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Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Research Challenges invites Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê academic staff, non-academic staff, students and alumni to suggest and comment on research themes at the . The aim is to inspire fresh new ideas for projects. A board composed of leading figures from academia and industry will review the best ideas and will award grants totalling £50,000 in seedcorn funding to the most promising. This is enough to get an idea off the ground - perhaps to a stage where a formalised project proposal can be put forward to research councils for full funding.

Professor Jo Wolff, head of Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Philosophy, is the chair of the Research Challenges Board. He said: "We are really looking forward to seeing people's ideas.Ìý Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê has great potential for interdisciplinary activities, and by opening this initiative up to everyone involved with the university, we are hoping to see where members of the community feel we should be concentrating our strengths."

The project is divided into two main stages. The first, which begins today, is to explore themes for research activity. These could be anything from the environment to political reform, nanotechnology to agriculture - whatever areas people believe Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê should be focusing on in the 21st century. The second stage, in a month's time, is to draw up a shortlist of themes and invite project proposals based around those themes.

Professor Wolff said: "This is a great opportunity for everyone to have their say in the future of research at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê. We have funds to support the best ideas that emerge, so it's well worth getting involved. Who knows - a vague idea in the back of someone's mind could turn out to be Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê's next great discovery!"

To find out more about Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê Research Challenges, follow the link at the bottom of this item.

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