VarSITI Grants for 2018
Guidelines for application for meetings
VarSITI provides support for organizing international scientific meetings (conferences, symposia, workshops) which are strictly related to one or more VarSITI Projects and contribute to VarSITI activities. Since SCOSTEP has dedicated funding for capacity building activity, please send requests for supporting schools directly to SCOSTEP Secretariat.
VarSITI funding for meetings is typically up to $5K. We urge candidates to raise additional funding from other sources. The VarSITI grants can be used to cover, fully or partially, the following expenses:
- registration fee waivers
- travel expenses, visa payment, accommodation and per diem of selected participants.
Conditions associated with a successful grant application are:
1) A final scientific report on the activity to be submitted to the appropriate Project co-leaders as well as to the co-chairs of VarSITI within 30 days of completion of the activity. The final report will eventually appear on the VarSITI website and newsletters.
2) A financial report including the breakdown of expenses and the names of the supported participants to be submitted to the SCOSTEP Secretariat, Dr. Marianna Shepherd (mshepher[at]yorku.ca) with copies to the respective Project's co-leaders and to the VarSITI co-chairs.
3) Links to materials to be added to the VarSITI website and to be then freely available to all in the VarSITI community (e.g. presentations, virtual observatories, press releases, publications, etc.).
4) The support by SCOSTEP/VarSITI to be acknowledged in the meeting announcement, sign boards, program book, etc.
How to submit a proposal
1. Proposals can only be submitted by members of the VarSITI community (included in VarSITI mailing list). To join the VarSITI community, please contact VarSITI co-chairs or the co-leaders of the Project(s) you would like to work in.
2. Refer to the Project descriptions for VarSITI, which are found at http://www.varsiti.org/(this site) and send your request to the appropriate Project co-leaders for endorsement.
Project co-leaders will consider all requests received by the project and will forward their recommendations to the co-chairs of VarSITI for the final decision. Proposals for markedly interdisciplinary activities can be sent directly to VarSITI co-chairs.
3. Your request should include the following information:
a. description of the planned activity
b. when and where it will occur and point of contact information
c. meeting’s web page
d. how the activity is related to VarSITI and its Projects
e. anticipated attendance and demographics of the participants
f. how it furthers capacity building
g. requested funding amount and how the funding will be used.
h. list of other confirmed or addressed sponsors, and their approved or expected contribution.
Your request should be no more than 2 pages.
The deadline for VarSITI grant applications for 2018 is 1 December 2017.