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Academic researchers are to have a say in what science the research councils fund. Research Councils UK has launched a consultation on the priorities for its 2004 spending-review bid.

It suggests a list of priorities, such as supporting key strengths and addressing critical weaknesses in the research base. It also says RCUK will ask for funding to build on spending review 2002 successes in sustainable energy, stem-cell research, rural economy and brain science, and lists eight other multi-council themes that it plans to put forward.

The consultation closes at the end of September and can be found at