19/02/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 19 February, the Scientific Council of the European research Council (ERC) unanimously elected Professor Helga Nowotny, an eminent Austrian social scientist, as the new ERC President and chair of the Scientific Council. Nowotny is currently the ERC's Vice-President and deputy chair of the Scientific Council. She will take up office on 21 March 2010. For further information, go to: http: //erc.europa.eu/pdf/Press_release_Nowotny.pdf (O.L./transl.rt)