------------------------------------------- Prof. Paul Valdes Tel: +44 (0) 117 3317 222 School of Geographical Sciences Fax: +44 (0) 117 928 7878 University of Bristol Email: P.J.Valdes@bristol.ac.uk University Road Http: www.bridge.bris.ac.uk Bristol BS8 1SS ---------------------------------------------------------------