Agenda

1. Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social SciencesOverview of Schemes 2009/2010Tim Conlon 24 November 2008

2. Agenda • Introduction to the IRCHSS • Overview of Research Schemes • Questions

3. About the IRCHSS • An autonomous agency established by the Minister for Education and Science in 2000. • Funded by the Department of Education and Science, administrative support provided by the Higher Education Authority. • Promotes excellence and the highest standards in research in the humanities, social sciences, business and law. • Facilitates the integration of Irish researchers in the humanities and social sciences within the European Research Area.

4. Research Council Members • Dr. Maurice Bric, Chairman IRCHSS, UCD • Professor John Brewer, University of Aberdeen • Dr. Josephine Browne, IADT Dun Laoghaire • Professor Angela Chambers, UL • Professor John Coakley, UCD • Professor Vincent Comerford, NUI, Maynooth • Professor Michael Cronin, DCU • Professor Sheila Green, TCD • Professor Áine Hyland, Vice-Chair IRCHSS, UCC • Professor Rowena Pecchenino, NUI, Maynooth • Dr. Sean Ryder, NUI, Galway • Dr. Anthony Walsh, Institute of Bankers

5. Activities: National Schemes • Administration of research funding schemes • 2008: 14m euro budget • 203 awards in 2007/08 (plus 2.5 GREP awards) • 6 schemes (plus GREP & Ulysses) • Promotion of HSS research funding opportunities • Contribution to research policy for HSS

6. IRCHSS Research Schemes

7. Anthropology Celtic Studies Classics & Archaeology Cultural Studies Economics Education Environmental Studies (applications relevant to the HSS) Film Studies Folklore Studies Government & Political Science; History International Development Irish Language Studies Languages, Linguistics & Literatures Library & Information Studies Law Management & Business Media & Communications Philosophy Psychology (applications relevant to the HSS) Religious Studies Social & Economic Geography Social Policy & Social Work Sociology Musicology & Theatre Studies (excluding applications in composition and performance) Theology Subject areas

8. Awards 2003-07

9. All awardees

12. Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships Awarded Helen Young – UL The European Union as an actor in the United Nations Simon McDonnell – UCD Evaluating priority bus corridor performance. A case study of the Dublin Quality Bus Network Mr Cian O’ Callaghan – UCC Capital and Culture: Urban Regeneration in Cork and Limerick Ms Nessa Cronin – NUIG Mapping the Land: A Cultural History of the Cartography of Ireland Emma Dillon – TCD A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Animal Disease Eradication Strategies: Foot and Mouth Disease in Ireland

13. Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships Awarded Ronan Moore – NUIM Extra-parliamentary politics and the printed word in mid eighteenth-century Dublin Deirdre Nic Mhathúna – UCC Filíocht Phiarais Feiritéir Christiane Gernet - Dublin City University Globalisation and Women's Agency in South America - The response of women's activism Kathleen Moylan - Dublin Institute of Technology New Crossroads: Emerging identities and public spaces in 21st century Dublin

14. Postgraduate Scholarship • Valued at €16,000 per annum. Fees are also paid. • Awarded for up to three years. • EU applicants ordinarily resident in Ireland.

15. Postdoctoral Fellowship • Valued at €31,745 per annum. • One or two years duration. • Candidates who have completed their PhD not more than five years previously.

16. Postdoctoral FellowshipPostgraduate Scholarships Overview • Open competition • Only selection criteria is ‘excellence’ • Only fund the best research proposals • Assessed by an expert International peer review panel (15 – 30 reviewers from outside the Irish academic community) • Transparent process – feedback from review is provided

17. Evaluation Process Five-phase approach: • Eligibility and Adherence to Terms and Conditions • International Independent Peer Review • Pre-meeting evaluation by Board Members • International Assessment Board meeting • Post-meeting follow up and feedback

18. The Board (…a board) • Chair: Prof. Arnd Bohm, Carleton University, Canada - Department of German Language and Literature • Prof. Robert Aldrich, University of Sydney, Australia - Professor of European History • Dr. Simon Ball, University of Glasgow, UK - Reader in Modern History • Prof. Stefan Berger, University of Manchester, UK - Chair of Modern German Historical Studies • Prof. Mary Bryden, University of Reading – School of European Studies (English Drama, Literature, French Theatre, Literature and Religion) • Dr. James Clackson, Jesus College, Cambridge, UK - The Faculty of Classics • Dr. Claire Connolly, Cardiff University, UK - School of English, Communication and Philosophy • Dr. Virginia Crossman, Oxford Brookes University, UK - Modern Irish History • Prof. John Darby, University of Notre Dame, USA - Comparative Ethnic Studies • Prof. Hastings Donnan, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Anthropological Studies • Prof. Richard English, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - Centre for Irish Politics • Dr. Marco Ercolani, University of Birmingham, UK - Economics Department • Prof. Robin Frame, University of Durham, UK - Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies • Prof. Patrick Hanafin, Birkbeck College University of London, UK – School of Law • Prof. Bernadette Hayes, University of Aberdeen, UK - Department of Sociology • Prof. Brian Ilbery, University of Gloucestershire, UK – Cultural Geography • Prof. Josef Jarab, Palacky University, Czech Republic - English and American literature • Prof. Evanthia Lyons, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Psychology • Prof. James Mallory, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology • Dr. Ian McBride, King’s College, London - Early Modern History • Prof. Brian Ó Conchubhair, University of Notre Dame, USA - Dept. of Irish Language & Literature • Dr. Oscar Odena, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland - School of Education • Prof. Michael Power, University of Edinburgh, UK - Clinical & Health Psychology • Prof. Shaun Richards, Staffordshire University - Director Research and Enterprise, Faculty of Arts, Media & Design (Comparative Literature) • Prof. Jim Samson, Royal Holloway, University of London, UK - Professor of Music • Prof. Robert Savage, Boston College, USA - Associate Director Irish Studies • Dr. Tanja Staehler, University of Sussex, UK - Centre for Literature and Philosophy • Prof. Alan Warde, University of Manchester, UK - Sociology • Dr. Claire Willsdon, University of Glasgow, UK – History of Art

19. Peer Review College • Database of Humanities and Social Sciences experts to contribute to national and international evaluation practices. • International discipline experts to participate in national scheme evaluations. • National discipline experts to contribute to the work of the IRCHSS in consultations, reviews of existing awards progress committees, and potential nominations for international assessments (as an when required). www.irchss.ie

20. Postdoctoral FellowshipPostgraduate Scholarships Overview Attributes useful for research • Committed • Passion for subject area • Self motivator • Work on own initiative • Independent • Creative

21. Postgraduate Scholarships Criteria Applications evaluated under T&C paragraph 15 also see application form part 14 • Description of topic (no more than 600 words) • Methodology (no more than 600 words) • Research plan (no more than 400 words) • Relationship of the project to existing research (no more than 600 words) • Description of any specialist knowledge/data (e.g. language competence, technical skills, use of specialist software, etc.) required to undertake the project (no more than 400 words) • Reason for choosing the institution and supervisor for the project (no more than 400 words) • Progress to date (no more than 500 words). <currently registered> • The applicant’s record and academic achievements (as determined by the assessors on the basis of the application material provided)

22. Postdoctoral Fellowships Criteria Applications evaluated under T&C paragraph 17 also see application form part 15 • Description of topic (no more than 600 words) • Methodology (no more than 600 words) • Research plan (no more than 400 words) • Resumé of doctoral thesis (where a proposal is a direct continuation of the doctoral thesis – state how the fellowship will expand and develop it) (no more than 200 words) • Relationship of the project to existing research (no more than 600 words) • Specialist knowledge/data (e.g. language competence, technical skills, use of specialist software, etc.) required (no more than 400 words) • Institution and supervisor for the project (no more than 200 words) • Description of modifications made to the proposal if the proposal has been previously submitted (no more than 200 words) • Conference papers and publications planned (no more than 200 words). • Dissemination plans (no more than 200 words) • The applicant’s record and academic achievements (as determined by the assessors on the basis of the application material provided)

23. Postdoctoral FellowshipPostgraduate Scholarships Overview PhD Award • Develop a specialist individual piece of research so as to make a new contribution to the body of knowledge in the area. Post PhD • Postdoctoral Award • Publish: to gain recognition by peers and advance career, present papers at seminars/conferences, develop new research direction • Research or policy track? Academic career? • Lecturer • Professional researcher (Academia, Industry) • Policy • Opportunities to travel – academic posts/research teams abroad • EU collaborative research programmes (2008) • Contribute to Ireland’s knowledge-based economy

24. NORFACE ERA-NET International Opportunities

25. Challenges & Opportunities • Ambitious targets set for HSS. • IRCHSS primary and consistent funder of HSS. • Gap in funding of HSS infrastructure.

26. Important Dates AdvertisedClosing Post Grad Scholars November 200830 January 2009 Postdoctoral Fellows November 200823 January 2009

27. Questions?

28. IRCHSS Contact Points • Tim Conlon – Director (Acting) • National Schemes: Fiona Davis, Programme Manager • EU/International Activities: Sorcha Carthy, European Projects Officer info@irchss.ie www.irchss.ie