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July 2004

Sigma Xi International Newsletter
Volume 3, Number 7
July 2004

This monthly electronic bulletin is designed to keep subscribers updated on developments in Sigma Xi’s international activities as well as provide links and topics of interest to researchers around the world. To submit an item to the newsletter, contact the Manager of the International Program at international@sigmaxi.org. You can also download and print a PDF version of this issue. To subscribe to this monthly newsletter, please use this online form.

Past Issues

In This Issue

European Union Plans to Facilitate Research
In an effort to become the “most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy by 2010,” the European Union (EU) continues to introduce new initiatives under the European Research Area (ERA). The EU projects that its goal to increase research and development spending to a level of 3% of the gross domestic product (GDP) by 2010 will create a need for more than 600,000 new researchers. The “Marie Curie Actions” comprise a comprehensive program to address the mobility and training of researchers and attract international talent, thereby decreasing European brain drain and meeting the anticipated need for additional researchers.

On 30 June, the European Network of Mobility Centres (ERA-MORE), made up of more than 200 centers, was officially unveiled. These centers offer free assistance to researchers in all aspects of their professional and personal lives, providing practical information on vital topics such as housing, work permits, health care, taxes, schooling, day-care and language courses. A pan-European Researcher's Mobility Portal launched in 2003 also offers valuable information online.

In addition, the European Commission is moving towards the creation of a special residency permit for researchers coming from outside the EU. Not only will this permit allow the non-EU researcher to move freely within the EU, but it also will not require the applicant to return to his/her home country in order to renew it. The permit will cover fellowships, scholarships, and traineeships for “qualified individuals in the knowledge and innovation process.” Hosting organizations will be required to certify applicants' eligibility, and an expedited process will require authorities to issue the special residency permit within 30 days of application submission. The officials at the EU Research Directorate-General are well-aware of the timeliness of these measures and hope to capitalize on the recent mobility difficulties international researchers have been experiencing, particularly when trying to enter the US. [Sources: RTD info; and Marie Curie Actions Web site]

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Career Resources
Looking for a career change? Helping students or young researchers investigate different professions or navigate their career paths? There is a lot of free information available on the Internet, and here we profile a few useful sites for students and professionals. Unless otherwise specified, the sites are in English.