Early Career Online Event Funding Scheme

Among the many issues that the COVID crisis has created, the impossibility of traveling and holding scientific meetings in person is hampering the creation and fostering of scientific networks, which are vital for the creativity of the community and for researchers to build their careers. This situation hits particularly hard on the more junior among us, for whom it is ever more important to talk to each other, showcase their work and build collaborations. With this in mind, ESCoP is happy to announce that it will support one or more online events organized by Early Career Researchers, for Early Career Researchers.

WHAT KIND OF EVENT(S)?

We're very flexible as to what these events might be — symposia, series of individual, more extended talks, discussion groups around a given methodological or theoretical issue, an organized showcase of pieces of work on the social media, etc. We're curious to see a display of the creativity of our community, in these times that have required us to reinvent even the more minor aspects of our daily routines. The only constraint is that events must happen online.

WHAT'S THE BUDGET?

The overall budget for the initiative is 10,000 Euros. We foresee that we might be able to sponsor 4-5 proposals, with an anticipated budget of about 2’000-2’500 euros per proposal. However, proponents should ask for any amount of money that is necessary to realise their idea; evaluation will be based on quality only. Co-funding from other institutions, e.g., your University or Department, is most welcome and should be acknowledged in the proposal.

WHAT’S ELIGIBLE FOR THE BUDGET?

As far as ESCoP is concerned, there’s no restriction on what you can pay with the award. The money will be made available to the successful applicants, who will then be responsible for the organisation of their event and will thus be subjected only to their local regulations.

WHAT’S THE TIMELINE?

Proposals should come before May 2, 2021, and will be evaluated by the ESCoP Executive committee. The outcome will be notified to the proponents by May 16, 2021. The events should happen before April 30, 2022.

HOW SHOULD I ARRANGE THE PROPOSAL?

Proposals should come in the form of one short document, up to 2 pages. This document may contain anything that the proponents deem useful to build their case (e.g., text, images, figures). The best proposals will clearly detail the nature of the event, who will be invited/targeted, their plans for advertising, and the expected outcomes. Proposals should be sent to escop.secretary@gmail.com.

WHAT DO I GET IF I GET THE AWARD?

Well, the monetary support, of course; but we will also help you promote the event, eg, giving it special evidence on our newsletter, pushing it through our social media, allowing you to use our logo. More generally, you will have facilitated access to the wide community that ESCoP represents. Moreover, the organizers will be able to work with the Journal of Cognition and its Editor, Candice Morey, to arrange a special collection of papers related to this scheme and the events that will be funded through it.

WHO CAN APPLY?

We construe Early Career Researchers quite broadly, to include PhD students, post-doc and early Faculty. As a general indication, you should not be more than 10 years from your PhD.