Call for the 2014 Coblentz Student Awards and Fateley Award

The Coblentz Society has for many years encouraged young scientists to pursue studies in spectroscopy by seeking nominations of outstanding students for the Coblentz Student Awards. The awardees receive a copy of the Society's Desk Book, a certificate, and a year's membership in the Society. Their names and the names of their faculty advisors will appear in the Society's Newsletter (published in Applied Spectroscopy and available from the Coblentz Society and SAS websites). All awardees who attend the SciX conference will receive their award in person at a presentation during the poster session on Sunday evening by then Coblentz Society's president. Those students who do not attend the SciX conference will receive their award by mail

The three leading graduate students selected by the Coblentz Award committee will also qualify for consideration for the William G. Fateley student award that includes a presentation by the winner at the SciX conference (20 minute oral presentation), a plaque, and a prize of $1000. No separate nomination for the Fateley award is required.

The nominations window for Coblentz Student Awards is open November 1, 2013 – February 1, 2014.  Winners will be announced in February 2014.

Nominations by e-mail are preferred and may be sent to the Chair of the Coblentz Student Affairs Committee, Prof. Rohit Bhargava, at rxb@illinois.edu.  Graduate or undergraduate students who have shown excellence in vibrational spectroscopy research and/or coursework including vibrational spectroscopy may be nominated. The nominator must be a member of the Coblentz Society (to become a member contact Mark Druy at druy@psicorp.com).

Requirements for a complete nomination:

1.       Curriculum Vita for the nominee. These should include contact information (e-mail, telephone and mailing address) for the student that will be valid through July 2014.

2.       A biographical statement suitable for including in an announcement of the award, using a format similar to that used for the FACSS Student Award

3.       Letter of nomination from an advisor or research director of the student

4.       An additional letter of recommendation

5.       An abstract for a poster or oral presentation that might be presented at SciX 2014 presented by FACSS

In 2013 all awardees were featured by having a photograph and a short bio in the SciX 2013 Final program distributed at Milwaukee. All awardees who attend SciX 2013 presented by FACSS in Milwaukee were acknowledged in person at a presentation during the poster session on Sunday evening by the Coblentz Society president – Jim Rydzak.

Asia Research Institute-National University of Singapore Fellowships available

(Senior) Research Fellowships, One-Year Visiting (Senior) Research Fellowships and Postdoctoral Fellowships

The positions are intended for outstanding active researchers from around the world, to work on an important piece of research in the social sciences and humanities. Interdisciplinary interests are encouraged. Up to three months of a 12-month fellowship may be spent conducting fieldwork in the Asian region.

A majority of the positions will be allocated to the more specific areas listed below. However some will be reserved for outstanding projects in any area outside of those listed. Applicants should mention which category they are applying to or if none, indicate “open category”. Applications which link more than one field are also welcome.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(Senior) Research Fellowships

1. The appointment will be tenable for a period of two years at the first instance, with the possibility of extension for another term of two years (ie. up to a total of a four-year term). Interested applicants should have at least a PhD with a few years of postdoctoral research experience.

2. The fellowship comes with a competitive remuneration and benefits package, depending on seniority.

3. Support for research and fieldwork, and conference attendance (on application and subject to approval).

Endeavour Awards for Research, Postgraduate study or research, Vocational education and training, Professional Development and Student Exchanges

The Endeavour Awards is an internationally competitive, merit-based program providing opportunities for citizens of the Asia-Pacific region to undertake study, research and professional development in Australia. Awards are also available for Australians to do the same abroad.

The aims of the Endeavour Awards are to:

• Deepen Australia’s global engagement in education and research;
• Reinforce Australia’s reputation as a high quality education provider and leader in research, innovation and knowledge management;
• Enhance language skills and cultural understanding of Australia; and
• Provide opportunities for Australian professionals to enhance their skills and knowledge.

As part of Australian Scholarships, the Endeavour Awards promote excellence in education. Australian Scholarships brings together under one umbrella, scholarships administered by the Australian GovernmentDepartment of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations andAusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development. Australian Scholarships aims to build mutual understanding between Australia and its Asia-Pacific neighbours.

Endeavour Awards for international applicantsThrough the Endeavour Awards, the Australian Government provides opportunities for high achieving international students, researchers and professionals to undertake short or long term study, research and professional development in Australia in a broad range of disciplines.

Lorenzo Natali Prize: Nepalese Journalists (print, online, radio and tv) working on human rights, democracy or development should apply

Created in 1992 by the European Commission, the Lorenzo Natali Prize rewards journalists committed to Human Rights, Democracy and Development. Originally reserved for print and online press, the Lorenzo Natali Prize has opened in 2008 to radio and television journalists.

 

To organize the Lorenzo Natali Prize, the European Commission works with some of the most prestigious world press associations:

 

• Reporters Without Borders, winner of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Mind in 2005;
• World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers, representing a total of more than 18000 publications over the five continents.

 

All the award winners of the Lorenzo Natali Prize will be the special guests of the European Commission in Europe. A prize ceremony will be organised in their honor in the presence of Andris Piebalgs, European Commissioner for Development in December 2010 in Brussels.

 

The Natali Grand Prize of 5000 euros will be awarded to the journalist having submitted the best piece of work, as determined by an independent jury.

 

For each of the 5 geographic areas, 3 award winners will be granted a prize and a trophy. They will receive the prizes as follow:

 

1st prize: 5000 euros, 2nd prize: 2500 euros, 3rd prize: 1500 euros

 

The winners of Special TV Prize and Special Radio Prize will be awarded 5000 euros each.

 

EC Call for proposals on EIDHR - Support to Human Rights Defenders

Budget line 19.04.01

Reference: EuropeAid/129204/C/ACT/Multi

Deadline for submission of Concept Notes: 3 September

Geographical Zone : All Countries

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR1) was adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 20 December 2006 and entered into force on 1 January 2007. This thematic instrument is the European Union's main financing instrument for the promotion of democracy and human rights in its external relations.

The general objectives of the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights are to contribute to the development and consolidation of democracy and the rule of law as well as to the respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms, within the framework of the European Union’s policy on development cooperation with third countries and consistently with the EU’s foreign policy as a whole.

The EIDHR is designed to help civil society to become an effective force for political reform and defence of human rights. Building on its key strength, which is the ability to operate without the need for host government consent, the EIDHR is able to focus on sensitive political issues and innovative approaches and to cooperate directly with local civil society organisations which need to preserve independence from public

authorities, providing for great flexibility and increased capacity to respond to changing circumstances.

The EIDHR is applied at national, regional and international levels and supports actions carried out throughout the world, including in EU Member States if relevant to needs in third countries.

The general objective of this Call for Proposals is to contribute to the promotion and protection of human rights and democracy through the support to human rights defenders (HRDs), as established under Objective 3 of the EIDHR Strategy paper 2007-2010.

Support for human rights defenders has long been an integral part of the European Union's external policy on human rights. In June 2004 the Council adopted the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders, which provide practical recommendations to streamline EU actions in this field. The Guidelines, which build on the UN Declaration on human rights defenders adopted in 1998, represent the political framework under which financial support is given to defenders through the EIDHR.

Assistance to human rights defenders under this Call will therefore have as main priorities:

1. To provide short and long-term direct financial, material and other forms of support and protection to human rights defenders, including to those living outside the capitals and in remote areas.
2. To support and reinforce the capacities of human rights defenders, including those living in remote areas, to carry out their human rights work and to increase their organisational and financial capacities with a view of ensuring the sustainability of their actions in the future.
3. To increase the awareness among defenders of international and regional mechanisms and instruments to protect human rights defenders such as the EU Guidelines, including among those living in remote areas.
4. To contribute to break the isolation and social exclusion of human rights defenders in their communities by sensitising national and international public opinion about their work and role in the promotion and defence of human rights and by reinforcing their capacities in networking with other human rights civil society organisations on an international, regional and national level.

Size of grants

• Minimum amount: EUR 300,000

• Maximum amount: EUR 2,000,000

Click here to download Guidelines and Application form

Contact detail: EuropeAid-HumanRightsDefenders@ec.europa.eu

Moreinfo: click here

ILO-Decent Work Research Prize

The ILO’s International Institute for Labour Studies has created a research prize to annually reward outstanding contributions to the advancement of knowledge on the ILO’s central goal of decent work for all.

Prize winners are selected by a five member jury consisting of eminent personalities with an international reputation and proven expertise in labour and social policy issues.

Under the rules of the ILO Decent Work Research Prize, individuals and institutions can nominate candidates but only individuals qualify as candidates. Each nominee must have the support of at least one organization from the ILO’s tripartite constituency (i.e. a government, a workers’ or an employers’ organization) and one leading academic in the area of labour and social policy. The letters of support should come from different regions of the world.

The jury examines relevant publications of the candidates. Both the excellence of the work and its practical value for policy purposes are taken into account.

This prize will be awarded during the next ILO Governing Body (to be held in November 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland) before a global audience of government, employer and worker delegates and media representatives. The winner will be invited to give a social policy lecture. There will be a financial award of USD 10,000, and the winner will be made Honorary Fellow of the International Institute for Labour Studies (www.ilo.org/inst) for 2010-11.

Criteria for award

The prize can be awarded for:

(1) Major specific contributions to the understanding of socio-economic relationships and policy instruments for the advancement of decent work as defined by the ILO (see http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inf/download/ecosoc/decentwork.pdf). The jury will look for new and original ideas; or

(2) A lifetime contribution to knowledge on the central concerns of the ILO and its constituents (i.e. Governments, Workers and Employers) which reflects and advances understanding of the different dimensions of decent work (creating jobs; guaranteeing rights at work; extending social rotection; promoting dialogue and conflict resolution; with gender equality as a cross-cutting objective).

Contact detail: prize@ilo.org

Moreinfo: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/bureau/inst/research/prize.htm

Australian Leadership Awards Fellowship

Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) Fellowships are part of the Australia Awards initiative which was announced by the Prime Minister in November 2009.

The ALA Fellowships program is part of a regional program that aims to develop leadership and build partnerships and linkages with developing countries.

ALA Fellowships is a highly flexible program that offers Australian organisations opportunities to provide short term study, research and professional development activities in Australia to mid-career professionals and senior officials from eligible countries.

ALA Fellowships complement the longer term ALA Scholarships providing opportunities to current and aspiring leaders who cannot leave their positions for extended periods.

ALA Fellowships are available across a broad range of fields relevant to Australia's foreign policy agenda or development outcomes.

Applications addressing the priority areas of disability and development, economic growth, education, environment, food security, gender, governance, health, human rights, infrastructure, regional stability, rural development and water and sanitation are particularly encouraged.

Eligibility

Australian host organisations

Applications are restricted to Australian organisations demonstrating on-going linkages with counterpart overseas organisations in eligible countries.

Australian organisations from a wide range of academic, research, business, industry, media, NGOs, professional groups and government may apply to host ALA fellows. To qualify, organisations will be required to demonstrate region-specific linkages and the relevance of the proposed programs to the priority areas.

Partner country counterpart organisations and individual fellows are not eligible to apply for support, however they may initiate contact with an Australian organisation to explore their interest in applying.

For organisations funded under previous rounds see:

Round 6 [PDF 27KB]

Round 5 [PDF 82KB]

Round 4 [PDF 21KB]

Round 3 [PDF 22KB]

Rounds 1-2 [PDF 25KB]

Fellows

Prospective Fellows identified by Australian organisations must be professionals already in leadership positions or have a potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes. Individuals cannot apply for an ALA Fellowship directly.

Eligible countries

Asia Pacific

Burma (Myanmar) has been included in the list of eligible countries. We will be accepting applications for programs that relate to Burma in Round 8.

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma (Myanmar), Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Laos, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Niue, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, Wallis & Futuna.

Latin America and Caribbean

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela.

Africa (from Round 8)

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo (Rep), Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Iraq and Palestinian Territories

Applications relating to Iraq and the Palestinian Territories are also eligible.

Application information and forms

ALA Fellowships will be awarded to Australian organisations through a one-step competitive grant process. Strong linkages between organisations and the leadership ability of fellows will be important criteria.

Round 8 is due to open on 17 May and close at 5pm on 25 June . Round 8 documentation will be available on this website from 17 May.

Round 7 is closed—the following application form and guidelines are published for your information only.

ALAF Nomination Form [XLS 18KB]

Round 7 ALA Fellowships Submission Guidelines [PDF 220kb]

Round 7 ALA Fellowships Submission Guidelines [Word 400kb]

Round 7 ALA Fellowships Application Form [PDF 183kb]

Round 7 ALA Fellowships Application Form [Word 319kb]

Further information : alafellowships@ausaid.gov.au

Moreinfo: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/scholar/alafellow.cfm