Berkeley Institute of the EnvironmentFaculty Interdisciplinary Roundtable Competition 2008-2009 The Berkeley Institute of the Environment (BIE) is a University-wide, multidisciplinary initiative created to leverage UC Berkeley’s collective resources for multidisciplinary research, teaching, and action to help address the planet’s most critical environmental problems. BIE’s three core research themes include Sustainable Communities, Environment and Society, and Energy and Climate Change. Across these themes, BIE’s mission is to advance a broader understanding of how anthropogenic interventions, systems, and institutions challenge and/or compromise climate stability, environmental integrity, ecosystem function, and human health. As a key strategy to meet this mission, BIE seeks to support original, multi-disciplinary collaborative research teams through the BIE Faculty Interdisciplinary Roundtable Program. In its third year, BIE seeks to fund up to four Roundtables, at least one in each of BIE’s 3 core research themes, for one academic year. These guidelines define the criteria and procedures for competing for this award within the Institute. The Roundtable is conceived as a mechanism for the recruitment and development of new interdisciplinary research projects under the institutional guidance of BIE. The Roundtable will consist of a mini-grant of up to $20,000 that will provide seed funding to a faculty team wishing to jointly explore a novel environmental research theme or a portfolio of research projects that will over time develop into full research proposal for external funding. BIE envisions the faculty research teams or clusters to consist of three or more researchers from different academic disciplines. All current faculty with PI status are eligible to apply for this award. Preference will be given to applications covering a broad range of disciplines rather than a tight cluster of related fields. BIE funding for a Faculty Roundtable may be used for any legitimate purpose that advances the research agenda of the Roundtable. This includes, but is not limited to, support to facilitate regular meetings of roundtable members, graduate student support, outside speakers, and for travel necessary to develop a full proposal. Additionally, awarded researchers will be expected to participate in the intellectual development of the BIE in addition to jointly pursuing their proposed research project. Such activities include:
Proposal Topics
BIE will support Roundtable projects on topics within the many fields of environmental science and policy inquiry, with a requirement that the approach to the environmental problem/issue be fundamentally interdisciplinary. Collaboration between nature science, social science, and the humanities are particularly encouraged. It is expected that Roundtable proposals will form the intellectual basis for further external funding through the BIE and will contribute to the BIE’s core research portfolio. Proposals will be reviewed by a panel of UC Berkeley faculty. Schedule and Deadlines
Completed Applications are due by 4:00 pm, Friday, April 18th, 2008. Decisions are expected to be made around May 23, 2008. Roundtable appointments will begin July 1, 2008 and will end June 30, 2009. Applications should be no more than 5 pages in length including the attached proposal cover sheet. Applications should include:
All applications must include signed proposal cover sheet. Completed applications of the proposal should be submitted to Ms. Elena Givental, Administrative Analyst, Berkeley Institute of the Environment, MC 1250, 339 Mulford Hall. Questions regarding the application procedure may be directed to Daniel McGrath, Executive Director, (510) 642-2163 or to dmcgrath@berkeley.edu. Examples of past Roundtable recipients include: • Designing and choosing new transportation fuels |