Skip navigation


You are in:  Home » Awards » Fellowships

Joint Announcement of Opportunity

Antarctic Science Fellowships 2008-9

1. SCAR Fellowships

2. SCAR/IPF/IAI/UNEP 6th Continent Initiative Fellowships*

Deadline 15th May 2008

Further details and application form

*1 The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) is a body of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and is the leading independent organisation for facilitating and coordinating Antarctic research, and for identifying issues emerging from greater scientific understanding of the region that should be brought to the attention of policy makers. Its major objective is to initiate, develop, and co-ordinate high quality international scientific research in the Antarctic region, and on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth system.

*2 The International Polar Foundation (IPF) is based in Belgium and communicates and educates on Polar research as a way to understand key environmental and climate mechanisms. The International Antarctic Institute (IAI) is based in Hobart, Tasmania, and will offer international opportunities in Antarctic undergraduate and postgraduate multi-disciplinary education by sharing teaching resources between international partner universities. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

The SCAR Fellowship Programme is designed to encourage the active involvement of early career scientists and engineers in Antarctic scientific research, and to strengthen international capacity and cooperation in Antarctic research.

This year the Fellowship programme is in two parts:

(i) the Standard SCAR Fellowship - for postgraduate and/or post-doctoral researchers from within the 34 SCAR Member Countries to undertake research at an institute in another SCAR country.

(ii) Fellowships under the International Polar Year's Sixth Continent Initiative - for postgraduate and/or post-doctoral researchers from within the 34 SCAR Member countries, or from non-traditional polar countries, to undertake research and development activities in the Antarctic.

Topics for support should make a contribution to the objectives of one or more of the five Scientific Research Programmes endorsed by SCAR.

(i) The Standard SCAR Fellowship Scheme:

The standard Fellowships are intended to allow researchers from one SCAR Member country to undertake short term visits to major international laboratories, field facilities, and/or home institutions in or operated by other SCAR Member countries, so as to become acquainted with recent advances in research and/or to develop long-term scientific links and partnerships. The work shall be carried out in a research group of a SCAR nation different from that of the applicant's origin.

Awards will be up to US$15,000, providing, as needed, economy-class round trip travel and a modest subsistence allowance for the fellowship period. The Fellow's home institute will bear all expenses incurred in his or her own nation (domestic travel, visa costs, etc.), and the host institute will waive any bench fees that they might normally charge trainees. Between 2 and 3 awards will be made depending on the quality of the applications and the budget.

(ii) Fellowships under the Sixth Continent Initiative (6CI)

"The Sixth Continent Initiative – Capacity Building in Antarctic Scientific Research" is an approved International Polar Year (IPY) proposal supported by SCAR, the International Polar Foundation (IPF), a public utility foundation, with its head office in Brussels, Belgium, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with its headquarters in Nairobi, and the International Antarctic Institute (IAI), based in Hobart. The aim of 6CI is to widen the exposure of researchers from non-traditionally polar countries to the culture of international scientific cooperation in Antarctica, and its relevance to the global community.

Two of the SCAR Fellowships will be allocated for this purpose. Awards will be up to US$10,000, providing, as needed, economy-class round trip travel and a modest subsistence allowance for the fellowship period. The Fellow's home institute will bear all expenses incurred in his or her own nation (domestic travel, visa costs, etc.), and the host institute will waive any bench fees that they might normally charge trainees.

Fieldwork in Antarctica on bases or on research vessels will be an integral part of the programme, followed by research in an appropriate institute in another SCAR member country.

The 6CI Fellowships are designed to improve contacts and networking, so it is imperative that as much time as possible be spent in the hosting institution or in a field activity with a hosting institution.

Eligibility:

The awards for both kinds of Fellowship are limited to scientists either doing a PhD or within 5 years of having completed a PhD on the day of the deadline for applications.

Applicants from SCAR countries will be eligible, especially those countries that do not have Antarctic research stations. Researchers from other countries that have expressed an interest in joining SCAR will also be eligible. Outstanding candidates from non-SCAR member countries will be given priority for the Fellowships under the 6CI initiative.

Application:

Proposals must be made on the attached form, which should be submitted electronically to the SCAR Secretariat (info@scar.org) by 15 May 2008.

The proposal texts should make it absolutely clear what activities will be carried out, what will be achieved, and what deliverables will ensue (e.g. papers, technologies) and in what time frame.

In order to apply, candidates will be required to first contact and liaise with appropriate host Antarctic programs in order to secure the support and mentorship of an active research team capable and willing to either facilitate their research, or to integrate young researchers into their own research programme.

In no case shall candidates nominate themselves. Nominations should come from the individual's line manager/supervisor.

Practical Arrangements:

In the case of 6CI Fellowships, research will be carried out with those institutions or in association with the multidisciplinary science programmes offered by the universities associated with the International Antarctic Institute (IAI), which will provide training and facilities.

In the case of 6CI Fellowships field work, travel grants from institutions and agencies will be obtained to cover transport and logistics for travel to the continent. Certain national operators will approached to allow the selected researchers to visit their bases or research vessels to carry out field activities, and will provide the supporting logistics. Researchers' daily needs will be funded by capacity building measures from participating international organisations.

Bases likely to be directly involved in 6CI fieldwork include the three "Gateway" stations Scott Base (NZ), the Chilean Station Rey Jorge, and the South African Sanae station. In addition, the German station Neumayer, the Japanese station Syowa, and Belgian "Princess Elisabeth" Station in the Sor Rondane Mountains have also expressed an interest in hosting a visiting scientist. In addition berths, may be made available on research vessels, such as the Polarstern.

The 6CI programme will be managed by a consortium comprising the IPF, SCAR, UNEP and IAI. Researchers will be selected on the basis of a research project proposal submitted to the selection committee, following the standard SCAR Fellowship procedure.

IAI partner institutes will be requested to host the selected 6CI Fellows, with attention being paid to locating the institute where the type of research being proposed is best accommodated.

National operators who have committed themselves to providing logistical support will coordinate with the host institutes to organise travel for 6CI Fellows to and from the Antarctic.

SCAR National Committees are encouraged to assist in finding suitable candidates for the SCAR Fellowships.

SCAR National Committees, ICSU Regional Committees, and bodies affiliated with IFP, IAI and UNEP are encouraged to assist in finding suitable candidates for the 6CI Fellowships.

Evaluation:

A scientific review panel comprising two members of the SCAR Executive; the Chief Officers of the three Standing Scientific Groups or their Alternates; and the Executive Officer will evaluate all proposals on the basis of the scientific excellence of the proposed research, giving weight also to such factors as: its importance and timeliness; its achievability within the time frame allotted; the extent to which links have already been established with the proposed host institution; the extent to which it will strengthen the scientific capacity of nations with smaller or less well-developed Antarctic research programmes; and to its 'fit' with SCAR's place in science and with SCAR's scientific directions. The 6CI proposals will in addition be evaluated by IFP, UNEP and IAI.

Completion:

At the end of each Fellowship each candidate must provide a report to be posted on the SCAR web site. Reports should be modelled on those already on the web site at http://www.scar.org/awards/fellowships/.

The results of the 6CI research projects may in addition be made available to the wider scientific community and the public, using a dedicated web site for communicating on IPY and project activities.