Pretoria – The Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) is offering a Proposal Writing Workshop to be held at Pretoria, on Wednesday, 13 March 2019 as part of its Capacity Development Programme – the workshop is aimed at academics in the foundational biodiversity field.
The FBIP is a long-term programme funded by the Department of Science & Technology and jointly coordinated by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF). The FBIP provide research grants to academics for the generation of knowledge related to documenting South Africa’s biodiversity, mobilisation of species occurrence or distribution data, generation of DNA barcode data that will allow identification of biological material, and compilation of descriptive information on species. The data generated by the funded projects must be provided to the FBIP/SANBI after the project has closed for archiving and to make it publically accessible.
Workshop description
Annually a FBIP call for research proposals opens through the NRF and project proposals are assessed on the basis of impact in terms of strategic value of the data that will be generated through the project, and how the data will be used in terms of the bioeconomy or global change understanding / mitigation. Concerns about the misalignment of proposals with FBIP objectives prompted the need for a workshop to support academics in improving the quality of their research proposals. This is the second such event hosted by the FBIP and forms part of a series of initiatives to build capacity for biodiversity knowledge generation, dissemination and application. The first workshop was hosted at the BIMF-FIBP Forum in 2017.
This workshop will be a mix of presentations, discussions and case studies facilitated by Prof Michelle Hamer. The workshop specifically aims to:
- provide background information to place the FBIP in context
- raise awareness of the expectations of the FBIP as the funding body and the unique proposal requirements
- provide information, advice and guidance for improving the quality of research proposals
Target audience
This workshop is aimed at academics in the foundational biodiversity field and employed at a recognised NRF Institution. The workshop will specifically be useful to those academics planning to submit research proposals in response to the FBIP Call for Small and/or Large Grants. If there is space we would consider applications from Postdoctoral fellows and PhD students.
Workshop date & location
The workshop will be held on Wednesday, 13 March 2019 at SANBI, Pretoria Botanical Gardens. Final details will available on the agenda closer to meeting time.
Registration application
If you wish to apply to attend the workshop, please use the link below and complete registration form by Tuesday, 26 February 2019. Travel support is available to participants and will include transportation and accommodation (dinner, bed & breakfast).
LINK: https://goo.gl/forms/MSml2hRCBTdCo7g82
As there are only limited number of spaces available for this event, we encourage you to register your interest as soon as possible. Once we have received your registration application and request for travel and accommodation, you will receive an email to confirm acceptance/rejection. Academics from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions and early career scientists are encouraged to apply to attend the workshop.
Travel Assistance
Travel and accommodation support will be considered for applicants working at institutes outside Gauteng. Successful applicants will receive an email notification once a decision has been made and will be expected to confirm their attendance. SANBI will make all travel arrangements, in consultation with successful applicants. Successful applicants will have to register with WINGS travel, SANBI’s official travel agency. Details will be given with the confirmation email. No cash awards will be made. Air tickets are non-refundable and no changes to flights will be possible after the tickets have been issued. Additional costs incurred for any expenditure beyond the grant award are for the participants’ own expenses.
Travel assistance covers:
- Return economy class flight ticket to Johannesburg, where applicable (i.e. participants fly to Johannesburg on 12 March and fly out on 13 March 2019).
- Mileage of participants from outside Gauteng, if it is a shorter distance to the venue than to an airport.
- Shared shuttles between OR Tambo Airport/Lanseria Airport and venue.
- Shared shuttles from Hotel/Guesthouse to venue.
- Transport between home and nearest airport will only be covered where the distance from home to the nearest airport is greater than 100km.
- Accommodation for one night within National Treasury’s prescribed rates (including dinner and breakfast) for participants from outside Gauteng.
Registration Fee
No registration fee is charged.
Enquiries
For any questions, please contact Lita Pauw at l.pauw@sanbi.org.za.
Draft agenda
08:15 – Tea/Coffee and Registration
08:30 – Introduction and background to the FBIP proposals and assessment process
09:15 – Group reviews of small grant proposals and discussions of outcome
11:00 – Refreshment break
11:15 – Group drafting of framework for small grants; presentation assessment
13:15 – Lunch
14.00 – Review of key points from presentations and assessments
15:15 – Wrapping up
15:30 – Closing
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