Research Councils UK (RCUK) are set to further extend the international reach of UK research with the launch of their third overseas office. The new US office, based in Washington DC, will work equally on behalf of all UK Research Councils to identify and facilitate new research collaborations with the US.
Both the UK and US are among the world's top research nations and both gain much through collaboration. The new office will help bring together some of the best minds from the two nations to produce research with substantially higher impact than that produced by either country alone.
Science and Innovation Minister Ian Pearson said: "Greater collaboration between the world's leading research nations is vital to produce innovative advances in science and research.
"With the opening of the RCUK's new Washington office, the benefits of UK-US collaboration will not only be felt by the scientific community but by the public who will benefit from collaborative science that seeks to solve the critical issues of the 21st century, such as climate change and ageing."
Among the successful UK-US collaborations already underway is a project to monitor the Atlantic Ocean's circulation - the process which is largely responsible for Europe's warm climate. As part of the UK Natural Environment Research Council's RAPID Climate Change Programme and the US National Science foundation's MOCHA project, the international team of scientists has deployed a unique instrument array across the Atlantic Ocean to record its salinity, temperature and density. This continuous monitoring provides early detection of changes in the Atlantic's circulation and is providing unprecedented observations of ocean variability.
Other successful collaborations include an international forum for stem cell research, a study of Earth's atmosphere from space, research for international development, a study of National and international policy environment for genomics, research on global immunisation, a space mission to provide 3D measurements of the Sun, and a scholarship that enables researchers to work with an international community of scholars at the Library of Congress, the world's largest library in Washington DC.
Helen Thorne, Director of RCUK Office in the US, said, "While the UK is already at the cutting edge of research, stronger links with the US will not only help us promote the UK as a world centre for research and innovation but will give us greater influence on the international research agenda. The US has the strongest and best resourced research system in the world and is a first choice partner for many of the UK's best researchers. The new office will promote the sharing of access to data, facilities and resources between the two nations."
Speaking on behalf of RCUK, Professor Ian Diamond said, "The Research Councils have recently stepped up their international activity and are doing a great deal to expand their international presence. This year alone has seen the launch of two international offices, one in China and this one in the US. We are also planning to open an office in India next year and aim to continue building on our already impressive international reach. "
- ends -
Notes
The official Launch of the RCUK Office in the US is taking on the 27 November 2007 at the British Ambassador's residence, Washington.
RCUK US Office website: http://usa.rcuk.ac.uk/
The work of the US Office underpins the RCUK international strategy, the international and research strategies of the UK Research Councils', and contributes to UK's "Strategy for International Engagement in R&D".
The Office is situated in the British Embassy in Washington DC and is co-located alongside the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Science and Innovation Network (SIN) team. The RCUK Office will work closely with the FCO S&I Network, including Consulate based teams, others such as UKTI and the British Council to align activities and present a joined up picture of UK research resources and expertise.
RCUK's other offices overseas are based in Brussels (UKRO) and China.
About Research Councils UK
The seven Research Councils are independent non-departmental public bodies, funded by the Science Budget through the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). They are incorporated by Royal Charter and together manage a research budget of over £2.8 billion a year.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the partnership between the UK's seven Research Councils. Through RCUK, the Research Councils work together to champion the research, training and innovation they support.
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Contact
Julia Short
RCUK Media Officer, Tel 01793 444435