CASS builds strong links with funding body

Professor Colin Reid, an environmental law specialist within the School of Law, has been reappointed to the Peer Review College of the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

His reappointment to the college, which plays an important role in deciding which applications are awarded support by the AHRC, brings the total representation from the University's College of Arts and Social Sciences to the Peer Review College to an impressive 11 members.

Other staff members include Professor Peter Kitson, Dr Andrew Roberts and Dr Aliki Varvogli from English, Dr Norrie MacQueen, a senior lecturer in Politics, Professor James Williams, Dr John Mullarkey and Dr Johanna Oksala from Philosophy, Professor Callum Brown FRSE from History and Pat Whatley and Caroline Brown from Archives.

'The AHRC is one of the major funding bodies and the Peer Review College plays a very important role in its work,' said Professor Reid.

'College members review applications submitted to the AHRC's various schemes for supporting research and provide an assessment that informs the panel that ultimately decides whether or not an application will be awarded support.'

'The fact that we are so well represented highlights the level of expertise operating within the College of Arts and Social Sciences. It also gives us a valuable insight into the workings of the AHRC, what they are looking for in terms of research projects and the kinds of applications more likely to succeed.'

Margaret Teven, head of Marketing and Business Development within the College of Arts and Social Sciences, added that the strong Dundee representation on the Peer Review College was of growing importance in an age of greater competition for research funding.

'Competition is very tough so building strong links with the AHRC and making sure that Dundee is very much on its radar becomes more vital.

'The AHRC has visited the University three times in the last three years and talked to a number of staff at both a strategic and operational level. They have been able to give advice about the funding process and the best way to compose research submissions which is obviously very valuable for staff here.'

The AHRC is one of seven Research Councils in the UK. Each year Research Councils invest around £2.8 billion in research covering the full range of academic disciplines from medical and biological sciences to drama and dance.