The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), along with the other UK research councils, has launched a draft 2010 RCUK Large Facilities Roadmap for consultation.

The purpose of the consultation is to seek the views of the community on:

• the overall balance of activities represented;
• the strategic importance of these facilities to the UK;
• emerging opportunities not covered in this draft.

The outcomes of the consultation, in addition to other inputs and factors, will be used by the Research Councils to inform the future support of facilities. The final version of the Roadmap will be published in early 2010.

This consultation will have particular relevance for the Science and Heritage community who have access to a number of these facilities.

Full details can be seen at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/resinfra/lfroadmap.htm

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Media contact: Jake Gilmore, Communications Manager AHRC, j.gilmore@ahrc.ac.uk  Tel: 07970994586

About Arts and Humanities Research Council: Each year the AHRC provides approximately £102 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Arts and humanities researchers constitute over a quarter of all research-active staff in the higher education sector. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK