Exeter boosts science

Exeter University is investing £13.5 million and creating about 50 new research posts over four years as part of its new science strategy. It is also aiming to bring in an extra £60 million to £70 million in external funding. The investment and recruitment will be focused on five areas: climate change and sustainable futures; systems biology; extra-solar planets; functional materials and translational medicine and personalised healthcare. Janice Kay, deputy vice-chancellor, said: "This investment will put us in a very strong position for the research assessment exercise by helping us to attract the best academic staff and boosting our research income for science." Recruitment will start in spring 2008.