UCL Grand Challenges 2034 Grants
27 October 2015
UCL Grand Challenges have opened up an application process for funding of cross-disciplinary, collaborative, and outwardly-facing activities, costing between £2k and £10k, which 'address global challenges' while also supporting the development of at least one other of the principal themes of UCL's 2034 strategy:
- Academic leadership grounded in intellectual excellence
- A global leader in the integration of research and education, underpinning an inspirational student experience
- Addressing global challenges through our disciplinary excellence and distinctive cross-disciplinary approach
- An accessible, publicly-engaged organisation that fosters a lifelong community
- London's Global University: in London, of London and for London
- Delivering global impact through a network of innovative international activities, collaborations and partnerships.
The deadline for applications is Monday 14 December 2015.
In the context of UCL's 20-year institutional development strategy, this is an opportunity to work creatively in partnership with a UCL colleague (academic or non-academic) and/or a partner from an organisation external to UCL, on impact-focused activities that relate to the Grand Challenges of Global Health, Sustainable Cities, Intercultural Interaction and Human Wellbeing. Proposed activities could take the form of workshops, symposia, public events (at UCL), pop-up events (off-campus), experimental community-based interventions, portfolio management of a set of external partner projects, development of research-led teaching, etc. Partnerships need not be 'brand new', but they should be under development rather than well established.
Eligibility to apply
UCL Grand Challenges are welcoming applications led by UCL researchers (postdoctoral level and above) whose status and period of employment enables them to:
a) Receive a Grand Challenge 2034 grant that will be administered by their departments
b) Complete and pay for the activities described in their proposals by 31 July 2016
c) Provide an impact report of their activities in autumn 2016
Criteria for selection
Proposals must be cross-disciplinary in nature with clearly defined contributions from collaborators from within UCL and/or external to UCL.
Collaborators may be internal and/or external to UCL:
- Internal (UCL) collaborators may be research or teaching staff based in a Department (preferably in a Faculty) other than that of the applicant, offering clearly different expertise; or Professional Services staff. Proposals aligning with the UCL Global Citizenship Programme, the work of UCL Enterprise, and the priorities of UCL's Global Engagement Strategy are encouraged
- External collaborators may be based in another university (other Bloomsbury/University of London colleges and institutions connected to development of Olympicopolis and UCL East are of particular interest), and must represent a disciplinary base different from the Applicant's. Alternatively, external collaborators may be based in a non-academic organisation (e.g. Local Authority, NGO, community organisation, think-tank, or business, etc.).
Proposals that include the development of partnerships with potential to make a lasting difference to the achievement of UCL 2034 will be particularly favoured.
Please complete the online application form.
For further details and queries, please contact the relevant Grand Challenge co-ordinator
- Global Health: Helen Hopkins (h.hopkins@ucl.ac.uk / 020 7905 2352
- Sustainable Cities: James Paskins (j.paskins@ucl.ac.uk / 020 7679 4818
- Human Wellbeing / Intercultural Interaction: Michael Reade (m.reade@ucl.ac.uk / 020 7679 8713)
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