Research and Development Committee

WHAT IS THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE?

The Research and Development Committee is responsible for the allocation of funding earmarked by BASEES for the support of research activity.

The Committee has a membership of three approved by the National Committee. This membership is normally drawn from the membership of the National Committee, although, with the approval of the National Committee, it may include one member of the Association who is not a member of the National Committee. The present membership of the Committee is as follows:

GENERAL CRITERIA GOVERNING THE WORK OF THE COMMITTEE

ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT

In addition to the grants for Study Groups, the Research and Development Committee has available for disbursement a total of £6,000 per annum, divided as follows:

The ‘financial year’ during which this sum will be available will be the period between Annual Conferences of the Association.

Postgraduate Research

Postgraduate research students registered in UK institutions (students registered for doctoral or master’s-by-research degrees) may apply for grants for the following purposes:

Each application must have the support of the student’s supervisor, who must certify that the student is taking a research degree and that the activity for which support is sought is integral to the student’s programme of research. Grants made will not exceed £400, and may be less than this. No postgraduate student may receive more than £400 (this sum does not represent an entitlement) over the course of her/his time as a postgraduate student.

Download an application form here. Please note that the deadlines for applications are 1 March, 1 July and 1 October each year.

Seminar Series and Conferences

UK-based members of the Association may apply for grants for the following purposes:

Grants made will not exceed £400, and may be less than this.

Download an application form here. Please note that the deadlines for applications are 1 March, 1 July and 1 October in every year, and that applications should be submitted at least 6 months before the date of the intended event.

Note: no more than one grant will be made in respect of any one seminar series or conference. However, where it is envisaged that there might be repeated series or conferences, application may be made to the Association for the establishment of a Study Group. An application for Study Group Status should be submitted to the Research, Development and Study Groups Coordinator and should include a statement of the proposed Group’s aims. The outcome of the application will be determined by the National Committee.

Study Groups

General Guidelines

1. BASEES Study Groups bring together scholars interested in particular disciplines/areas/periods that fall within the overall remit of BASEES; in keeping with the role of BASEES as a national organisation, Study Groups are also expected to be national rather than local in their membership and activities. It is expected that a significant proportion of the members of a Study Group will also be members of BASEES, and Study Group organisers are requested to encourage all members to join BASEES.

2. Study Groups will normally have a constitution; a membership list including a substantial number of members from across the UK; they may also have a membership subscription. Study Groups are encouraged to have a newsletter of some kind. Study Group activities include meetings, study days and conferences that draw members of the group from across the UK.

3. Study Groups are encouraged to organise panels at the annual BASEES conference, and it is a condition for receipt of financial support that a Study Group organises such a panel at least every other year (see below).

Grants

A Study Group recognised by, and carrying the name of, the Association is entitled to an annual grant of £250, to be used by the Group in furtherance of its aims (normally, but not necessarily, to enable overseas speakers and/or postgraduate students to attend a meeting of the Group). In order to remain eligible for this grant, each Study Group must also offer a panel for the programme of the Association’s Annual Conference at least once very two years. Failure to offer a panel for two successive years will lead to withdrawal for one year of entitlement to a grant.

Study Groups should request their annual grant by contacting the Study Groups Coordinator with an indication of the purpose for which the grant will be used. Further information about the membership of the Study Group, and its contributions to the programmes of the Association’s Annual Conference, may be sought prior to confirmation of the grant.

The annual grant can be carried over for one year only; if you would like to apply for such a carry-over, you must do so before the end of the year covered by the grant, indicating the reasons for this; in addition, it is now possible to ask for an advance of some or all of the grant due the subsequent year (but please bear in mind the requirement to offer a panel at the Annual Conference at least once every two years).  

Guidelines for applications to establish a BASEES Study Group

BASEES members who intend to establish a Study Group should consult the Association’s guidelines on Study Groups and are welcome to seek advice from the BASEES Research, Development and Study Groups Coordinator to whom the application should be submitted. The application will be considered by the Research and Development and Study Groups Sub-Committee, which will make a recommendation to BASEES National Committee.

Applications to establish a BASEES Study Group should include: 

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

There are three deadlines a year (1 March, 1 July, and 1 October) for applications other than for grants to Study Groups, which may be submitted at any time to the Study Group Coordinator (see above).

The forms provided for this purpose should be used:

Applications must be received no later than by the deadline preceding the date/start of the activity for which the grant is requested (e.g. by 1 March for an activity in the period 1 March to 30 June etc.), and earlier if possible.

Applications for Seminars Series and Conference Support must be submitted by the relevant deadline at least six months before the date of the intended event (e.g., by 1 March for a conference scheduled for October or later).

Account will be taken both of the particular circumstances of applicants, and of the nature of the research for which support is sought. Priority may be given to applicants able to demonstrate particularly urgent need for support, and/or for demonstrably innovative research.

The outcome of applications will be notified to applicants no later than one month after the appropriate deadline. Applications will be considered alongside others received by the same deadline.

CONDITIONS OF SUPPORT

Enquiries should be addressed to the Research, Development and Study Groups Coordinator.