Loans

Overview

Since its establishment in 1988, the Field Spectroscopy Facility has supported over 650 loans in research projects worldwide. We loan world-class calibrated Field Spectroscopy equipment to research scientists in academia and industry.

Our equipment/laboratory is also available to support non-NERC science through a direct access loans procedure. Loans can be sought on a short term basis (up to one month), for field trails or similar, or for long-term projects of up to two years in length. In each case, applications need to be made to the facility. Academic applications are reviewed twice a year (1st June and 1st November) by a steering committee, where they are graded following a point system used by all NERC Services and Facilities.

The Field Spectroscopy Facility offers loans to UK Academic Institutions that are free at the point of use. If you are a non UK Academic Institution, or would like to hire our equipment for commercial use, please contact the FSF so we can discuss your requirements.

A Step by Step Guide to Loan Application

Step One – Browse our equipment catalogue

The first stage in any loan application is to check what instruments the facility provides. We have a large range of equipment, which can be operated in different configurations and setups, allowing for a wide range of applications. Please check our Instrument Catalogue under “Instruments” for more information. If you are unsure where to start, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us and ask for some advice.

Step Two – Contact us

Once you have an idea of what equipment you require, and what you would like to use it for, the next step is to get in contact with us. From here, we can start to work with you to develop a working plan for your research / project. We can be contacted directly at fsf@ed.ac.uk

Notice For applications involving the facility’s UAV mounted sensors, additional information and documentation will be required. Please see our UAV section for further information.

Step Three – Submit an application

Once you have decided on an instrument or instrument package to apply for, read our Loan FAQ to familiarise yourself with the loan application process. Following this, either contact the facility directly to request a Technical Letter of Support which is it be used as part of the UKRI Funding Service application process; or download the correct form from our Loan Application Forms page, complete, and submit to fsf@ed.ac.uk.

Step Four – Review

Once you submitted an application, it will be reviewed by our steering committee. Here, it will be assigned a grade based on the grading system used by all NERC Services and Facilities. If you are successful in your application, we will be in touch by email to offer you an equipment loan. This is subject to a number of conditions, a full copy of which can be found on our Loan Conditions page

Step Five – Loan support

If successful in your application, the facility will then engage with you – throughout the entirety of the loan period – on aspects such as instrument delivery, customs and shipping if working internationally, training, and instrument troubleshooting if issues occur.

Step Six – Loan feedback

As a facility, we rely on the feedback of our loan users to improve our service, and to report our work to NERC. As part of your loan, you will be asked to complete and return loan feedback forms, which can be found on our Loan Reporting page.

Loan reporting consists of three stages, with each stage having an associated reporting form – an initial loan report form, a copy of which will be on the USB stick provided to you during training, and which should be completed and returned after the instrument is returned; an interim science report, requested 6 months after your loan, which tracks the progress in data analysis and possible publication; and a final science report, completed 18 months after the loan, and which should include details of all publications arising from the loan.

In the event of publication (including PhD theses) of data collected using facility equipment, an acknowledgement of the facility must be provided within the publication. Please contact us at fsf@ed.ac.uk for more details on how to correctly acknowledge the facility in your work.