Dear microscopists, based on recent developments of FILM costs and usage, we have now updated the charging rates for FILM usage to be applied from 1 April 2013. I'm pleased to see that despite the challenging financial situation of many users, we have managed to keep our broad user base, allowing moderate changes to charges. As always, the updated rates can be found on the FILM website under GUIDELINES / CHARGES / INTERNAL. <http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/imagingfacility/facility_guidelines/charges/charges_internal> Importantly, you will see that some charges will actually go down! This reflects a simple fact: FILM does NOT make any profit, charging rates are simply the CURRENT COSTS divided by the CURRENT USAGE. Whenever usage goes up, charges go down, as simple as that. Therefore: Don't try to save money in the wrong place, the more you use our microscopes, the lower the charging rates will be (with a slight delay)!! Be assured that we very much prefer you getting more out from our microscopes for the same money. And in case you are confused by the different types of charging rates, here some explanation: The FEC RATES calculated by Research Support Services, and updated recently (see my email on 1 Feb 2013), are the estimates for FUTURE COSTS, for grants applied for now, but used in 1-5 years' time. They are updated once every year in January. The ACTUAL, CURRENT RATES are based on actual, current cost and usage data. We update them whenever usage or cost change significantly, but at least once a year (typically in April). If you need any more information, please let me know. Good imaging, Martin * Internal charging rates on the FILM website: <http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/imagingfacility/facility_guidelines/charges/charges_internal> * Email about FEC rates: <http://mailman.ic.ac.uk/pipermail/film-users/2013/000309.html> -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *Martin Spitaler, PhD* *FILM - Facility for Imaging by Light Microscopy* - Facility Manager - Sir Alexander Fleming Building, desk 401 Imperial College London / South Kensington Exhibition Road London SW7 2AZ UK Tel. +44-(0)20-759-42023 E-mail m.spitaler@imperial.ac.uk <mailto:m.spitaler@imperial.ac.uk> Website: http://imperial.ac.uk/imagingfacility