British Library Roadshows - Service Updates for Researchers

British Library will be running roadshows for those in higher education in various locations throughout May 2009

Five roadshows will takeplace in Manchester, Nottingham, Dublin, London and Bristol with the aim of updating researchers on the future of the BL’s document supply services, the Electronic Thesis Online System (EThOS), the UK Research Reserve and Project Gateway.

For more information see: www.bl.uk/reshelp/atyourdesk/docsupply/new/heroadshows/index.html

UK chemists warn of funding crisis

Senior researchers have warned that a sharp drop in the number of research grants awarded this year risks damaging UK chemistry. Young chemists applying for first-time grants have suffered most under widespread changes to the funding strategy of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).........

Click the link below for more information:

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2008/October/20100801.asp

Report on Information Literacy for researchers

Developing the personal, professional and career management skills of researchers is currently high on the agenda in the UK’s higher education sector. Alongside training in generic and transferable skills, there have been increased efforts to provide training in information seeking and information management across the country.

The University of Nottingham, in particular, has been busy recruiting Research Centre Managers for several of its Schools; has developed several of its post graduate taught master programs to include modules on 'research skills'; and has been harnessing the training services offered by its 'Information Service' with Course Leaders requesting training 'on demand', embedding it within modules or by directing students to the courses already supplied by Information Services under the Graduate School's training programme.

In July 2008, the 'Research Information Network' published a report on information handling skills for researchers, entitled 'Mind the Skills Gap' . The RIN report has found that provision across the country is uncoordinated and generally not based on any systematic assessment of needs. The full report, together with further background reading is available to download in PDF at http://www.rin.ac.uk/training-research-info.

If you have any ideas or thoughts on what more needs to be done at Nottingham, please add your comments/feedback now!