2019 Seed Funding Expressions of Interest

The Climate Transformations Research Cluster is calling for Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for seed funding support for projects that build on the objectives of the Climate Transformations Research Cluster. This seed funding round involves a two stage process. First, an EOI (due 26 July 2019). Shortlisted applicants will then be asked to submit a full application (due 16 August 2019).

Scope

Three to four grants of up to $10,000 each will be available on a broad range of climate change related topics. We are particularly interested in projects that address one of the following strategic priorities: climate finance, just transitions and regional renewal, health, indigenous communities, the land sector, effective communications on climate change, impacts and interventions in developing nation contexts (especially Asia-Pacific), and the water-climate change nexus. Funding will be disbursed in 2019, and will need to be spent by the end of 2020.

Projects that apply different disciplinary lenses to climate change problems will be favourably looked upon. In particular, representation from more than one Faculty would be preferred. Involvement of ECRs or the provision of research/engagement training opportunities through the project is also an advantage.

Aims relating to engagement (such as end-users, participants, policy, media, and stakeholders), as well as research impact will be taken into account in project assessment and are encouraged to be set out at the full proposal stage, with final reporting to be agreed with MSSI. A minimum of one piece of research translation from the project (such as an article on ‘The Conversation’) is required.

Proposals are encouraged to leverage other funds where possible (for example, faculty or project-based resources), with the aim of developing future research opportunities. Where this is not possible please identify potential funders that could be approached in the future.

View past successful projects here.

Eligibility

This call is restricted to internal University of Melbourne students and staff, and requires a short (<300 words) EOI to be submitted (details below) by 26 July 2019. Shortlisted EOIs will be asked to provide a more detailed proposal (proposal template available here) by 16 August 2019, with final awards to be determined in September 2019. Please do not fill out the detailed proposal until you have been advised that your EOI was successful.

Format for EOI

EOIs should be limited to 300 words in total and outline the following information:

• Project title
• Project team, if known. Note that teams can be developed between the EOI and full application stages
• Brief description of the problem to be addressed
• Brief outline of the project activities
• List of faculties (or other description of interdisciplinary focus)
• Funding amount requested

Project leads must be nominated that hold a minimum 0.4FTE position at the university for the life cycle of the project.

Please email EOI to Sangeetha Chandra-Shekeran, Deputy Director, Melbourne Sustainable Society Institute before 5pm 26 July 2019: sangeetha.chandra@unimelb.edu.au

Climate Transformations Research Cluster Objectives

1. Strengthen relations within and between Faculties and Research Institutes on sustainability research.
2. Create a network of cross-disciplinary climate change & sustainability researchers for collaborative research grant development.
3. Connect researchers at the University to external research funding partners (academic, industry and government).
4. Provide a portal and focal point for climate change and sustainability practitioners, the public, and academics both at and beyond the University.
5. Support research training and early career researchers at the University.