About the European Research Council Scientific Council
The European Research Council (ERC) is the premier European funding organisation for frontier research. UK-based researchers continue have access to ERC funding post-Brexit because the UK is associated with the Horizon Europe programme. There are 2,231 ERC grants based in the UK, worth more than 4 billion Euros.The ERC’s Scientific Council comprises eminent scientists and scholars, including Professor Harriet Bulkeley from our Department of Geography.
About the visit
The ERC Scientific Council meets every two months, but this was the first time it has met in the UK since the ERC was established by the European Union in 2007.As well as formal business of the Council, delegates were introduced to ERC-funded research at Durham, toured laboratories and facilities, and experienced our city and region.
A roundtable discussion involving university vice-chancellors, ERC leaders, and other higher education and research executives was joined online by Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation.
ERC-funded Durham research showcased during the visit spanned quantum physics, classics, archaeology, climate change, psychology, and more. One focus was the Leverhulme Centre for Algorithmic Life, a new research centre that will explore how humans interact with algorithmic technology.
Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Karen O’Brien, who chaired the round table, reflected that ERC funding plays a critical role in allowing Durham and other UK universities to advance scientific discovery and collaborate across borders.
Discover ERC-funded research at Durham, led by Professor Simon Cornish , Professor Lynda Boothroyd , Professor Eric McClymont , Professor Dan Lawrence , Professor Hannah Brown , and Professor Marko Nardini.
The Palatine Centre
Durham University
Stockton Road
Durham
DH1 3LE
