The Technology Strategy Board and EPSRC invite applications to a sandpit focussed on achieving energy efficiency in new and existing non-domestic buildings through human factors research and user centred design. The focus of the sandpit is creating project ideas with potential for commercial value. The five day interactive workshop (sandpit) will be held at Bailbrook House near Bath from 15-19 March 2010. The Technology Strategy Board has allocated £2m to fund industry led collaborative research arising from the sandpit. Additional funding from the EPSRC may be available for projects where there is a significant high-quality academic component and that demonstrate added value to the EPSRC portfolio, by building on or complementing existing research programmes.
The challenge of reducing energy demand in buildings requires an innovative and multidisciplinary approach. The aim of this sandpit is to bring together a varied group of up to 30 individuals from industry and academia who will be expected to work together to develop collaborative research proposals. Individuals from practitioner and expert camps are encouraged to apply. The first are individuals working in the buildings industry. The second are individuals who are experts from commercial companies and academia with expertise in for example, design, psychology, social science, ergonomics, engineering, architecture, arts and humanities, action research, user centred design, customer focussed products, human factors, human-computer interaction, consumer testing and post occupancy evaluation.
Places at the sandpit are allocated through a competitive process. Applicants will need to complete a two page application form (see further information). Once selected to attend, the sandpit will be a collaborative activity and will result on the fifth day in the commitment of funding ‘in principle’ for consortium research projects developed by the participants.
Applications are welcomed from industry and academia and from both practitioners in the built environment and experts in user centred design. Industrial applicants should ensure that their companies are ready, willing and able to engage in a collaborative project before applying.
Closing date: 12:00 Thursday 17 December 2009
Further Information: Full details of the call and application procedure (which is not via Je-S) can be found at the Technology Strategy Board website.