CPPS News November 2010

Please feel free to distribute the newsletter to other members of your organisation.  If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk by 13 December 2010.
 

Content in Summary:

 
Events - InCrops Networking Event on Biolubricants (‘Oiling a Green Economy’): 16 Nov 2010, 16:30-18:30, Keystone Innovation Centre, Thetford IP24 1JD; CPPS lecture ‘Genetic and molecular studies of fruit development’, Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC:  25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 at the Dept of Plant Sciences, Cambridge CB2 3EA, followed by networking
 
Jobs - ADAS Crop Physiologist, deadline 15 Dec 2010; ADAS Head of Horticulture - deadline 16 Dec 2010
 
Funding Opportunities -upcoming TSB call; FP7 calls, deadline 25 Jan 2011
 
Miscellaneous - Seed Rate Calculator
 

Events

 
‘Biolubricants - Oiling a Green Economy’: InCrops Networking Event
Tue 16 Nov, 16:30 - 18:30, Keystone Innovation Centre, Thetford IP24 1JD
The event is for businesses interested in sustainable alternatives to petroleum derived lubricants and those involved in producing and selling lubricants. This event is FREE to attend.
Hear from Cliff Lea of Fuchs Lubricant about the use of biolubricants during construction of the Eden Project and from Simon Nash of Green Oil UK about his products and the benefits of their use in cycling.
Registration - to attend this event please contact Julia O’Rourke, InCrops events co-ordinator, by email j.orourke@uea.ac.uk or call 01603 591765 by noon Tuesday 16 November.
Showcase opportunities - if you produce products relevant to this event and are interested in showcasing them please contact Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, InCrops Business Innovation Manager, by email b.schlarb-ridley@uea.ac.uk or call 0777 8983612
Please do feel free to forward this invitation to any colleagues or contacts that you are working with where it would be appropriate. Further information about the event and the InCrops Project is available at www.incropsproject.co.uk/events.
 
Next CPPS Lecture: Cell fate specification guided by hormonal and genetic interplay during fruit development
Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC
25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 (followed by wine & nibbles)
Dept of Plant Sciences (Large Lecture Theatre), Cambridge CB2 3EA
Abstract: Mobile signals provided by hormones and morphogens are essential to organise multicellular structures. Despite detailed knowledge on the dynamics of specific hormones in specific cellular environments, not much is known about the interactions between different hormonal pathways or between hormonal and genetic events that lead to proper organ formation.
The Arabidopsis fruit provides an outstanding model system to study organ patterning and cell differentiation with dramatically different cell types located immediately next to each other. Work on Arabidopsis fruit development has been impressively successful in identifying key genetic regulators; however, the data clearly indicate that in order to get an integrated view of fruit patterning, it is necessary to understand the role of hormones in the process.
We use Arabidopsis and Brassica fruits as models to study how genetic and hormonal activities interact to form a complex organ. Results will be presented on the importance of both local hormone biosynthesis and distribution, on communication between tissues to coordinate growth and how these processes are controlled.
The lecture will be followed by networking over wine and nibbles; an excellent opportunity to connect with the speaker and other members from industry and academia!  
All welcome, no registration is necessary.

Jobs

ADAS are looking to employ two new members of staff:
Crop  Physiologist - deadline 15 Dec 2010
Head of Horticulture - deadline 16 Dec 2010
Please see further details.

Funding Opportunities

 
Upcoming TSB Call: Sustainable Agriculture, soft-launched at Innovate10, to open in 2011; one emphasis to be sustainable animal feed. We will bring you more information when it becomes available!
 
FP7 calls "Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnologies"
The primary aim in funding Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (FAFB) research under FP7 is to build a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) by bringing together all industries and economic sectors that produce, manage and exploit biological resources and related services, supply or consumer industries, such as food, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, etc. The theme is based on three activity areas:
- Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments
- Fork to farm: Food (including seafood), health and well-being
- Life Sciences and Biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes
Participation is open to a wide range of organisations and individuals from research institutes and universities to  SMEs and large companies. Essentially, any "legal entity" is eligible with different participation rules applying  depending on the research initiative in question. Generally, consortia require three legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries as a bare minimum.
The concrete plans for implementing the specific programmes are announced by the Commission in annual "Work Programmes" (WP), which include the schedules of "Calls for proposals" to be published during the year.

Work Programme 2011

Call title: KBBE 2011- general call for proposals
Call identifier: FP7-KBBE-2011-5
Date of publication: 20 July 2010
Deadline: 25 January 2011 at 17.00.00 (Brussels local time)
Indicative budget: € 240.27 million from 2011 budget
More information and the full work programme 2011 for this Cooperation theme 2 are available on the Cordis website.
 

Miscellaneous

Seed rate calculator
Apps with commercial application are likely to grow over the next couple of years with lots of potential for agriculture. For anyone interested in Apps for Apple ipod or iphone, this seed rate calculator might be of interest.
 
 
Members of CPPS have expressed interest in hearing of any other ideas people may have for useful apps. Please send any comments to bgs21@cam.ac.uk.
 
_____
If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, or to unsubscribe, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk (deadline for inclusion in next newsletter is 13 December 2010).

CPPS news October 2010

Please feel free to distribute the newsletter to other members of your organisation. If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk by 12 November 2010.

Content in Summary:

Events - These Young Minds: Conference on Sustainable Entrepreneurship: 28 Oct 2010, 16:00-19:30, LG17 of Law Faculty, Cambridge CB3 9DZ; InCrops Networking Event on Biolubricants (‘Oiling a Green Economy’): 16 Nov 2010, 16:30-18:30, Keystone Innovation Centre, Thetford IP24 1JD; CPPS lecture by Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC: 25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 at the Dept of Plant Sciences, Cambridge CB2 3EA, followed by networking

News - BIS announces £200m funding for Technology Innovation Centres

Funding Opportunities - upcoming and current TSB calls; deadline 17 Nov 2010; FP7 calls, deadline 25 Jan 2011

Events

Conference on Sustainable Entrepreneurship, organised by These Young Minds
Thu 28 Nov, 16:00-19:30, LG17 of Law Faculty, University of Cambridge 10 West Road, Cambridge CB3 9DZ
Sustainable Entrepreneurship involves developing a competence in using innovative ways to harness the opportunities that solving societal challenges provide while considering the short, medium and long term impact on all stakeholders. By doing this social and economic value will be created. The event Sustainable Entrepreneurship will provide delegates the opportunity to learn: • How to build social and business value • Communicate the need for transformation • How to become a catalyst for change and aligning incentives
To view the programme and register, please visit: http://www.theseyoungminds.co.uk/events/viewevent.php?view=3

‘Biolubricants - Oiling a Green Economy’: InCrops Networking Event
Tue 16 Nov, 16:30 - 18:30, Keystone Innovation Centre, Thetford IP24 1JD

The event is for businesses interested in sustainable alternatives to petroleum derived lubricants and those involved in producing and selling lubricants. This event is FREE to attend.
Hear from Cliff Lea of Fuchs Lubricant about the use of biolubricants during construction of the Eden Project and from Simon Nash of Green Oil UK about his products and the benefits of their use in cycling.
Registration - to attend this event please contact Julia O’Rourke, InCrops events co-ordinator, by email j.orourke@uea.ac.uk or call 01603 591765 by Tuesday 9 November.
Showcase opportunities - if you produce products relevant to this event and are interested in showcasing them please contact Beatrix Schlarb-Ridley, InCrops Business Innovation Manager, by email b.schlarb-ridley@uea.ac.uk or call 0777 8983612.

Please do feel free to forward this invitation to any colleagues or contacts that you are working with where it would be appropriate. Further information about the event and the InCrops Project is available at www.incropsproject.co.uk/events.

Next CPPS Lecture: Genetic and molecular studies of fruit development, Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC (http://www.jic.ac.uk/profile/Lars-Ostergaard.asp).
Thu 25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 at the Dept of Plant Sciences, Cambridge CB2 3EA, followed by networking.
All welcome, no registration is necessary.

News

BIS announces £200m for Technology Innovation Centres: read more at: http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/Detail.aspx?ReleaseID=416174&NewsAreaID=2.

Funding Opportunities

Upcoming TSB Call: Sustainable Agriculture, soft-launched at Innovate10, to open in 2011; one emphasis to be sustainable animal feed. We will bring you more information when it becomes available!

Current TSB calls: Open date: 12 October 2010 Close date: 17 Nov 2010 (variable)

Technology-Inspired Collaborative Research and Development
The core technology areas covered: Advanced Materials; Biosciences; Electronics, Photonics & Electrical Systems; High Value Manufacturing, ICT, Nanotechnology (£18m)
Further details can be downloaded from: http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/technology-inspired-collaborative-research-and-dev.ashx.

Manufacturing High Value Chemicals through Industrial Biotechnology
An indicative £2.5m is being invested to support feasibility and collaborative R&D projects. Collaborative R&D projects should be business-led consortia and include an end user. Feasibility projects may be business-led consortia or single companies.
Further details can be downloaded from: http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/manufacturing-high-value-chemicals-through-industr.ashx.

Genomes UK: Exploiting the Potential of High-Throughput Sequencing
The Technology Strategy Board is launching a collaborative R&D competition with up to £5 million available to invest in projects using genomics-based technologies. This initiative seeks to highlight the opportunities created by the decrease in cost and increase in speed in highthroughput sequencing technology. Projects should be business-led and seek to develop new products or processes.
Further details can be downloaded from: http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/genomes-uk-exploiting-the-potential-of-high-throug.ashx.

FP7 calls “Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnologies”
The primary aim in funding Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (FAFB) research under FP7 is to build a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) by bringing together all industries and economic sectors that produce, manage and exploit biological resources and related services, supply or consumer industries, such as food, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, etc.
The theme is based on three activity areas:
• Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments
• Fork to farm: Food (including seafood), health and well-being
• Life Sciences and Biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes

Participation is open to a wide range of organisations and individuals from research institutes and universities to SMEs and large companies. Essentially, any “legal entity” is eligible with different participation rules applying depending on the research initiative in question. Generally, consortia require three legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries as a bare minimum.
The concrete plans for implementing the specific programmes are announced by the Commission in annual “Work Programmes” (WP), which include the schedules of “Calls for proposals” to be published during the year.

Work Programme 2011

Call title: KBBE 2011- general call for proposals
Call identifier: FP7-KBBE-2011-5
Date of publication: 20 July 2010
Deadline: 25 January 2011 at 17.00.00 (Brussels local time)
Indicative budget: € 240.27 million from 2011 budget
More information and the full work programme 2011 for this Cooperation theme 2 are available on the Cordis website: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/kbbe/home_en.html.

If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, or to unsubscribe, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk (deadline for inclusion in next newsletter is 12 Nov 2010).

Vacancy for Postdoc

Postdoc (up to 4 yrs) statistical genetics for genomic selection

The work involves a challenging mix of statistical method development, implementation in software, experimental design and data analysis to make substantial contributions to ongoing field trials of barley. The post is based in UCL Genetics Institute in central London, with visits to collaborators in public research institutes and industry, based in Cambridge, Lincoln, Dundee and in France.

The post is funded by the EPSRC, under the Technology Strategy Board programme "New Approaches to Crop Protection".

For further details visit the UGI website (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/ugi/vacancies/)

Closing date Nov 5 2010

Vacancy for Managing Editor, The Plant Journal

Wiley Blackwell are looking to recruit someone with a PhD or equivalent in Plant Sciences (or similar) with an understanding of publishing to work as a Managing Editor for The Plant Journal. This is a prestigious journal and the Editorial Board are keen to get the best possible candidates for the role.

All the details and how to apply can be found here. Closing date is 11 October.

CPPS News September 2010

Please feel free to distribute the newsletter to other members of your organization.  If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk by 22 October 2010.
 

Content in Summary:

 
Funding Opportunities –upcoming TSB calls; deadline 17 Nov 2010; FP7 calls, deadline 25 Jan 2011
 
Events –CPPS lecture by Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC:  25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 at the Dept of Plant Sciences, Cambridge CB2 3EA, followed by networking
 
News –new CPPS website now live; BSPB Report on Economic Impact of Plant Breeding in the UK; Building work at NIAB; update on Agriculture’s Big Conversation: meeting on 14 Oct cancelled.
 

Funding Opportunities

 
Upcoming TSB calls: Open date: 12 October 2010. Close date: 17 Nov 2010 (variable)
 
Technology-Inspired Collaborative Research and Development

The core technology areas covered by this competition are: Advanced Materials; Biosciences; Electronics, Photonics & Electrical Systems; High Value Manufacturing, ICT, Nanotechnology. Up to £18m will be invested.

Further details can be downloaded from:
http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/technology-inspired-collaborative-research-and-dev.ashx
 
Manufacturing High Value Chemicals through Industrial Biotechnology

An indicative £2.5m is being invested to support feasibility and collaborative R&D projects.
Collaborative R&D projects should be business-led consortia and include an end user. Feasibility projects may be business-led consortia or single companies.
Further details can be downloaded from:
http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/manufacturing-high-value-chemicals-through-industr.ashx
 
Genomes UK: Exploiting the Potential of High-Throughput Sequencing

The Technology Strategy Board is launching a collaborative R&D competition with up to £5 million available to invest in projects using genomics-based technologies. This initiative seeks to highlight the opportunities created by the decrease in cost and increase in speed in highthroughput sequencing technology. Projects should be business-led and seek to develop new products or processes.
Further details can be downloaded from:
http://www.innovateuk.org/content/competition/genomes-uk-exploiting-the-potential-of-high-throug.ashx
 
FP7 calls "Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnologies"

The primary aim in funding Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (FAFB) research under FP7 is to build a European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy (KBBE) by bringing together all industries and economic sectors that produce, manage and exploit biological resources and related services, supply or consumer industries, such as food, fisheries, forestry, agriculture, etc.
The theme is based on three activity areas:

- Sustainable production and management of biological resources from land, forest and aquatic environments
- Fork to farm: Food (including seafood), health and well-being
- Life Sciences and Biotechnology for sustainable non-food products and processes

Participation is open to a wide range of organisations and individuals from research institutes and universities to SMEs and large companies. Essentially, any "legal entity" is eligible with different participation rules applying depending on the research initiative in question. Generally, consortia require three legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries as a bare minimum.
The concrete plans for implementing the specific programmes are announced by the Commission in annual "Work Programmes" (WP), which include the schedules of "Calls for proposals" to be published during the year.

Work Programme 2011

Call title: KBBE 2011- general call for proposals
Call identifier: FP7-KBBE-2011-5
Date of publication: 20 July 2010
Deadline: 25 January 2011 at 17.00.00 (Brussels local time)
Indicative budget: € 240.27 million from 2011 budget
More information and the full work programme 2011 for this Cooperation theme 2 are available on the Cordis website:  http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/kbbe/home_en.html
 
 
 

Events

 
Next CPPS Lecture

 Advance notice for your diaries: The next CPPS lecture will be given by Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC on 25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 at the Dept of Plant Sciences, Cambridge CB2 3EA, followed by networking. All welcome, no registration is necessary.
 
 

News

 
CPPS website

The re-designed CPPS website is now live; thank you to all those who have given their input. Please let us know if you find any bugs in your browser; since we did this in-house with a rather limited budget, it might still need perfecting! I hope you will find it useful.
 
BSPB report on Economic Impact of Plant Breeding in the UK

This BSPB report can now be downloaded from http://www.bspb.co.uk/documents/BSPB%20impact%20final%20report.pdf.
 
Building work at NIAB - Park Farm Glasshouses open for business

Ever wondered what all the building work at NIAB is about?
Here is a progress report on the first, now completed stage: The NIAB Park Farm Glasshouses. Further updates will follow. Contact kate.parsley@niab.com for more information!
 
"These eight state-of-the-art glasshouses are a superb start to NIAB’s long-term major capital redevelopment programme at our Cambridge site which will include a new fieldstation at Park Farm and a smaller but redeveloped footprint at Huntingdon Road," said NIAB Chief Executive Tina Barsby.
"The glasshouses are five metres high, but vary in length and technology installed depending on the specific crop requirements. Some glasshouses have been separated into stand-alone compartments, allowing different environmental conditions to be created. An on-site weather station connected to the glasshouse climate control system automatically regulates temperature and humidity," said NIAB’s Client Services Director John Hutchins who has overseen the development.
The 1,824 m2 glasshouse complex replaces the 1,712 m2 destined for demolition in 2010 at Huntingdon Road, a mile south of Park Farm over the main A14 road separating the entire NIAB site. "While there is little difference in the actual footprint of the glasshouses, the new facilities utilise the space more efficiently, for example with the moving benches, so the growing space is far greater. Other aspects include the supplementary lighting complemented by blackout blinds to reduce light pollution for nearby residents. One glasshouse has metal halide (mercury) lights. They provide a lighting regime with more blue suitable for some crops such as potatoes," explained John.
The original planning permission anticipated future site expansion with plans for a covered walkway linking all the glasshouses and extending the service building. Having developed the overall complex from a green field site, Dr Hutchins concluded the infrastructure and space for two further glasshouses and growth rooms is now in place and will allow further expansion as NIAB’s business grows.

New technology installed in the glasshouses includes:
• thermal and shade roof shades
• full blackout blinds
• fingertip control moving benches
• automatic irrigation
• aphid screens on the vents
• supplementary grow lighting of different intensities
• night-break lighting for manipulating plant growth and flowering
 
Update on Agriculture’s Big Conversation

Further to the update on Agriculture’s Big Conversation sent in the last newsletter, please note that the launch meeting to be held on October 14th at Stoneleigh Park has been postponed; new date tbc:  
'As I mentioned before, we have revised and upscaled the ambition of our plans as a result of the feedback we have had from across the industry. The meeting planned for October 14th is just going to come too quickly, therefore we are postponing it.'
Please therefore remove 14th October from your diary. Apologies for any inconvenience this causes, but we are sure that wider consultation with industry will yield much greater rewards in the long term.
We are delighted that great strides have already been made to get all the major industry organisations committed to collaborate on this issue and look forward to building on this great opportunity.’
For further information please contact: Ian Beecher-Jones, Project Manager
T: 01491 642 300; M: 07967 637 985; E: ian@beecherjones.com.


If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, or to unsubscribe, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk (deadline for inclusion in next newsletter is 22 Oct 2010).

Job opportunities - closing 10th September

Term Contract Employment and Training Opportunities

Limagrain UK Ltd is the UK operating company of the Field Seeds Division of Groupe Limagrain (Limagrain.com) the largest plant breeder and seed company in Europe. Limagrain UK Ltd (Limagrain.co.uk), the largest UK arable and forage crop seed company, offers a wide variety of challenging roles across a broad range of areas. The company is pleased to be able to offer two opportunities in its company’s R&D team to gain experience of working in a commercial plant breeding environment. Both roles are at our research station at Docking, near Fakenham in North Norfolk.

Double-Haploid Research Assistant:

This is a 12 month contract (with the potential for extension) in our Double-Haploid Laboratory for an individual, ideally with plant tissue culture experience, to launch a challenging research project in a well equipped DH facility. We are seeking a self motivated candidate with experience as a ‘bench based’ researcher. The successful applicant will have a tenacious approach to hands-on research with the ability to manage the project in collaboration with the Doubled-Haploid Laboratory Manager, Claire Newell. Good organization and time management skills, together with an aptitude for producing high quality and precise work, are required.

Assistant Plant Breeder: T

This is a 12 month contract within our pea and minor crops breeding team, resulting from a need to provide maternity cover, for an individual interested in pursuing a career in plant breeding. The role will be to support the team’s objective to breed commercial varieties, providing practical assistance in all aspects of a demanding field and glasshouse based program. The job will include opportunities to work in glasshouses and in all aspects of trials and nursery preparation, fieldwork and harvesting. Training in the use of equipment and machinery will be provided. The job requires an enthusiastic, adaptable and practical person with a good theoretical grounding in genetics and an eye for detail. The role will report to Will Pillinger, Pea and Minor Crops Breeder.

Applicants should have sound knowledge of plant science and genetics, and have completed formal relevant training to BSc, MSc or PhD level. They should also possess excellent communication skills, be computer literate and have the ability to produce verbal and written reports of their activities. Experience of plant tissue culture would be a strong advantage for the Doubled-Haploid Research Assistant role. A full driving license is required for the Assistant Plant Breeder role.

Applicants can contact as they feel appropriate for further information:

At Docking:
Claire Newell, claire.newell@limagrain.co.uk
Will Pillinger will.pillinger@limagrian.co.uk
Telephone 01485 518501

Or Thomas Jolliffe, R&D Manager, thomas.jolliffe@limagrain.co.uk
Telephone 07836 348364

Letters of formal applications should be submitted with CV by e-mail to:
Sandra Hatt
Personnel Officer
Limagrain UK Ltd
Rothwell
Market Rasen
Lincolnshire
LN7 6DT
sandra.hatt@limagrain.co.uk
Telephone 01472 370122

The closing date for applications is Friday 10 September 2010

Newsletter – August 2010

Please feel free to distribute the newsletter to other members of your organisation. If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk by 16 September 2010.

Content in Summary:

Jobs – ATC Biotech, short term position (Plant Tissue Culture Specialist; deadline 10 Sept).

Events – Biochar Lecture: 10 Sept, 12:00 at Rothamsted Conference Centre, AL5 2JQ; advance notice: CPPS lecture by Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC: 25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 at the Dept of Plant Sciences, Cambridge CB2 3EA, followed by networking

News – Industry Survey about Biology Degree Accreditation (Society of Biology); Building work at NIAB; update on Agriculture’s Big Conversation

Jobs

ATC Biotech - Plant Tissue Culture Specialist

ATC have a temporary position for one month initially (October), but are looking at recruiting a permanent position next year. Applicants need to be competent in: media making, sterile technique, handling bacterial strains, cutting leaf discs and shoots, and will need to carry out a small amount of plant husbandry. Salary will be approx. £19 - 21K pro rata. Please email susie.davenport@atcbiotech.com for further information.
The closing date for applications is 10 Sept 2010.

Events

Lecture and visit by Prof Santhanakrishnan from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University
Prof Santhanakrishnan is an authority on soil microbiology, biofuels and food microbiology from Tamil Nadu Agricultural University in India. He will visit Cambridge on Thu 9 Sept (am: University, pm: NIAB) and Rothamsted Research on Fri 10 Sept; the latter including a lecture:

Biofertiliser research and application in India
12:00, Friday 10th September 2010
Conference Centre, Rothamsted Research, AL5 2JQ
Prof Santhanakrishnan’s lecture is open to the general public but places are limited. If you wish to attend, or would like to meet Prof Santhanakrishnan either in Cambridge on 9 Sept or Rothamsted on 10 Sept, please contact Julia O’Rourke at j.orourke@uea.ac.uk or phone 01603 591 765 to reserve your place.

Next CPPS Lecture
Advance notice for your diaries: The next CPPS lecture will be given by Dr Lars Ostergaard, JIC on 25 Nov 2010, 16:00-17:00 at the Dept of Plant Sciences, Cambridge CB2 3EA, followed by networking. All welcome, no registration is necessary.

News

Society of Biology - Biology Degree Accreditation – Industry Survey
The Society of Biology is currently developing criteria to accredit biological science degrees that will enable business to select those graduates with high quality practical skills more easily. The Society is aiming to pilot an accreditation process in 2010-2011 and will announce its accreditation criteria later this year. The Society is currently seeking the views of businesses on accreditation via a brief online survey.
Please take a moment to complete the online Industry Survey on Accredited Degrees (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XR6TB67); it is an opportunity for your business' needs to shape an Accreditation Programme which aims to help employers identify those bioscience graduates with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for employment in today's bioscience-related industries.
Learn more about Degree Accreditation from the Society of Biology at http://www.societyofbiology.org/education/hei/accreditation. If you have any questions regarding the survey or Accreditation in general, Niamh Johnson (NiamhJohnston@societyofbiology.org) at the Society of Biology is happy to answer these.

Building work at NIAB

Ever wondered what all the building work at NIAB is about? Read all about it in the next CPPS newsletter, or contact Lydia.Smith@niab.com for more information if you can’t wait until then!

Update on Agriculture’s Big Conversation

In the June Newsletter you were introduced to Agriculture’s Big Conversation; here is an update:

We have to alert a new generation to the potential of an agriculturally related career. At the same time, the farming and related industries need an opportunity to “sell themselves” to new generations of young people as they enter the workforce or embark on the further education programmes that will prepare them for work on farms or in the businesses that buy from, sell to or provide services for farmers.

The revised initiative will comprise:

• A joint approach from all sectors of the industry led by NFU, Agricultural Industries Confederation and RASE;


• The creation and publication of material which promotes the entire chain including farms and their suppliers and buyers right through to food manufacture and marketing, as a career destination for young people and demonstrates the huge and varied career potential;


• Joining farmers and other in-chain businesses in a measured and manageable involvement in work experience tailored to the specific requirement of students;


• A programme to alert teachers and career advisors of the scope and potential of the farm and food industry and emphasises that such careers are high skill, high tech, high satisfaction and potentially high in rewards.

To achieve that, we believe that we must do more than just get work experience candidates on a farm for a few days where they see only part of what the industry has to offer and where, in many cases, it is difficult for the host farmer to manage the young person’s presence safely and positively.

Together, we plan to create a positive and bespoke work experience package for young people who express an interest in a farming related career. Such a programme needs co-ordinating and planning but it should not be beyond the capacity of the industry to do that. RASE and FACE have offered themselves as organisations prepared to take a central role in moving the concept forward. Others are coming on board. The initiative will be launched at a meeting to be held on October 14th at Stoneleigh Park. Another key date for your diary is the Careers in Agriculture Convention to be held at Stoneleigh Park on November 3-5th 2011.

For further information please contact: Ian Beecher-Jones, Project Manager
T: 01491 642 300; M: 07967 637 985; E: ian@beecherjones.com.

If you have any events, news or advertisements you would like to see included in the next newsletter, or to unsubscribe, please email bgs21@cam.ac.uk (deadline for inclusion in next newsletter is 16 Sept 2010).