Call for Proposals: Science-Society Relations – I-Site Excellence Program
As part of the I-SITE Excellence Program, the University of Montpellier is launching a call for proposals on “SCIENCE-SOCIETY RELATIONSHIPS,” open to all institutions and organizations within the consortium. This unprecedented call for proposals is part of a strategy to disseminate research conducted in our region and its implications, particularly to young people and students (from elementary school through high school), and aims to support innovative initiatives specifically targeting young people and students. Its primary objective is to stimulate initiatives for sharing knowledge, fostering dialogue, and promoting methods, results, challenges, and discussions surrounding scientific themes.
OBJECTIVES
This call for proposals aims to support innovative initiatives specifically targeting young people or school-age students, with the primary goal of fostering initiatives that promote the sharing of knowledge, dialogue, methods, results, challenges, and critical thinking related to scientific topics.
Proposed science outreach projects (exhibitions, discussions, science workshops, board games, educational workbooks, multimedia works, etc.) must be based on research findings, knowledge, and/or expertise recently developed by the project leader or their team. Proposals for initiatives promoting equal opportunity (for audiences “distant” from science) to facilitate access to higher education will be encouraged.
The University of Montpellier’s science outreach services will be able to provide support for selected projects in the following areas: connecting participants 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.
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
- operating expenses and the purchase of supplies that can be accounted for in cost accounting;
- capital expenditures, purchase of equipment;
- Intern compensation – Civic Service;
- services directly related to the project (graphic design or multimedia services, Fablab, museology, reprographics,
; outreach activities (e.g., the researcher co-designs the outreach program, and a student association handles the public-facing portion of the outreach); - 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 work, additional teaching assignments, etc.).
Please note: Laboratory management fees are not eligible.
MAIN SELECTION CRITERIA
- the nature of the scientific content in relation to the research topics of the project leader(s);
- alignment of actions with target audiences;
- feasibility of implementation and partnerships established;
- originality/innovation of the proposed outreach methods, interdisciplinary aspect;
- the anticipated overall impact over the period during which the actions are implemented (number of participants, types of audiences, quality of interaction);
- the project’s impact in terms of the University’s visibility and reputation.
Budget allocated to this call for proposals:€50,
,000 across two rounds (fall 2022 and fall 2023) – Grants will be capped at €4,000 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, the two heads of the CS departments under this directorate, a member of the CR UM, a representative from Institut Agro and ENSCM, and approximately two external experts.
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE FOR THE FIRST CAMPAIGN
- Call for Proposals launch/opening: October 5, 2022.
- Deadline for submitting proposals: November 2, 2022 (11:00 p.m.) Review Committee: November 2022.
- COMIS Decision: December 6, 2022.
- Project start date: January 2023 (for a maximum of two years).
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE FOR THE SECOND CAMPAIGN
- October–December 2023.
We would like to draw your attention to the need to promote gender equality in the context of I-SITE calls for proposals.