cc: f.matthies
date: Tue Jul 29 12:38:54 2003
from: Mike Hulme <m.hulme@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: Research Council funding bid: Environment and Health
to: "Nicky Warren" <nwarr@nerc.ac.uk>

   Dear Nicky,
   Thank you for this.
   We are indeed interested in the climate change related aspects of the agenda you are
   identifying.  We are keen to give greater prominence in the Tyndall Centre to the health
   dimension of climate change and to this end we are engaging with the MRC in the lead up to
   our business plan for Tyndall Phase 2 (we wish to explore whether the MRC would join the
   funding consortium post-2005).  We are also meeting in September with Ros Rouse in the ESRC
   about aspects of our agenda.
   I have asked one of my team - Franziska Matthies - to respond to your invitation and she
   should do so before the 11 August (I will then be on leave).  Franziska is helping us
   develop our ideas in this area.
   So thank you for your approach and I hope we can remain in contact as these ideas develop.
   Regards,
   Mike
   At 14:18 25/07/2003 +0100, you wrote:

     Dear Mike,
     Louisa Watts suggested that you might be able to have some input into
     a theme on "Environment and Health" which NERC is considering
     including in its portfolio of bids to the next government spending
     review.
     Background
     Environment and Health is likely to become a priority area for NERC
     over the next few years which is why we are considering including this
     theme as part of our portfolio of bids to the 2004 spending review.
     Our bids need to be received by the Office of Science and Technology
     in late autumn this year, but in the first instance it will be
     considered in a joint Research Councils meeting in September. I am
     co-ordinating the development of the Environment and Health  theme for
     this meeting.
     How you could help
     Any comments you have on this theme would be very helpful,
     particularly in terms of:
     * science areas that should be covered in this theme and why they are
     important
     * which parts of the theme we should be placing emphasis on (as
     particularly important research issues, scientifically and/or
     strategically)
     * why this research is timely and why the UK should be doing it
     * how the UK might exploit the results
     * if there are any fields in particular in which we need more trained
     people
     * what realistic outputs/outcomes we should be aiming for
     * how much investment might be needed (including any major capital
     items/infrastructure that you think would be needed)
     I've attached a copy of the current outline which was developed
     initially by NERC and MRC as a first attempt.  I appreciate this is
     holiday season but if you are able to comment, it would be very
     helpful to have your ideas by 11th August. Developing this theme will
     be an iterative process until the final bid is submitted in the
     autumn, however, so any comments you sent me past this date would
     still be useful.

     Many thanks,
     Best wishes
     Nicky Warren
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     Dr Nicky Warren
     Terrestrial and Freshwater Sciences Manager
     Natural Environment Research Council
     Polaris House
     North Star Avenue
     SWINDON SN2 1EU
     United Kingdom
     +44 (0)1793 411588 (Direct Line)
     +44 (0)1793 411545 (Fax)
     email: nwarr@nerc.ac.uk
