Call for Participation of Young Scientists/Practitioners

APN Proposal Development Training Workshop
Mongolia 5-7 November 2015

APN’s Annual Proposal Development Training Workshop (PDTW) will be held from 5 to 7 November 2015 in Mongolia. The training workshop is designed to enhance the capacity of young scientists and practitioners in the Temperate East Asia region to develop competitive project proposals for funding.

Considering limited financial resources and the numbers that can be accommodated for an effective workshop (about 20-25), participants will be selected on a “first come, first served” basis. For this reason, we encourage those interested to submit their application before 15 August 2015.

Main Topic

The main topic of the present workshop will be: Land Use and Climate Change

The workshop will focus on the following priority research topics taken from the APN’s fourth Strategic Plan:

1. Assessment and enhancement of land use sustainability
2. Nature, extent, causes and impacts of land use and land cover change
3. Global environment change and land use planning
4. Urban land use change

Structure of the Workshop

The training workshop will be conducted over three days (5–7 November 2015) and will comprise three main parts that are: (1) Field visit (2) Interactive lectures; and (3) Hands-on training exercises (see Part A). The field visit on the first day will provide a networking opportunity for young scientists in the region to get to know each other. The second part aims to provide an overview of APN’s calls for proposals for funded activities, its review process, together with guidelines on project proposal writing. In the third part, pre-determined break-out groups comprising four to five young scientists each will develop proposals with support from assigned mentors.

Participants will receive a certificate after completion of the three-day training programme.

A. Tentative Course Overview

• Day 1: Field visit
• Day 2:
  1. Introduction session
     • APN Proposals process
  2. Proposal development
     • Group discussion on identifying the research needs of land science.
     • Identify policy-relevant research topics
  3. Project timeframe development and budgeting
     • Introduce timeline development and budgeting
     • Exercise on budget preparation & timeline development
  4. Break-out group exercise on proposal development – I
• Day 3
  1. Group exercise on proposal development-II
  2. Proposal Review Process
     • Introduction on review criteria
     • Exercise on proposal review and grading
  3. Break-out group exercise on proposal review-III
  4. Open discussion session
     • Experts/ Scientific Planning Group members comment on draft proposals
     • Exercise session comparing final technical project report requirements with initial project proposal
  5. Closing ceremony and certificate awards

B. Participation

The PDTW is open to young scientists from the Temperate East Asia region and working in the area of Land Use and Climate Change in Temperate East Asia. For this reason, applicants requiring funding support will ONLY be accepted from those young scientists/practitioners who are from, living and working in the APN member countries of China, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea or Russian Federation.

Young scientists/practitioners who wish to submit applications on a self-funded basis may do so and should be working in an area related to the topic and the focus should be Temperate East Asia, although he/she may be from any APN member or approved country.

C. Application Process

To apply to participate in the PDTW, follow these steps:

1. Complete and submit the online application form for the PDTW through the APN website.
2. Submit a letter of recommendation from your affiliated institution.
3. Submit a short motivation essay.
4. Submit your resume/CV (maximum 2 pages).

D. Eligibility and Procedures

1. Young/early-career scientists/practitioners from, living and working in the APN member countries of China, Japan, Mongolia, Republic of Korea or Russian Federation that are 40 years of age or under can apply for the PDTW (research students/research assistants and post-docs are encouraged).
2. He/she should be working in areas of, or have academic experience related to, the main topic of the workshop.
3. He/she must be one of the following:
   1. An undergraduate degree holder with five years of related working experience;
   2. A postgraduate working towards a PhD or Master’s;
   3. A Master’s degree holder with two years of related working experience;
   4. A PhD degree holder;
   5. A postdoctoral student.
4. He/she must currently be affiliated to an academic or national/regional research institution.
5. He/she must have a good working knowledge of the English language.
6. A letter of recommendation from the applicant’s affiliated institution and a motivation essay are required to be attached to the Application Form.
7. Participants will be selected on a first come, first serve basis.
8. Those who intend to apply on a self-funded basis can be within or outside the sub-region, but their intended work must focus on the Temperate East Asia Region and the applicant must be from one of APN’s member/approved countries.

E. Sponsorship

1. A maximum of 25 young/early carrier scientists and practitioners will be selected for the training workshop. Based on the financial resources available, the APN will financially support 15 young/early-career scientists/practitioners.
2. From each sub-regional member country (China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mongolia and the Russian Federation), a minimum of two young/early career scientists/practitioners will be selected as recipients of APN financial support.
3. Sponsorship for successful applicants will cover the cost of economy class air tickets, accommodation and daily subsistence allowances.
4. Five to ten self-funded participants will be selected based on their expertise and motivation to join the workshop. Self-funded participants are expected to arrange and pay for their travel, meal costs and accommodation.
5. There is no registration fee to participate in this workshop.

F. Application Deadline

For applicants who request full or partial funding support, the deadline is 15 August 2015. However, as applications will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis, early application is recommended. APN reserves the right to close the call when its application quota has been reached.

Update

The deadline for the call for participation was extended by one week.  Please submit your application before 22 August 2015.  

Additional notes

1. During the workshop, breakfast and lunch will be served for all participants.
2. Those who have previously participated in earlier PDTW training Workshops are not eligible to apply.
3. Selected participants may attend APN Third Science-Policy Dialogue on “Land Use and Climate Change in Temperate East Asia from 2-4 November 2015.

For additional queries, please contact the APN secretariat via email to: Dr. Linda Stevenson [email protected] with a carbon copy to Ms. Taniya Koswatta [email protected].