EFI Research Awards - Edinburgh Futures Institute

EFI Research Awards 2019

Applications are now open for the Edinburgh Futures Institute 2019 Research Awards.

Funding of up to £5,000 will be made to staff from across the University to support research which identifies new interdisciplinary questions that can be taken forward as part of the Institute’s vision.

The Edinburgh Futures Institute will pioneer new interdisciplinary research with the potential of transforming people’s lives, weaving data science through the arts, humanities and social sciences to address major challenges in the economy, education and society.

The deadline for research awards applications is 22 March 2019.

Up to five awards will be granted funding.

Criteria and application process

Applications are open to all University of Edinburgh staff. The application form asks you three basic questions:

To explain what your research question is and why this interdisciplinary question is important e.g. offers new theoretical insights that challenge conventional wisdom; applies novel theory and methods in fresh contexts.
To identify how your question can be taken forward as part of EFI’s research vision.
To highlight how you will work with other parties (e.g. governments, organisations, universities, communities, individuals, businesses) to develop answers to the proposed question.

Entries will be sifted by an interdisciplinary judging panel chaired by Owen Kelly, Deputy Director of the Edinburgh Futures Institute.

The panel is looking for interdisciplinary research questions that are risky, challenge existing theoretical and methodological paradigms, and have the potential to contribute to social transformations.

Award conditions

The judging panel will make the final funding decisions by the 5^th April 2019.
Award recipients have to document all expenditures.
Funding has to be spent by the end of the financial year 2018/2019 [31 July]
All expenditure must comply with University policy and procedures.
Recipients have to agree to provide a write up, suitable for appearing on the EFI website, that documents their project and what they did with the award by October 2019.

If you have any queries, please email efi@ed.ac.uk

How to apply?

Please download the EFI Research Awards 2019 Guidelines [Word doc]

Please download and complete the EFI Research Awards 2019 Application Form [Word doc]

Email your completed form to EFI@ed.ac.uk

Previous awards

2018 EFI Research Awards winners:

Benjamin Bach – Can data visualizations engage a wider audience in data-driven policy and decision-making about inequality?
Benjamin’s project involves a collaboration between schools across the University and outside organisations such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation to uncover how data visualisations can practically help a wide range of policy makers to tackle inequality.

Deborah Scott – Can we develop narratives to guide Scotland’s scientific research, technical innovation, commercial development, and public policy relating to near- Earth orbit and outer space?
Deborah’s project involves engaging with space scientists and engineers, social scientists of outer space, science fiction authors, and illustrators and challenges them to imagine together possible futures of Edinburgh and outer space.

Kate Symons – How can blockchain technology restore trust in sustainable development, aid and humanitarianism?
Kate’s work is a collaboration between the Centre for African Studies, Design Informatics, Geosciences, and Social Anthropology to prototype new forms of blockchain technology to help people in Africa.

Jean-Benoît Falisse – How can community-level actors use ‘data abundance’ to improve basic social services in fragile and low-income settings?
Jean-Benoît‘s work involves mapping out how communities and individuals, particularly in fragile contexts, can take advantage of the new possibilities that data provide for improving their outcomes.