1. Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences Overview of Schemes 2009/2010 Tim 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 Postgraduate Research Scholarship Postdoctoral Fellowship Research Fellowship Senior Research Fellowship Small Project Grant Thematic Project Grant

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 Year2007/20082006/20072005/20062004/20052003/2004 Scheme AppsAwardsAppsAwardsAppsAwardsAppsAwardsAppsAwards Postgraduate Scholarship 36512437894293912998132076 Postdoctoral Fellowship 1332211622802374307620 Research Fellowship 4710669381035163410 Senior Research Fellowship 379519491029123613 Projects 1333810620891399217040 Annual Total 715203717154549147536160536159 Success Rate 28%22%27%30%

9. All awardees

12. 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 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships Awarded

13. 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 Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarships Awarded

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. 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 Postdoctoral Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarships Overview

17. Evaluation Process Five-phase approach : 1. Eligibility and Adherence to Terms and Conditions 2. International Independent Peer Review 3. Pre-meeting evaluation by Board Members 4. International Assessment Board meeting 5. 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.iewww.irchss.ie

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

21. 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). The applicant’s record and academic achievements (as determined by the assessors on the basis of the application material provided) Postgraduate Scholarships Criteria

22. 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) Postdoctoral Fellowships Criteria

23. 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 Postdoctoral Fellowship Postgraduate Scholarships Overview

24. International Opportunities NORFACE ERA-NET

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

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

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