getting the most from learned societies' funding opportunities - the regional studies...

Getting the most from learned societies' funding opportunities - The Regional Studies Association

Regional Studies Association

Learned societies promote and develop their field of inquiry and could be of assistance both as a provider of

small grants and awards, but also as a network through which

toobtain other funding.

Three key ways learned societies can help in the search

for funding:

1.1. Through ‘springboard’ or micro grant funding to help Through ‘springboard’ or micro grant funding to help you get larger, longer term grants.you get larger, longer term grants.

2.2. Through their network.Through their network.3.3. Through travel and conference funding.Through travel and conference funding.


‘Springboard’/micro grants & network funding

Offered by many learned societies Offered by many learned societies –– the big players the big players sometimes offer reasonably significant grants. sometimes offer reasonably significant grants.

Objectives normally either:Objectives normally either:1.1. To develop the researcher or project so they become attractive To develop the researcher or project so they become attractive

to the bigger funding bodies. to the bigger funding bodies. Royal Geographical Society/IBG, www.rgs.org.uk provide these Royal Geographical Society/IBG, www.rgs.org.uk provide these

types of awards.types of awards.2.2. To fund collaborative research networks/study groups to To fund collaborative research networks/study groups to

discuss and develop research questions and foster academic discuss and develop research questions and foster academic networks:networks:

Regional Studies Association offers up to £3,000 for members to Regional Studies Association offers up to £3,000 for members to organise events to discuss topics of common interest.organise events to discuss topics of common interest.

Good starting point are directories of learned Good starting point are directories of learned societies:societies:– Academy of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences Academy of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences

((www.acss.org.uk)www.acss.org.uk)– British Academy (http://www.britac.ac.uk).British Academy (http://www.britac.ac.uk).


Opportunities through their networks:

A significant number of funding opportunities arise out A significant number of funding opportunities arise out of the networks that learned societies offer through:of the networks that learned societies offer through:– Finding collaborative research partners Finding collaborative research partners – Identifying new ways to make opportunities ‘fit’ researchIdentifying new ways to make opportunities ‘fit’ research– Gaining advice and insight from more experienced colleaguesGaining advice and insight from more experienced colleagues– Finding publishing partners and therefore greater hit ratesFinding publishing partners and therefore greater hit rates– Finding ‘mentors’Finding ‘mentors’– Enhancing applications by discovering who, what and where Enhancing applications by discovering who, what and where

has been fundedhas been funded– And so on…And so on…


Funding to attend conferences Many learned societies offer some type of conference Many learned societies offer some type of conference

bursaries or travel grants precisely because the bursaries or travel grants precisely because the networks are so vital. For example RSA offers:networks are so vital. For example RSA offers:

– Free conference places through their conference bursariesFree conference places through their conference bursaries– Two ‘Bill Ogden memorial prizes’ providing a free conference Two ‘Bill Ogden memorial prizes’ providing a free conference

place and travel support to the winter conference. place and travel support to the winter conference. – Travel Award offering up to £200 towards travel costs to a Travel Award offering up to £200 towards travel costs to a NON NON

RSA event.RSA event.


That’s 3 ways learned societies could help, but they alsooffer a lot more….

The RSA is a learned society is a learned society concerned with analysis of regions concerned with analysis of regions and regional issues. and regional issues.

It aims to serve the regional studies community – students, It aims to serve the regional studies community – students, academic, practitioners and policy makers. academic, practitioners and policy makers.

Through its international membership it provides an Through its international membership it provides an authoritative authoritative

voice of, and network for academics, students, practitioners, voice of, and network for academics, students, practitioners, policy makers and interested lay people in the field of regional policy makers and interested lay people in the field of regional studies. studies.

2009 Membership benefits

Funding opportunities- The possibility to apply for up to £3,000 of renewable research The possibility to apply for up to £3,000 of renewable research

network fundingnetwork funding- Eligibility to apply for conference bursariesEligibility to apply for conference bursaries- The possibility to apply for Travel Awards (£200 to cover The possibility to apply for Travel Awards (£200 to cover

transports costs to attend non RSA events within regional transports costs to attend non RSA events within regional studies)studies)

NetworkingNetworking- International Territorial Networks (UK Sub-National Branches, International Territorial Networks (UK Sub-National Branches,

Country Sections and Country Representatives)Country Sections and Country Representatives)- Directory of Regional Researchers via the new membership Directory of Regional Researchers via the new membership

portal (expert register)portal (expert register)- E-bulletin Network (including job vacancies posting)E-bulletin Network (including job vacancies posting)- International Conferences with territorial pricing International Conferences with territorial pricing - Free annual President's Luncheon (2009: House of Lords)Free annual President's Luncheon (2009: House of Lords)



DiscountsDiscounts- To all Regional Studies Association Conferences (new To all Regional Studies Association Conferences (new

Territorial fees for annual international conferences)Territorial fees for annual international conferences)- 30% discount on the Association’s Book Series: 30% discount on the Association’s Book Series: Regions and Regions and

CitiesCities- 30% on all subject related Taylor & Francis books and e-books 30% on all subject related Taylor & Francis books and e-books

including Routledgeincluding Routledge



OpportunitiesOpportunities- Present your work at RSA conferences and eventsPresent your work at RSA conferences and events- Get feedback on your work and meet experts in the fieldGet feedback on your work and meet experts in the field- Pro-active membership (become a Country Representative, Pro-active membership (become a Country Representative,

open and run a UK Sub National Branch or an International open and run a UK Sub National Branch or an International Section, become part of the RSA Board etc…) Section, become part of the RSA Board etc…)

• AwardsAwards- Taught Master, Best Undergraduate, Early Career, Best Taught Master, Best Undergraduate, Early Career, Best

International Conference paper, Best Book, Best Contribution International Conference paper, Best Book, Best Contribution to the fieldto the field



PublicationsPublications- 10 issues of 10 issues of Regional StudiesRegional Studies- 4 issues of 4 issues of Spatial Economic AnalysisSpatial Economic Analysis (SEA) (SEA) - 4 issues of 4 issues of Regions Regions , the Association’s quarterly magazine, the Association’s quarterly magazine- A fully searchable recent issues CD (A fully searchable recent issues CD (Regional StudiesRegional Studies and and

SEASEA))- A fully searchableA fully searchable Regional Studies Regional Studies archive archive- Free online subscription to the following 8 Routledge e-Free online subscription to the following 8 Routledge e-

Journals:Journals:CityCity

Policy StudiesPolicy Studies

Space and PolitySpace and Polity

2121stst Century Society Century Society

International Planning StudiesInternational Planning Studies

Planning Practice and ResearchPlanning Practice and Research

Regional and Federal StudiesRegional and Federal Studies

Entrepreneurship and Regional DevelopmentEntrepreneurship and Regional Development


Territorial MembershipTerritorial Membership

Newly introduced in 2008;Newly introduced in 2008; Allows wider access to all;Allows wider access to all; 4 bands reflecting the ability to pay according to GDP 4 bands reflecting the ability to pay according to GDP

(lowest band pays a ¼ of the full rate); (lowest band pays a ¼ of the full rate); 5 categories of membership (Individual, Student, Early 5 categories of membership (Individual, Student, Early

Career, Associate and Corporate); Career, Associate and Corporate); A further 20% off when joining during an RSA A further 20% off when joining during an RSA

conference/event.conference/event.



Band ABand A Band BBand B Band CBand C Band DBand D

RSA RSA members members individual individual and and corporatecorporate

22%22% 41%41% 61%61% 80%80%

RSA RSA members members student, student, early career early career and and associateassociate

41%41% 44%44% 61%61% 80%80%

Non RSA Non RSA membersmembers

12%12% 12%12% 12%12% 12%12%

Territorial Membership fees: SavingsTerritorial Membership fees: SavingsWhen you book our Annual Conferences early, you When you book our Annual Conferences early, you save on average:save on average:


www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk

If you would like to discuss any opportunities for you If you would like to discuss any opportunities for you within thewithin the

Regional Studies Association or/and wish to join us, Regional Studies Association or/and wish to join us, pleaseplease

contact the RSA at :contact the RSA at :

rsa@[email protected] rsa@[email protected] or or

please call +44 (0) 1323 899 698please call +44 (0) 1323 899 698

getting the most from learned societies' funding opportunities - the regional studies...

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