The Takagi Fund For Citizen Science
2007-08 Call For Grant Applications
:
For Individuals and Groups in
Asia.
The Takagi Fund for Citizen Science (headquartered in Tokyo) will accept grant applications according to the procedure described below. We anticipate applications from aspiring young researchers and citizen groups in Asia, pursuing CITIZEN SCIENCE through research and educational activities.
Objective of the Takagi Fund for Citizen Science
Grant Content and Application Qualifications
Support-Qualifying Research or Training
Application Method and Screening Procedure
Recipients of the Takagi Fund Grant
Grant Content and Application Qualifications
1) Grant Categories
Grants from the Takagi Fund for Citizen Science are classified as follows, according to grant content and residence of the applicants.
Grants for Survey and Research by Individuals and Groups in Japan
Grants for Study / Training Encouragement for Individuals in Japan
Grant Total for Japan: JPY8,000,000.
Grants for Survey and Research by Asian Individuals and Groups
Grants for Study / Training Encouragement for Asian Individuals
Grant Total for Asia: JPY2,000,000.
Individuals and groups in Japan refer to Japanese-speaking residents of Japan, but nationality (citizenship) is not a factor.
Likewise, nationality (citizenship) is not a strict factor in individuals and groups in other Asian countries.
In case you fall under the first three categories, please make a separate inquiry in Japanese. If your project belongs to categories IV or V follow the procedure hereunder.
If you have any questions, please fax (+81-3-3358-7064) or e-mail
(info@takagifund.org)
the Takagi Fund Secretariat.
2) Research Grants
Research grants are given to help support research befitting Citizen Science (see the next item), expenses for holding workshops or symposiums, and various expenses involved in communicating research findings. (The various expenses involved in communicating research findings include expenses for travel, compensation, outsourcing, conferencing, printing, etc.)
The grants are not given to subsidize personnel expenses of grant-receiving individuals or groups or to subsidize purchases of expensive equipment.
3) Training Grants
Encouragement for participation in training courses is given to help subsidize expenses for the travel and accommodation required to participate in training courses conducted outside of Japan at educational institutions of universities, NGOs, research institutes, and other such organizations. The purposes of participating in such training must be to enhance expertise as a citizen scientist and to gain hands-on experience.
4) Eligibility
There are no restrictions as to the eligibility of individuals or groups for a grant as long as they pursue Citizen Science as defined by the Takagi Fund (see Purpose of the Takagi Fund) . Citizens and citizen groups from the general public are also eligible.
5) Grant Amounts
JPY 2,000,000 is the limit per grant.
The total for grants for the current 2007-08 round is JPY 10,000,000 (JPY 8,000,000 for Japan and JPY 2,000,000 for Asia).
6) Term of Support
As a rule, the term of support is from April 1,2007 to March 31, 2008.
Research or training conducted within this term qualifies for a grant.
If you want to apply for our grant with on-going or long-term research or training plan, please contact to the Takagi Fund Secretariat.
Support-Qualifying Research or Training
Research or training that qualifies for support must have the objective of inquiring into urgent problems and mechanisms involved in science and technology threatening human society and global environment and examining related policies. The purpose is to attempt to shed light on the situation in order to allow for the elaboration of sound and sustainable alternative policies.
Basic selection criteria include the following:
Research Grants
1) Theme
The research project should cover an issue of primary importance in order to contribute to human rights, safety, security, environmental quality, economics and peace for all citizens. The project topic should also cover a matter of great urgency.
2) Project Outline
The project should have imagination and conceptual power backed by expertise. Methodology, planning and budget should be designed appropriately.
3) Communication
Citizen Scientists shall never produce research reports that end up as dead literature. Research findings should be returned to society by efficient means of communication and through concrete policy proposals.
4) Youth first
The potential as Citizen Scientists should be promising and well presented. An intelligent project of a young researcher might be given preference over that of a veteran researcher with impressive track record.
5) Research does not qualify for Takagi Fund support in the following cases:
Financial resources found elsewhere are considered preferable
A high proportion of outsourcing to other researchers
The main part of the project budget is allocated to staff, office operations and campaign funds
Training Grants
1) Theme
Citizen Science has to get involved in educational activities in order to contribute to human rights, safety, security, environmental quality, economics and peace for all citizens. The project topic should also cover a matter of great urgency.
2) Host Organizations
Training should be conducted at organizations such as educational or research institutions and well established NPOs or NGOs, where imagination and conceptual power backed by expertise can be learned.
3) Continuity
Trainees should develop a perspective in order to continue working on their tasks in the future beyond the training period itself.
4) Trainees do not qualify for Takagi Fund Grants in the following cases:
The main purpose is language acquisition
The proportion of expenses for accommodation is considered inappropriate
Application method and screening procedure
1) How to apply
Please refer to the Takagi Fund Secretariat with an outline (1,000words) of your research or study plan with your CV by E-mail. The Takagi Fund secretariat will send you the grant application form (MS Word file).
2) Reception term
For FY 2006 Grant for Asia, applications can be submitted at any time.
If the reception term expires, there will be a specific announcement on the Takagi Fund website.
Applications and Inquiries:
The Takagi Fund for Citizen Science
Toda Bldg. 4F, 1-21 Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 160-0004
Tel/Fax: +81-3-3358-7064
E-mail: info@takagifund.org