MASI Call for Proposals 23/24
The Call this year invites you to address the theme: “Out of the doldrums, with wind in the sails”. The world seems “stuck” regarding many issues be they the response to climate change, the “truth crisis” (and how AI is fuelling this) or scalable healthcare. There are too, of course, intellectual fields that have also found themselves in be-calmed waters and where new impetus is needed. We are looking for proposals that will move things forward with gusto!
Proposals should further address one or more of the following areas:
- Resilient Futures
- Equitable Futures
- Sustainable Futures
- Innovative Industrial Futures
- Global South and Global North Futures
However, this list should not limit you. If your proposal responds to the core purpose of this Call to develop new research energies and trajectories, is transdisciplinary in nature and is ambitious and adventurous, please apply.
What we are looking for
If you are already working in an established interdisciplinary team on your proposed topic, this call is probably not for you. Rather, we are looking for emergent teams across the University and beyond who want an opportunity to explore agilely a highly promising area and approach. Teams must consist of members from more than one discipline and with co-leadership from at least two Faculties. The approach will be transdisciplinary (where entirely new forms of methods and thinking evolve through the coming together of established disciplines) and the outlook will be high risk, high reward.
Proposals should lead to specific, valuable outputs during the award timeframe and lead to external grant application possibilities.
Who can apply?
All members of our community from PhD Researcher level onwards can be involved in a proposal. We particularly encourage applications from early career colleagues. A member of staff whose contract extends beyond the end of the award must be a part of the proposal team. While led by a Swansea colleague, the team can include colleagues in other universities globally. All members of the proposal team must discuss their proposal intention with their line manager before submission to ensure the activity supports the wider work of their Faculty and the University.
If you have previously received a Basecamp project in the 2021 or 2022 Calls, you are not eligible to apply for a 2023 Basecamp. If you currently hold a 2021 or 2022 Summit award, you are not eligible to apply for a 2023 Summit.
Categories of funding
Basecamp Projects: these 1-year activities (Aug 1st 2023-end July 2024), will carry out research in a sprint-like fashion, producing clear outputs, building capacity, carrying out feasibility work for external grant applications and/or future Summit Projects. We expect to fund *TBD* Basecamps at a maximum of up to £5,000 per Basecamp.
Summit Projects: these 2-year endeavours (Aug 1st 2023-end July 2025), seek to “plant a flag” on a highly novel intellectual and impactful “summit”. That is, they will carry out significant research work with important outputs, defining agendas and creating visions that others will seek to follow. The projects will be expected to lead to at least one strategic external grant application. We expect to fund up to *TBD* Summits at a maximum of £15,000 a year per Summit (£30,000 total)
International Visiting Fellowships: we welcome proposals for inward Visiting Fellowships. Visitors to Swansea would be expected to commit approximately a month in Swansea and proposals should show how they will help build and strengthen transdisciplinary agendas. Fellows will be expected to give at least one public MASI Lecture (accessible to a general audience) and interact with Universities across Wales. We expect to fund up to 6 Fellows of up to £5,000 per Fellowship (travel and subsistence).
What we can fund
Basecamp and Summit projects can fund post-doc time/salaries, consumables, travel and subsistence.
How we will assess your application
Proposals will be assessed following UKRI-type protocols. All proposals will be reviewed by at least 3 non-conflicted colleagues drawn from the MASI Steering Committee, MASI Research Entrepreneurs and MASI Fellows. These reviews will be used as the basis of panel meetings that will rank order each proposal category. Proposals reaching the quality threshold will be funded until the resources are allocated.
Assessment criteria will include: 1) Quality (Novelty, Adventure, Ambition, Transformative Nature); 2) Fit to Call (specific and broad including the likelihood of future external grant funding); 3) Team; and, 4) Resources and Management. Criteria (1) and (2) are essential and primary criteria while (3) and (4) are important and secondary in nature.
How to apply
Proposals should be provided as a PDF, no more than 2 A4 pages in length (font no smaller than 11pt). Please ensure your proposal demonstrates quality against all the assessment criteria. These PDFs should be uploaded via this online form:
https://forms.office.com/e/Xcnuxqn4vA
If you are successful
MASI operates an “activist investor” approach – we will convene monthly meetings of all funded projects to encourage and nurture the work and to share best practice.
Important Dates:
Call Launched: April 18th 2023
Proposal Building Event: Wednesday 10th May 2023 12pm. Taliesin Mall Room, Singleton Campus
Deadline: Thursday 22nd June 2023, 4pm
Outcomes: By the end of July 2023
Projects Start: August 1st 2023
Agenda Setting Events 2023
Eligibility:
There must be co-leadership of the event from colleagues in at least two faculties
Co-leaders should not have received an Agenda Setting Award in the last two rounds
Early-career colleagues are welcome to lead bids but if you are a PhD researcher of PostDoc, please include a permanent member of staff in your leadership team.
Call is open to academic and professional service colleagues
To apply:
Email a 2-page PDF that: lists the organisers (and their Faculties); the invited participants; budget; and addresses the assessment criteria fully (see below).
Email address for proposals is hellomasi@swansea.ac.uk
Assessment Criteria:
Novelty, adventure and ambition of the topic
Research and scholarship standing of the proposed invitees
Transdisciplinary nature of the event
Fit to the UKRI funding strategies – how could this event lead to an externally funded project?
Fit to the University and Faculties’ research strategies
Format and outputs from the workshop – we encourage imaginative, creative meeting activities and clear outputs (including the mandatory Agenda Setting Event Report).
Inclusiveness and Diversity of Event
Value for money
Fit to the Theme
Assessment:
Proposals will be assessed by at least 3 reviewers drawn from across the University and funding decisions will be made primarily on these reports along with any strategic considerations deemed important by the panel.
Important Dates:
Call Opens 3rd February 2023
Deadline for applications 3rd March 2023
Decisions 10th March 2023
Agenda Setting Events – April-early July 2023 (All expenditure must be finalised by early July).
Successful Applications:
As well as organising the event, successful applicants will be required to write a brief white-paper setting out the agenda that was created; this will be published on the MASI website.
MASI Call for Funding 22/23
After more than two years of pandemic-life along with more recent global anxieties, MASI is looking for proposals that will enhance the way we live and think, reflecting on and learning from these shared difficult times. While some are calling for us to return to “normal” or the “new normal”, we are looking for work that will define a “new extraordinary”. That is, a world that takes seriously the challenges, problems and opportunities highlighted over the previous 24+ months.
Proposals should address one or more of the following areas:
· Resilient Futures
· Equitable Futures
· Sustainable Futures
· Innovative Industrial Futures
· Global South and Global North Futures
However, this should not limit you. If your proposal responds to the core purpose of this call to find the “new extraordinary”, is transdisciplinary in nature and is ambitious and adventurous, please apply.
What we are looking for
If you are already working in an established interdisciplinary team on your proposed topic, this call is probably not for you.
Rather, we are looking for emergent teams across the University and beyond who want an opportunity to explore agilely a highly promising area and approach. Teams will consist of members from more than one discipline and from more than one University Faculty. The approach will be transdisciplinary (where entirely new forms of methods and thinking evolve through the coming together of established disciplines) and the outlook will be high risk, high reward.
Proposals should lead to specific, valuable outputs during the award timeframe and lead to external grant application possibilities.
Who can apply?
All members of our community from PhD Researcher level onwards can be involved in a proposal. We particularly encourage applications from early career colleagues. A member of staff whose contract extends beyond the end of the award must be a part of the proposal team. While led by a Swansea colleague, the team can include colleagues in other universities globally. All members of the proposal team must discuss their proposal intention with their line manager before submission to ensure the activity supports the wider work of their Faculty and the University.
Categories of funding
Basecamp Projects: these 1-year activities (Aug 1st 2022-end July 2023), will carry out research in a sprint-like fashion, producing clear outputs, building capacity, carrying out feasibility work for external grant applications and/or future Summit Projects. We expect to fund 6 Basecamps in this Call at a maximum of up to £5,000 per Basecamp.
Summit Projects: these 2-year endeavours (Aug 1st 2022-end July 2024), seek to “plant a flag” on a highly novel intellectual and impact “summit”. That is, they will carry out significant research work with important outputs, defining agendas and creating visions that others will seek to follow. The projects will be expected to lead to at least one strategic external grant application. We expect to fund up to 5 Summits in the call at a maximum of £15,000 a year per Summit (£30,000 total).
International Visiting Fellowships: we welcome proposals for both inward and outward Fellowships. Visitors to Swansea would be expected to commit approximately a month in Swansea and proposals should show how they will help build and strengthen transdisciplinary agendas. Fellows will be expected to give at least one public MASI Lecture (accessible to a general audience) and interact with Universities across Wales. Outward Fellowship proposals should demonstrate how the activity will lead to significantly new collaborations for the Fellow and the University. Outward Fellows can spend up to one month overseas (subject to usual travel approvals). Outward Fellows will be expected to provide a MASI Public Lecture on their return. We expect to fund up to 6 Fellows (4 incoming, 2 outgoing) of up to £5,000 per Fellowship (travel and subsistence).
What we can fund
Basecamp and Summit projects can fund post-doc time/salaries, consumables, travel and subsistence. We do not fund investigator time or overheads. Fellows’ travel and subsistence can be funded.
How we will assess your application
Proposals will be assessed following UKRI-type protocols. All proposals will be reviewed by at least 3 non-conflicted colleagues drawn from the MASI Steering Committee, MASI Research Entrepreneurs and MASI Fellows. These reviews will be used as the basis of panel meetings that will rank order each proposal category. Proposals reaching the quality threshold will be funded until the resources are allocated.
Assessment criteria will include: 1) Quality (Novelty, Adventure, Ambition, Transformative Nature); 2) Fit to Call (specific and broad including the likelihood of future external grant funding); 3) Team; and, 4) Resources and Management. Criteria (1) and (2) are essential and primary criteria while (3) and (4) are important and secondary in nature.
How to apply
Proposals should be provided as a PDF, no more than 2 A4 pages in length (font no smaller than 11pt). Please ensure your proposal demonstrates quality against all the assessment criteria. These PDFs should be uploaded via this online form:
https://forms.gle/ZkwXrAvmNbjM4qASA
If you are successful
MASI operates an “activist investor” approach – we will convene monthly meetings of all funded projects to encourage and nurture the work and to share best practice.
Important Dates
Call launched April 4th 2022
Deadline Thursday 16th June 2022, 4pm
Panel Week of 11th July 2022
Outcomes By the end of July 2022
Agenda Setting Events 2022
As we emerge from the pandemic there is a significant opportunity to rethink, reimagine and recreate; to seek not the “new normal” but the “new extraordinary”. To help Swansea lead such thinking, MASI has funding available for up to three Agenda Setting Events.
What we are looking for:
Nurture transdisciplinary thinking around the “Preciousness of Life” MASI theme 21/22 to create high -risk, high-reward visions. If your event does not directly relate to this theme but you feel your topic is important, timely and impactful, do apply!
Format of Events:
2-3 Days in duration;
Involve invited local, national and international participants (25-30 attendees). You should have a clear strategy for inclusive and diverse participation; and,
In person, in Swansea, with opportunities to increase participation via digital means if appropriate.
Expected Outcomes:
A “White Paper” setting out the research agenda created through the event (you may request funding to create a professionally-designed document for dissemination).
Collaborative teams ready to create research proposals based on the work.
Funding Available:
· Proposals up to £12K are welcomed.
· Proposals can be from any member of our community but must include a permanent member of staff.
· Eligible costs: travel, lodging and subsistence for invited participants; honorariums for keynote speaker(s); marketing / dissemination.
· We expect to fund three events.
Timeline
Call launched week 31st January 2022
Deadlines for proposals 28th February 2022
Outcomes announced early March 2022
Events to be held between the start of May-July 2022 (with all spending completed by the University financial cut-off dates in late July)
Submission
Proposals should be submitted as a PDF document and should address the following:
· Event title and proposed dates
· Applicants’ names and affiliations
· Case for Supporting the Event: e.g., how will it foster a highly adventurous, ambitious, high-risk-high-reward vision; who will be invited and how are they the right people at this time?; what plans are there for building on the outcome of the events (e.g., application to a clearly identified external funder / programme).
· Outline budget
