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Call for applications: Grant Opportunities for Citizen Scientists
(groups and individuals) in Asia
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The Takagi Fund for Citizen Science (Takagi Fund, Tokyo, Japan) will invite grant applications for the 2008-2009 round from groups and individuals in Asia pursuing "Citizen Science". The deadline for submission of applications for this round is 30 September, 2008.
* Application term will possibly change next year.
* You can download the "call for application" from here (PDF)
Takagi Fund was established in 2000 following the last will of Dr Jinzaburo Takagi (1938-2000) who devoted his life to the realization of a nuclear-free society, democratization of public decision making and advocacy of "Citizen Science". His early career as a nuclear chemist led him to question the rationale of utilization of atomic power and turned him into a strong critic of nuclear energy both in military and commercial use. His wish was to foster and support the next generation of Citizen Scientists by converting his own estate into a fund and complimenting donations from concerned individuals and other sources that share his belief in the necessity of Citizen Science. Since then, more than a hundred research projects and activities have been offered grants in Japan and Asia.
The purpose of Takagi Fund is to foster and support independent Citizen Scientists who could present well-founded criticism and a scientific counterargument toward problems and threats caused by present-day science and technology. Such criticism and counterargument can be based on independent research and analysis by citizens themselves with appropriate backing up of committed experts. Takagi Fund expects that a true spirit of science which opens up sustainable future should well up from voluntary acts by citizen equipped with social awareness, sense of justice and some essential training, rather than from occupational activities of "professional" scientists controlled by Governments and/or corporate interests. Takagi Fund particularly encourages application of young researchers and grassroots groups, NPOs, NGOs who would share the Citizen Scientist spirit and practical mind to oppose the technological threats to the people.
Dr Takagi's concept of "Citizen Science" came from his strong sense of crisis as a concerned scientist that present-day science and technology are leading to threats to life and the environment. It was also his concern that most conventional scientists and researchers lacked a sense of social responsibility and have failed to take any initiative for an alternative relation between science and people.
The concept of "Citizen Scientists" presupposes that science should not be monopolized by those who are engaged in academic research and that citizens need to empower themselves by developing scientific knowledge, skills and critical ability. According to Dr Takagi, the mission of Citizen Science is "to give science a direction with a focus on hope for a future and to present a concept enabling the construction of a sustainable future." He also added that citizen science must "sow the seeds of hope into the hearts of people, organize people, and generate a flow leading to a revolutionary change."
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Research grants are to support research projects befitting Citizen Science as described above.
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The grant can cover research and travel expenses, printing and other outsourcing costs. It may also include costs to hold workshops or symposia to communicate research findings.
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Training Grants are to support individuals to receive training at educational institutions, NGOs, research institutes, etc. to enhance their expertise as citizen scientists and to gain hands-on experience.
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The grant can be used to cover travel, accommodation, tuition or related costs. |
There are no restrictions as to the eligibility of individuals or groups as long as they pursue Citizen Science as defined by Takagi Fund, no matter whether the applicants have defined or designated themselves as such so far.
* Nationality (citizenship) is not a strict factor here. Please contact Takagi Fund Secretariat for eligibility.
The total grant and limit par grant for the 2008-2009 round is JP\ 2,000,000 , roughly equivalent to US$18,575 / EUR11,809 (at July 2008 rate). The grant size in the past has ranged from \200,000 to \1,000,000 annually.
* Takagi Fund has already selected one recipient for a research grant for this year, and the grant amount left is \1,600,000.
The basic term of support is for one year after the agreement. If you want to apply with on-going or short term research or training plan, please consult the Takagi Fund Secretariat.
- Project/proposal which inquires into urgent issues of science and technology threatening human society and environment, and related policy issues.
- Project/proposal which contributes to enhancing human rights, human security, ecological wealth, alternative economics and peace for all citizens without exclusion of the most disadvantaged.
- Project/proposal which has imagination and conceptual power, backed by expertise and appropriate methodology, with planning and budget adequately designed.
- Project/proposal which has a clear and practical vision of how to return the project findings to society or to advocate policy changes.
- Project/proposal which deals with issues that Japanese government and/or corporations are partly or fully responsible for.
* Past grant recipients can be found at http://www.takagifund.org/e/list.html
- Project/proposal of which the topic and the level has a high possibility of receiving public funding or support from corporations.
- Project/proposal submitted by a relatively large group or a well-established institution that has the ability to reach its own funding sources.
- Project/proposal of which the budget is allocated mainly to outsourcing to other researchers.
- Project/proposal of which the budget is allocated mainly to administrative costs, salaries and campaigns.
Applicants are required to submit an application form by Email. Application forms can be downloaded from http://www.takagifund.org/e/apply.html. The deadline for submission of applications for this round is 30 September, 2008. Funding decisions will be made by the executive board. The review process usually takes between one and three months. Takagi Fund recommends you to contact the Secretariat with a brief summary of your project/ proposal by email before submitting a full application.
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