Call summary :

Key information

The Degrees Initiative is offering grants to researchers in the Global South to study the social and political dimensions of solar radiation modification (SRM) geoengineering. SRM is a controversial proposal for reducing some of the impacts of climate change by reflecting a small fraction of sunlight away from the Earth. The closing deadline for applications is 13 December 2023 (23:59 Greenwich Mean Time).

Grants of USD 45,000 for teams or USD 25,000 for individual researchers in the social sciences will be awarded to the most promising applications, which will be evaluated by independent peer review. Successful applicants are expected to attend a research-planning workshop, to be held in Istanbul in May 2024, to refine their proposal. The Degrees Initiative is not prescriptive about the specific research question, methods, or outcomes of projects. Additional funding may be awarded on a competitive basis if need is later demonstrated.

Why apply for a grant?

Degrees leads the world in building the capacity of the Global South to evaluate SRM. Since 2018, the Degrees Modelling Fund has supported climate scientists in developing countries to model the impacts of SRM, and it is the largest SRM research programme in the world by number of scientists. The Degrees Socio-Political Fund aims to mirror these achievements in the social sciences.

The Degrees experience is about much more than grants, however. With support for conferences and publication fees, collaboration with some of the world’s leading SRM experts, and connection with a growing global community, it is designed to help Southern researchers become leading experts in SRM.
Eligibility

Principal investigators must have a PhD and should have appropriate research experience. All project team members (including principal investigators) must be citizens of AND working in a developing country or emerging economy listed in the application guidelines.

Project proposals in anthropology, economics, ethics, geography, law, political science (including security studies and international relations), psychology, risk science, and sociology (including public perception and opinion) are eligible.

How to apply?

To apply, complete and submit the electronic application form available here by 13 December 2023 (23:59 Greenwich Mean Time). Incomplete applications cannot be considered. Each researcher named in an application should provide a copy of their passport or ID card and a CV with their full list of publications.
Review process

Project proposals will be evaluated through peer review carried out by an independent panel. Applications that meet or exceed our standards of excellence will be invited for a short video interview. A selection committee will then make final decisions on the projects that will be funded—pending the successful completion of a due diligence process.

Applicants can expect to receive a decision on their application at the end of February 2024, with projects expected to start in July, after the research-planning workshop in Istanbul in May.