Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award

The Deutscher Arbeitskreis für angewandte Spektroskopie (DASp, or German Working Group for Applied Spectroscopy) seeks nominations for the 2005 Bunsen–Kirchhoff Award for Analytical Spectroscopy.

The award recognises outstanding contributions to the field of applied spectroscopy of atoms and molecules, preferably the work of younger scientists. The life’s work of a scientific personality can be recognised as well. The award consists of an award document, €2500 sponsored by PerkinElmer GmbH and travel expenses to the CANAS ’05 in Freiburg, scheduled for March 2005, where the prize will be presented.

Nominations can only be made by members of the DASp, but the award is open to any scientist meeting the requirements. Self-nomination is not allowed. The decision as to whom the prize is to be awarded will be made by a jury consisting of the current members of the board of the DASp.

The nominating documents should include: letter with the candidate’s accomplishments with a list of publications or recent work; scientific curriculum vitae stating the age of the candidate, the candidate’s address, phone, fax and e-mail.

All documents should be sent no later than 30 November 2004 to: Professor Dr-Ing. Hugo M. Ortner, Chemische Analytik, FB Material- u. Geowissenschaften, TU Darmstadt, Petersenstr. 23, D-64287 Darmstadt, Germany. Tel: +49-6151-16-6309, Fax: +49-6151-16-6378, e-mail: n.ortner@hrzpub.tu-darmstadt.de.

European Research Council

The heads of Europe’s research organisations have agreed on the key principles for the foundation of a European Research Council (ERC). The ERC could be the vehicle for the funding of basic research under the 7th Framework Programme (FP), and with the Council of Ministers to issue a detailed resolution in November, which will then be incorporated into the preparations for the 7th FP in 2005, the time is right.

The principles are set out in a document produced by the current 37 presidents of research organisations from 20 European countries, which declares that the concept of an agency to support basic research, a European Research Council, must form a cornerstone of the European Research Area. The ERC is intended to help secure Europe’s competitive global position in science and research. A future ERC must include all areas of research, i.e. the humanities and social sciences as well as the natural sciences, medicine and engineering.

Furthermore, a future ERC must have a constitution establishing its authority to act autonomously and to develop its own criteria for structures, procedures and decisions, independent of the European Commission and of government agencies. The sole criterion for funding decisions by the ERC must be scientific excellence, determined on the basis of a peer review system by highly respected, well-established experts. christoph. muehlberg@dfg.de

Fingerprinting air

A research team at the University of Leicester, UK, has developed a mass spectrometry based technique to analyse a range of substances in air in less than a minute. Drs Paul Monks and Andrew Ellis have modified a mass spectrometer, combining a proton-transfer reaction with time-of-flight MS.

The method was developed to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air for urban pollution monitoring, but they see a range of other applications, including release of VOCs from decomposing bodies to locate them under ground and breath monitoring, where naturally-produced VOCs may be a rapid indicator of certain illnesses. p.s.monks@le.ac.uk, ame2@ le.ac.uk.

Proteomics funding

£11.5m under the Structural Proteomics of Rational Tagets Iniative (SPoRT) has been made by the UK’s BBSRC life sciences research funding agency to the Membrane Protein Structure Initiative and to the Structural Proteomics Facility.