date: Thu Jun  2 17:34:28 2005
from: Phil Jones <p.jones@uea.ac.uk>
subject: Re: future
to: Anders Moberg <anders@misu.su.se>

    Anders,
        This sounds a bit like Tim's. UEA had to suggest subjects with someone in mind,
    then it was open for everyone to apply - provided they had 2-3 yrs of research money
    available. Ridiculous system - Tim is still in discussions with two others appointed this
    way in ENV with both ENV and UEA !
        I'm off at the weekend for Bern. I get back on June 10 and will be at the Wymondham
    bus stop at 18.40 on June 12 for your arrival. I hope this is the correct time. Ruth and
    I are looking forward to your visit.
        I will try and write a few sentences whilst away on the subject of the last
   millennium.
    IPCC won't come to a conclusion on this for their 2007 report, that's for sure. There are
    a number of new millennial curves coming along every few months these days. I heard
    today that Ed Cook has a new one with Esper, Jacoby and D'Arrigo a new one. At least
    4 papers that show where MM went wrong in their analyses and one that has reproduced
    MBH98. Keith has to summarize all this for IPCC !
        In my chapter, we are expecting to finally sort out the MSU issue. I say we here, not
    meaning CRU, but science in general. It seems that Spencer and Christy have made
    mistakes and they admit them. Keep this under your hat until something comes out.
    This will mean that the millennium will be one of the few major issues the skeptics will
    still be able to have a go at. They won't like the MSU resolution, so this will likely
   take
    the most of any flak that IPCC will get.
       In the meantime, how has your Nature work gone down in Sweden?  Going for this
    subject could be a double-edged sword depending who is on the committee. There are
    some who think it is a non-issue and some who think it is vitally important. I could write
    something along the lines of working towards improving the records, and removing doubts
    that it is warmer now than it's ever been. There is also some links to the 17-19th
   centuries
    and the early instrumental data. It's not just paleo.
        Keith thinks Millennium has been funded. Have you heard anything?
    Cheers
    Phil
   At 14:20 02/06/2005, you wrote:

     Phil,
     I would like to have your opinion about a possible research topic to be suggested to the
     Swedish Research Council before June 30. This is their deadline for submitting suggested
     topics for 6-year senior researcher positions at Swedish universities. They announce a
     handful of such research positions every year, and each time it is open to suggest the
     topics. The positions are then announced and anyone can apply for them. I guess Tim has
     had an equivalent postion through NERC. The topics could be in any science. For example,
     this year they announced positions in such disparate subjects as Combinatorics, Complex
     plasmas, Biochemisty and biophysics of membrane proteines, etc. I did apply myself for
     one called "Correlation and calibration of late-Quaternary timescales". The decision on
     who will get the jobs will be taken sometime this autumn.
     Now, the Research Council wants new subjects for the next year's announcement. I
     remember that you said, when you were here in Stockholm, that the question of climate
     variability in the last millennium will not be solved at the time of the next IPCC
     report. So, perhaps this could be a topic to suggest.
     The main reason for my interest in this is because I would like to see a position
     announced that I can apply for myself !! So, the idea is that will I prepare a text
     (with a title and short motivation) and then give this text to some leading person at
     the Stockholm University, who will then submit the suggestion to the Research Council.
     If the topic will be accepted (in competition with all fields of science), it will be
     announced in March next year.
     So - could you think of a good title of such a topic? And, moreover, could you give some
     short motivation for it. The motivation should be written such that it "can be read and
     understood by scientists in other disciplines. Motivate the aim of the subject, either
     for renewal or recruitment"
     " 1. Renewal . The research area shall be of international importance and/or rapidly
     growing with relatively small activity in Sweden. Indicate the most outstanding
     international research environments. In case Swedish environments exist, at most three
     of these should be mentioned. The importance for science and/or society of the Swedish
     research environments may be described briefly"
     " 2. Recruitment. The proposal shall aim at strengthening an existing Swedish research
     environment. Describe shortly the scientific and/or societal importance of the Swedish
     research environments. At most three of the Swedish research environments should be
     mentioned. Some of the most distinguished international environments may also be
     mentioned"
     Any idea? I realize that you cannot say too much about the Swedish research
     environments, but if you could think of a title and a general motivation, I would be
     happy if you could write some words about this back to me.
     Cheers,
     Anders

   Prof. Phil Jones
   Climatic Research Unit        Telephone +44 (0) 1603 592090
   School of Environmental Sciences    Fax +44 (0) 1603 507784
   University of East Anglia
   Norwich                          Email    p.jones@uea.ac.uk
   NR4 7TJ
   UK
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