In brief

The EPSRC has invited expressions of interest from people with outstanding and internationally recognised academic credentials in a relevant aspect of e-Science research for a new appointment at the heart of the UK’s e-Science core programme research effort. The appointment will be made on the conditions used for EPSRC senior research fellows and will be full time for five years. Applications must be in by 10 November. 

Five research projects funded by the European Commission’s sixth framework programme have been launched in London, UK. All projects are co-ordinated by UK-based researchers, including the European food information resource (EuroFIR). EuroFIR will work over the next five years on building and disseminating a comprehensive, coherent and validated databank to provide a single, authoritative source of food composition data in Europe for nutrients, and newly emerging bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.   

Mark Weller, head of structural and materials chemistry the University of Southampton, UK, has secured a ?110 000 grant from the EPSRC for a public awareness project to tell the story of colour and pigments. It will cover the history of colour in painting (cave art to contemporary) to the development of pearlescent and iridescent colours for cars and futuristic pigments which employ nanotechnology to change colour. Weller’s team will develop displays for museums and devise hands-on activities for science centres and art galleries.   

The MRC and the Institute of Child Health at University College London, UK, have announced a partnership to establish a centre for research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting children’s health. The MRC centre of epidemiology for child health, based in London, is due to open in March 2006. The MRC has awarded ?1.62 million of funding for the centre.