Sharing what you know

"I think it's part of being a scientist to share what you know with less favoured regions," says Elanor Bell, who is working on Bradenburg's acidic mining lakes at the University of Potsdam, just outside Berlin. She has used the Marie Curie scheme to do some good work in the world. She is applying her knowledge of the Antarctic and Arctic ecosystems to understand the extreme ecological conditions in these lakes.

Freedom to focus on research

The Marie Curie fellowship programme offers ideal conditions to carry out high quality work," says Dr. Mario Trottini, an Italian scientist working for two years at the University of Valencia in Spain on developing a set of techniques to protect the confidentiality of participants in statistical surveys. "The funding gave me the freedom to focus exclusively on my research without having to worry about anything else. When I talk to colleagues in Europe and the United States, they constantly remind me that this is a very uncommon and privileged position. My time in Spain has been a wonderful training experience, both scientifically and technically, but I think the most valuable part of the programme is that it allowed me to grow as an independent researcher."

Joining the top team

Marie Curie keeps everybody happy," says Salvador Carranza," whose love of lizards made him forsake the Mediterranean climes of his native Barcelona two years ago for the damper surroundings of London's Natural History Museum. "I'm happy because I get to be part of what is probably the world's most expert team on lizards - and get a very good salary as well. My supervisor is happy because the project gets an allowance to host me, and the museum administrators are happy because they get a contributions towards the overheads too."

Crossing the continent

In the spring of 2000, Maya Doytcheva saw an advert on the internet and came from Sofia for interview at the Philips research laboratory in Aachen, Germany. In September she moved house for her three-year industry host fellowship. "I am very satisfied with the fellowship," she says. "It gives me the chance to progress in my scientific field - I'm working on fluorescent lamps - and also learn what it is like to work in a company like Philips. I hope to apply for a permanent position here when my three years are completed."