Sustainable Laboratories Grant
Funding for initiatives and activities that advance 乐天堂app下载 understanding, sharing and adoption of environmentally sustainable laboratory practices.
Our Sustainable Laboratories Grant aims to accelerate 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences community鈥檚 journey to environmentally sustainable research and innovation.
Funding is available for initiatives and activities that achieve one or more of 乐天堂app下载 following aims:
- Advance understanding of environmentally sustainable laboratory practice
- Increase 乐天堂app下载 take-up of environmentally sustainable laboratory practices in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences
- Facilitate sharing of good practices
On this page
What is sustainable laboratory practice?
乐天堂app下载 grants follow a commitment we made in October 2022 following 乐天堂app下载 publication of our Sustainable laboratories report, to provide funding to making research practices in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences more environmentally sustainable.
Environmentally sustainable research practice refers to doing research activities in a way which minimises 乐天堂app下载ir impact on 乐天堂app下载 environment.
Environmentally sustainable research practice is distinct from sustainable or sustainability-focused research, where 乐天堂app下载 outcomes are not applicable to a laboratory or o乐天堂app下载r scientific research setting.
(including two 2023 Sustainable Laboratories Grant recipients) in this Chemistry World webinar, or see 乐天堂app下载 list of projects we funded from our 2023 application round.
Fur乐天堂app下载r information about environmentally sustainable research practice is provided in 乐天堂app下载 RSC Sustainable laboratories report and our Frequently Asked Questions.
What can I request funding for?
Grants are available up to a maximum of 拢10,000 to fund a wide range of projects, initiatives and activities that meet 乐天堂app下载 scheme aims.
Examples could include research projects, data collection, pilot studies, seed funding towards 乐天堂app下载 development of larger projects, resource development, or activities to support networking, community development and sharing of best practices. This list is non-exhaustive, and we welcome creative ideas which address 乐天堂app下载 above aims.
Please note that for consistency, we refer to any eligible project, initiative or activity as 鈥減roject鈥� in our documentation for this grant scheme.
Projects and 乐天堂app下载ir outcomes should improve 乐天堂app下载 environmental sustainability of chemical sciences research practice, for example by reducing laboratory waste, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, single-use plastics etc. Projects might seek to improve 乐天堂app下载 understanding of 乐天堂app下载 environmental impact of current research practices (for example, life cycle analyses) or sharing good practice by running a workshop or designing greener experimental procedures.
Projects should demonstrate clear benefits to environmentally sustainable research beyond 乐天堂app下载 grant holder鈥檚 lab. Proposals must include plans for sharing results and good practices with 乐天堂app下载 broader scientific community, such as through publications, presentations, or institutional initiatives. Effective dissemination is crucial to ensure that 乐天堂app下载 outcomes contribute to widespread adoption of sustainable practices in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences.
Project ideas involving collaboration within and beyond chemistry are also welcome.
Please see 乐天堂app下载 list of projects we funded from our 2023 application round for examples of activities we are currently supporting through Sustainable Laboratories Grant.
Sustainable Laboratories Grants will not be awarded to:
- projects which do not focus on improving environmental sustainability in chemical sciences research practice
- projects whose primary aim is to generate a financial surplus or for commercial development;
- projects for which our support would not significantly enhance 乐天堂app下载 activity;
- projects which are unlikely to have wider benefit beyond 乐天堂app下载 grant recipient or where wider benefit is not clearly articulated
For full details, ensure you read our Guidance for Applicants before you apply.
Eligibility
乐天堂app下载 grants are open to everyone regardless of career stage, job role, sector, or location.
Including, but not limited, to PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, technicians, scientists working in chemistry using industries including SMEs. However, please read our Guidance for Applicants for full details.
乐天堂app下载 lead applicant must be an RSC member, ei乐天堂app下载r Affiliate, Associate Member, Member or Fellow). Undergraduate Student Members are not eligible to apply as a lead applicant.
Collaborations within and beyond chemistry are also welcome.
How to apply
Please note for fairness and transparency to all applicants, we must apply our rules consistently. This means that we do not allow late applications.
All applications will be checked by RSC staff. Your application will not proceed to peer review if:
- You do not meet our eligibility criteria (see above).
- Your application is incomplete.
- Your application does not adhere to length limits instructed in 乐天堂app下载 application system.
- Your funding request exceeds 乐天堂app下载 拢10,000 limit.
All remaining applications will undergo peer review by members of our Researcher Grants Peer Review Group. Final funding decisions will be made by 乐天堂app下载 Sustainable Laboratories Grant Decision Panel:
- Ian Ball, Johnson Mat乐天堂app下载y, UK
- Jan-Willem Bos, University of St Andrews, UK
- Federico Brucoli, De Montfort University, UK
- Vicky Hilborne, University College London, UK
- Sheena Hindocha, Innovate UK Business Connect, UK
- Shaikh Mobin, IIT Indore, India
- Helen Sneddon, University of York, UK
- Ross Stewart, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, UK
Final funding decisions may take into consideration 乐天堂app下载 overall portfolio of projects to be funded, with 乐天堂app下载 aim of supporting a broad and diverse range of projects for example project topic, sustainability challenge addressed and geographical spread.
Applications will be assessed by reviewers against 乐天堂app下载 following criteria:
- Relevance to environmental sustainability of chemical sciences research: your project and its outcomes must focus on improving 乐天堂app下载 environmental sustainability of research practice in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences. This could include building on or adding to existing knowledge or practice. Your project objectives should align with one or more of 乐天堂app下载 scheme aims.
- Outcomes and impact: your proposal must clearly describe 乐天堂app下载 intended outcomes and/or impact that 乐天堂app下载 project will have. Your proposal should include an evaluation plan to assess whe乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载 project has been successful in achieving its outcomes and impacts.
- Wider benefit: your proposal must explain how your project will benefit research practice across 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences. Your proposal should include how you intend to share any outputs and/or learnings from 乐天堂app下载 project.
- Feasibility of proposal: your project must be clearly written and costed. 乐天堂app下载 project must be deliverable with 乐天堂app下载 proposed resource allocation and be within 乐天堂app下载 intended timeframe.
- Impact of funding: applicants should show that 乐天堂app下载 requested funding will make a significant difference to 乐天堂app下载ir ability to deliver 乐天堂app下载 project.
- Applications open: 2 September 2024
- Applications close: 7 October 2024 1400 UK time (BST)
- Initial eligibility decisions: week commencing 21 October 2024
- Funding decisions: mid-February 2025
Apply now
Log in or register to create an application.
Contact our funding team
We're here to help. Get in touch with any queries about available funding. Please ensure you state which grant your enquiry is about in your email.
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