Study Group Grants

Wayland Collegium Faculty Study Groups provide a format for interdisciplinary study which explores a new area of investigation. Study groups are often the first stage of a two-year process which culminates in the development of a faculty seminar for which a second round of funding is possible.

Study Groups are designed to enable faculty to pursue a subject of common interest, to meet on a regular basis, to exchange views, papers, and research methods, and to make presentations of their own material. Recipients may wish to invite off-campus visitors or participants, or to retain graduate or undergraduate students as research assistants. The Study Group grant may be used to prepare for a research project, a joint publication, or a new course.

Examples of recently-funded Study Groups:

"Transdisciplinary Approaches to Addressing Lung Cancer" -- faculty contact: Vince Mor

"Brown Involvement with Providence Public Schools" -- faculty contact: Adeline Becker

"Perspectives on the Medieval Text Lawman's Brut" -- faculty contact: Elizabeth Bryan

Proposals should be clear and succinct, providing the following information:
- a description of the subject of study
- approaches anticipated
- a full list of participants
- a justification of the funds requested and an itemized budget
- why the topic is of theoretical and educational importance
- how the proposal will impact on future teaching and/or scholarly interactions at Brown
- preliminary work that has already taken place, e.g., interactions among members of the group, evidence of contacts with other interested parties at Brown
- where applicable, duties of research assistants (graduate or undergraduate)
- description of participating personnel (faculty, speakers, student assistants)
- time frame for carrying out proposal

Study groups may receive up to $5,000. A report is required at the beginning of Semester II, stating activity to date and state of budget to date. A final report should be submitted at the end of the academic year including possible outcomes of the grant, such as new courses, books, or conferences.

Applications (with 10 copies) should be submitted to:
Kenneth Sacks, Senior Fellow
Dept. of History, Box N

Deadline: March 3, 2008

Seminar Grants


A Faculty Seminar grant provides an opportunity for faculty members to collaborate in a year-long exploration or research venture that can promote personal and intellectual growth while contributing to the advancement of learning on a topic that is of broad human significance and that transcends disciplinary boundaries. A seminar may result in publication and should also encourage the development of new curricular ideas that might become future courses. There are a number of ways to organize a Faculty Seminar. For example, a group of faculty might seek the help of outside consultants to provide them with reading and to speak and lead discussions. Or a group might organize a mini-symposium or a series of smaller panel discussions spread throughout the year.

The Collegium will grant up to $15,000 for the Seminar. The award can be used to support summer activities necessary to the seminar's organization, for honoraria and travel for visiting lecturers, to cover a research assistant's expenses, and for other research-related activities.

Current Wayland Collegium Seminar Grants include:

"The Art and Science of Affective Behavior" -- faculty contact Ruth Colwill

"Earth's Environmental Future" -- faculty contact Mark Bertness

"Brown v. Board of Education" -- faculty contact Evelyn Hu-DeHart

"Computing and the Future of the Humanities" -- faculty contact Massimo Riva

"Incarceration, Narrative, and Performance" -- faculty contact Myron Beasley

Proposals should provide the following information:

- a description of the topic and its significance;
- names of potential faculty participants;
- a plan of the Seminar and the general direction it would take in exploration of the topic;
- a proposed budget and budget justification (including other potential sources of funding);
- why the topic is of theoretical and educational importance;
- how the proposal will impact on future teaching and/or scholarly interactions at Brown;
- preliminary work that has already taken place, e.g., interactions among members of the group, evidence of contacts with other interested parties at Brown, provisional list of invited speakers and format for invited lecturers;
- where applicable, duties of research assistants (graduate or undergraduate);
- description of participating personnel (faculty, speakers, student assistants);
- time frame for carrying out proposal

Criteria: The proposals will be evaluated by the Executive Committee using the following criteria:

1) Does the proposed Seminar topic address significant issues of human life?

2) Is the Seminar likely to lead to new integrative studies and a multidisciplinary approach to the topic?

3) Will it lead to and likely contribute to new courses or have an impact on educational programs of the University?

4) Will it encourage a collaborative association among faculty members?

A minimum of five participants is necessary for an interdisciplinary Seminar. A report is required at the beginning of Semester II describing activities and state of budget to date. A final report should be submitted at the end of the academic year, including possible outcomes of the grant, such as new courses, books, conferences.

Applications (with 10 copies) should be submitted to

Kenneth Sacks , Senior Fellow
Dept. of History, Box N

 

Deadline: March 3, 2008