Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz has announced the creation of a £300,000 fund to be awarded to Cambridge University researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz has announced the creation of a £300,000 fund to be awarded to Cambridge University researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
This funding represents my commitment – and the university’s commitment - to preserving the arts, humanities and social sciences base. The importance of these subjects to Cambridge, the wider University system and the UK as a whole cannot be overestimated.
Professor Sir Leszek Borysiewicz
Following the termination by the British Academy and ESRC of their respective Small Grants schemes, the Vice-Chancellor has moved quickly to fill the void left by their withdrawal.
The BA and ESRC schemes were of great importance to researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences, particularly in creating opportunities for experimentation, and as a crucial means of career building for early career scholars.
The new fund will help offset the impact of their withdrawal and make it possible for academics in the arts, humanities and social sciences to undertake research, including pilot or experimental work in preparation for larger-scale activities.
To that end, £300,000 will be made available as a single fund at the disposal of the School of Arts and Humanities and the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences. If the Scheme is successful it may be repeated.
The Schools have decided to use this funding to operate a Cambridge Humanities Research Grants Scheme, open to all University Teaching Officers and College Teaching Officers in the arts, humanities and social sciences with a contract of employment at the point of application. Details of the funding available and the application process will be made available online. Bids are invited for awards between £1,000 and £20,000 in value.
The overriding factor in determining awards will be the quality of research. In addition, it is important that the funding delivers maximum strategic benefit to Departments, whether in terms of furthering specific research objectives, developing capacity or strengthening research excellence.
The Vice-Chancellor said: “This funding represents my commitment – and the university’s commitment - to preserving the arts, humanities and social sciences base. The importance of these subjects to Cambridge, the wider University system and the UK as a whole cannot be overestimated.”
The deadline for the initial round of funding bids is September 16, 2011.
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