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RESEARCH GRANTS

BOU Research Grant Application

Application form (Word doc)

Please read these guidelines carefully. They contain important information relating to your application for funding and not following these guidelines may jeopardise your application.

Application is by email only. Please email your completed application form to grants@bou.org.uk by 31 December 2008

When completing your application, please note the following carefully:

1. Size of BOU grants

The BOU has limited funds at its disposal and grants are normally awarded to a maximum of £1000. The BOU may occasionally award a grant of up to £2000 for an exceptional application.

2. Research areas

The BOU tries to support as wide a range of research projects as possible, and welcomes applications from both amateurs and professionals.

3. Expeditions

It is essential that you make clear what specific aspects of the expedition the BOU funds are requested for. If the application is from a multi­-disciplinary expedition, the application must be made by the ornithologist(s) and must describe the ornithological research that will be undertaken.

4. Species

As part of your application, you are required to provide details of the key species your project aims to study, including the conservation status of each species (globally and regionally/nationally if applicable). You must provide references for the conservation status you are quoting. Up to date global conservation status (IUCN Red List category) for all species, and regional conservation status (SPEC category) for European species, can be found on the BirdLife International website at www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html.

5. UK-based applicants

UK-based applicants seeking funding for overseas projects should note that the funds being sought should only be used towards defined project requirements outside the UK.

6. Graduate and undergraduate studies

Undergraduate and graduate research will be considered, but only if the research meet the following three criteria –

• (a) the research is self- or part-funded;
• (b) the funds being sought are for expenses incurred outside the UK;
• (c) the funds are being sought for a well defined or specific aspect of your research.

The BOU may also consider applications for funding exceptional requirement(s)/opportunities which were unforeseen at the planning/start of a project, but which arise during the work.

7. Conferences and meetings

Funding will not be given for attending conferences or meetings.

8. Publications

Funding will not be given to publish work from an existing project or for books (if you want to submit a book proposal to the BOU please contact the BOU Office).

9. BOU Mission Statement

Applicants should note the BOU’s objectives and mission statement.

The British Ornithologists’ Union will promote understanding and conservation of the world’s birds, advance ornithology within the scientific community and promote scientific ornithology to the wider birdwatching public.

The BOU’s mission will be achieved by the following objectives:

1. To maintain the publication of the Ibis as a leading international journal of ornithological science.
2. To continue the publication of the BOU Checklist series, together with other publications.
3. To organise and/or hold an active programme of meetings and conferences.
4. To make available grants for ornithological research.
5. To facilitate liaison between those actively engaged in ornithological research.
6. To provide, as a representative of the scientific community, ornithological information and advice to government and other policy makers.
7. To maintain and publish the official British List of birds.

10. BOU Ethical Policy

You should note the Union's ethical policy which is set out below:

“The Union expects all authors of papers submitted to Ibis and recipients of BOU research grants to act within the law of the land in which the work is conducted. They must ensure therefore that they have the necessary licences for whatever they are doing. Investigators should abide by the spirit as well as the letter of relevant legislation. Where work is carried out in places lacking relevant legislation, or where this is not adequately administered, the work should conform to the ethical standards expected in the UK.

“The Union expects researchers to have proper regard for conservation considerations and humane practice. Attention is drawn to the guidelines for the use of animals in research published most recently in Animal Behaviour 2003, 65: 249-282.

“The Union is not opposed in principle to the taking of birds for valid scientific purposes. However, studies should not involve unnecessary risks or stress to individual animals nor impact significantly upon populations of plants or animals. Research workers should be aware that even field observations of free‑living birds can cause significant disturbance. The impact of any particular study should be evaluated in terms of possible gain in knowledge against possible adverse consequences for individuals or the population.

“Papers may be rejected and research grants may be refused solely on ethica1 grounds.”

Your application should indicate that the work conforms to this policy.

11. Fulfilling BOU policy

In order to fulfil the above, the following factors will be considered in judging applications, but it is recognised that any one project should not be expected to fit all of these:

• Scientific quality of the research
• Feasibility in terms of resources and time allocated
• Involvement of local people, where appropriate
• Support of local organisation/insititute, where appropriate (e.g. see www.birdlife.org for contact details of BirdLife International Partners in each country)
• Likelihood and means of dissemination of results
• Utility, interest and significance of results to pure and applied aspects of ornithology

12. Timing of applications

The deadline for grant applications to be awarded in 2009 is 31 December 2008. Applicants are informed of their success in late March 2009 and awards are paid to successful applicants in April/May 2009.

Applications for projects which start in the early part of the year (January-April) can be applied for the year before the project is due to start, i.e. for projects starting January to April 2010 can be applied for award in 2009 (deadline 31 December 2008).

13. Submitting your application

Use the application form provided. Complete the fields requested and save as –

‘BOU grant application - <insert your surname/family name here> (e.g. BOU grant application – Dudley) and send by email to grants@bou.org.uk .

Your application must be accompanied by two references (see below).

Your application must be accompanied by an up to date CV which includes publication history (of most important papers if extensive).

Applications are only accepted via email, do not post or fax your application.

The BOU will acknowledge (by email) receipt of your application. Any correspondence will be undertaken by email.

14. Referees

All applications must be supported by two referees who must send letters of support (by email) direct to the BOU Office ( grants@bou.org.uk ). Please ask your referee to include the following in the subject header of the email –

‘BOU grant application – reference for <insert your surname/family name here> <insert referee surname/family name here> (e.g. BOU grant application – reference for John Smith).

References should not come from anyone actively participating in the project, but where possible should come from a partner organisation (e.g. local BirdLife partner, local institute) and an independent referee.

Applicants should include the name, address, telephone number and email address of these referees on their application form.

Please note that it is up to the applicant to arrange for references to be submitted by the above deadline. The BOU will not normally write to referees except in exceptional circumstances.

15. Consideration of your application

Applications are circulated to members of the BOU’s Ornithological Affairs Committee who then make their recommendations to BOU Council (March meeting). Applicants are contacted after this meeting (late March) to inform them if they have been successful.

16. Taking up an award

If your application is successful, awards must be taken up by the end of the calendar year in which they are awarded (i.e. taken up by 31 December 2009 for awards given in 2009).

If an award is not taken up by the deadline, and the award is still required, the recipient must write to the Chairman of the Ornithological Affairs Committee requesting special dispensation and explaining why the award has not been taken up and when it will be required. Failure to take up an award by the end of the calendar year after the year the award was given (i.e. by 31 December 2009 for awards given in 2009) will render the award void and will have to be refunded.

17. Reporting back to the BOU

A strict condition of accepting an award is that successful applicants will submit a report on the results of their work within three months of the completion of the project. This report should clearly state the background to the work, the main findings and their implications, and whether or not the work will be submitted for publication in Ibis or another ornithological journal. Photographs that can be used by BOU to promote the grants scheme are welcomed. A copy of the final report and reprints of any papers published be deposited with the BOU library.

The BOU look forward to receiving your proposal.

Steve Dudley
BOU Administrator

Application form (Word doc)

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• Application form (Word doc)
• Recent grants awarded

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