Call for Science-Society Projects 2023 – Component 2: “Impact’Sciences”
A call for proposals that is part of a strategy to disseminate research conducted in our region and raise awareness of its implications, particularly among young people and schoolchildren.
Objective
Impact’Sciences aims to support innovative initiatives specifically targeted at young people or schoolchildren, with the primary goal of fostering knowledge-sharing initiatives and educational activities that explore the methods, findings, challenges, and questions of the experimental sciences.
The proposed science education projects (exhibitions, discussions, science workshops, board games, educational workbooks, multimedia, etc.) must be based on research findings, knowledge, and/or expertise recently developed by the project leader or their team. Initiatives aimed at promoting equal opportunity and facilitating access to higher education will be encouraged.
The University of Montpellier’s science outreach services will be able to provide support for the selected projects in the following areas: connecting them with key players and events within the Regional Science Outreach Network; advising on science communication; and assisting with dissemination, communication, and media relations as needed.
Key selection criteria:
- the nature of the scientific content as it relates to the research topics of the project leader(s);
- alignment between the initiatives and the target audiences;
- feasibility of implementation and partnerships established;
- originality/innovation;
- expected overall impact over the period during which the actions will be implemented (volume, number of employees);
- the project's impact in terms of the University's visibility and reputation.
Note: Special attention will be given to projects that draw on theUM scientific and/or heritage collections. Projects that can be carried out during the Year of Physics will also be encouraged (the Year of Physics, running from September 2023 to July 2024, is an initiative in France launched by the CNRS, the French Physical Society, the Ministry of National Education and Youth, the CEA, and France Universités).
Budget allocated to this call for proposals:
50 K€ across two rounds (Fall 2022 & Fall 2023). Grants will be capped at 4 K€ per project.
Submission Guidelines:
Projects must be submitted in PDF format using the attached template.
Maximum project duration:
2 years
Evaluation Committee
Chaired by the Vice President for Science-Society Relations and composed of the director of the DCSPH and the two heads of the science outreach departments under that directorate, a member of the CR UM, a representative from Institut Agro, a representative from ENSCM, and external experts (approximately 2).
Eligible expenses:
- operating expenses and the purchase of supplies that can be accounted for in cost accounting;
- investment costs, purchase of equipment;
- Intern stipends – Civic Service;
- services directly related to the project, including graphic design and multimedia services, Fablab, museology, reprographics, and public outreach (the researcher co-designs the program, and a science outreach organization leads the public sessions…);
- Human resources, expenses related to temporary staff hired by the University or, in exceptional cases, by the supervising body of the partner research unit (student part-time positions, additional teaching assignments, etc.).
Reminder: Laboratory management fees are not eligible.
Preliminary Schedule for theSecond Campaign
- Launch/opening of the call for proposals:November 16, 2023.
- Deadline for submitting proposals: December 18, 2023 (11:00 p.m.).
- Evaluation Committee:January 2024.
- Project start date:February 2024.