Crucible

What could you achieve if you put your heads together?

Ever wondered what a space scientist and a biologist might have in common or how an artist could help a particle physicist? Crucible 2008 is your chance to stop wondering and discover what great minds, inspiring speakers and creative thinkers can do when they spend three weekends together.

Day to day you're faced with demanding challenges in your own field. But what about the wider world? What about more complex challenges that can't be solved by one discipline alone. By bringing bright thinkers together, Crucible 2008 is designed to help you see the bigger picture.

Crucible 2008 aims to help you discover:

• how other early-career researchers are tackling the same issues as you;
• where the real power in science decision-making lies;
• ways of getting the best out of your students or your team;
• skills and attitudes likely to make your research more innovative;
• how thinking creatively can really make a difference to your work and career.

The challenges facing society today require people from different disciplines to collaborate and think outside the box. Crucible 2008 is just the start.

Venues and dates for 2008

26 – 28 April 2008
New Hall, Cambridge. This includes a day at Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, and a Monday evening reception and dinner in London.

25 – 27 July 2008
Pollock Halls, University of Edinburgh.

19 – 21 September 2008
West of England.

Labs 2 and 3 will start on Friday afternoon and finish on Sunday afternoon. Lab 1 will start on Saturday afternoon and finish on Monday night, with participants leaving on Tuesday morning if necessary.

We'll pay for all residential costs, including accommodation, catering, travel costs and other reasonable costs, such as childcare.