SESYNC Invites Proposals for Collaborative & Interdisciplinary Team-Based Research Projects
The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) requests proposals for collaborative and interdisciplinary team-based research projects under two programs: Pursuits and Workshops.
SESYNC is a synthesis research center that brings together diverse groups in new, interdisciplinary collaborations to identify solutions to society’s most challenging and complex environmental problems. Proposals are invited for synthesis research projects focused on understanding the interactions and feedbacks among natural and social systems in key areas. Research leading to new tools, methods, and other practices applicable to actionable team research on socio-environmental problems is also encouraged.
We encourage those interested in these opportunities to discuss their ideas with SESYNC prior to developing their proposal. Discussions with team leaders can often help determine if an idea is appropriate for SESYNC, as well as how syntheses might be structured to achieve strong interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary outcomes. Please contact [log in to unmask] to schedule a conversation. To be effective, this should occur no later than 3 weeks prior to submitting a proposal.
Pursuits
Teams interested in applying for a Pursuit should examine SESYNC’s research Themes and select one to apply for. Each Theme outlines a general research topic identified by SESYNC through a community-driven process. Themes offer opportunities to study a variety of related research questions and to develop actionable scientific outcomes, in addition to linkages with other similarly funded projects. Pursuit teams should be comprised of no more than 15 members who will meet at our Center in Annapolis for 3–4 meetings of approximately 3–5 days over a period of 1–2 years. SESYNC Themes include the following:
• Ecological Wealth & Changing Human Populations
• Globalization & Socio-Environmental Systems
• Assessment & Modeling of Ecosystem Services
• Water, People & Ecosystems
• Learning to Integrate Across Natural & Social Sciences
• Biodiversity & Ecosystem Services
• Social & Environmental Dimensions of the Food–Energy–Water Nexus
• Building Resources for Complex Action-Oriented Team Science
• Data-Intensive Analysis & Modeling for Socio-Environmental Synthesis
Opportunities for Additional Synthesis Research Projects
We recognize that there are many potential projects with great applicability to socio-environmental problems that fall outside the current portfolio of SESYNC Themes. Accordingly, SESYNC offers a limited number of opportunities for exciting and creative Pursuits that are not explicitly tied to an existing SESYNC Theme and address a pressing need, or with high potential to develop important results.
Click here for complete details. Proposals must be uploaded to SESYNC’s online submission system by May 16, 2016, at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Workshops
Teams interested in applying for a Workshop, a single meeting of up to ~25 participants, may focus on a broad topic or a set of related topics relevant to socio-environmental synthesis. Workshops typically summarize and/or synthesize the state of the topic and/or identify future directions that have the potential to lead to a larger synthesis effort. Workshop applications are not required to fall under a Theme.
Click here for complete details. Proposals must be uploaded to SESYNC’s online submission system by May 16, 2016, at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).
Other Information
SESYNC also invites proposals for its Sabbatical, Policy & Practice, and Maryland Fellowships, in addition to its Short-Term Visitor and Short Course programs. Application instructions for each program can be found on our website.
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