BES Facebook pageTravel grants for ecologists from developing countries to attend BES meetings
The Society makes a limited number of travel and subsistence grants available to ecologists from the Developing World (see below), so that they may attend Society Annual Meetings and Symposia (including those run jointly with other Societies etc) within the UK, and develop robust and productive contact with UK-based specialists in their chosen field of study. Applicants may apply before registering or submiting a paper or poster for the meeting however a condition of the award will be that funding may be withdrawn if the applicant does not carry out the objectives listed in the application by the deadlines set.
Grants of up to £2,000 are available to fund a visit normally expected to last around 14 days. Previous award winners are free to re-apply, however this may be taken into consideration by the judging panel.
The applicant must:
- Nominate a Meeting or Symposium and either University Department or Research Institution that they will visit before or after the scheduled Meeting/Symposium
- Provide a letter from their Head of Department or Work Supervisor to confirm that there are insufficient departmental/domestic funds available to support the visit (and demonstrate that they have made serious attempt to procure alternative funding for the visit)
- Indicate in detail how the visit will enhance his/her research and indicate the area/field of intended collaboration with the UK academic institution
- Supply a copy of a letter from the UK host institution demonstrating a willingness to ‘host’ applicant pre- or post-Meeting/Symposium and indicate that the area/field of intended collaboration is appropriate to their institution. To assist in realistic budgeting, the letter should also attempt to estimate the costs that the applicant will likely to incur during their stay. (i.e lab costs, uk-travel, meals, accommodation)
- Furnish a short report after their visit, including receipts and copy of Meeting Registration Documents, and a letter from the domestic Head of Department or Work Supervisor confirming that the visit has taken place
No applicant may request travel grant support on more than two occasions and the two visits must be separated by a period of at least 18 months
Value of the award:
Normally up to £2,000
Closing date:
1 February
Application:
Emailed to grantsusing our downloadable form, plus supporting statements from the UK host institution and the applicant's institution. These can be sent directly from the institutes work email addresses if more convenient. Please also fill in and submit a monitoring form to help us with our applicant monitoring statistics. This form can be filled in and sent to the BES electronically, or printed out and posted to the BES. .
Committee responsible:
Meetings Committee
Conditions:
Applicants for a BES Travel Grant for Ecologists from Developing Countries should:
be a scientist and a citizen of a country that is classified as 'low-income economy' or 'lower-middle-income economy' according to the World Bank categorization. Applicants from countries classified as 'low-income economies' will have priority.
normally have at least a B.Sc. or equivalent degree
usually be working or studying at a University or Research Institution (including field centres, NGOs, museums, etc.) that provides basic research facilities
be working in scientific areas within the remit of the BES (the science of ecology) and of relevance to the Meeting they are applying to attend
Criteria for judging applications:
The principal criteria is the demonstration that the visit will enhance the applicant's research, and the potential for collaboration with UK scientists.
Preference will be given to those who present a paper or poster at the Meeting/Symposium and/or who have been invited to give a lecture/seminar at their hosting department/institution.
Applicants who can demonstrate genuine research activity (e.g., papers published in international or local journals) will also be advantaged.
Planned longer-term outputs from the visit, such as a possible grant proposal to a specific body for further research or a proposed research paper will increase the chance of funding.
