Elsevier Foundation Calls for 2011 New Scholars Proposals

NEW YORK, May 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Elsevier Foundation is seeking new grant proposals for the 2011 New Scholars program which targets the attrition of talented women scientists in the academic pipeline. The Elsevier Foundation New Scholars program aims to support women scholars during the early stages of their careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The deadline for New Scholars proposals is September 1st 2011. Grants will be awarded in December 2011 and provide one, two and three year awards between US$5,000 to US$50,000 per year. The online Elsevier Foundation application process will accept proposals from July 1st through September 1st on http://www.elsevierfoundation.org.

During the past five years, more than twenty New Scholars grants have been awarded to support the advancement of women scientists in both the developed and developing world. Projects have largely focused on building a more family friendly academia through mentoring, advocacy, basic research, dual career travel and recruiting grants, lactation centers, childcare at professional meetings and work-life satisfaction workshops.

"The amazing range of New Scholars grants we have received over the past five years have taught us that promoting the advancement of women in STEM fields cannot be achieved through advocacy, campaigning or policymaking alone," noted David Ruth, Executive Director of the Elsevier Foundation, "It requires an integrated approach to institutional change and personal development. We believe that the New Scholars program addresses the critical, often hidden, issues that influence the advancement and retention of accomplished women."

About The Elsevier Foundation

The Elsevier Foundation provides grants to institutions around the world, with a focus on support for the world's libraries and for scholars in the early stages of their careers. Since its inception, the Foundation has awarded more than 60 grants worth millions dollars to non-profit organizations working in these fields. Through gift-matching, the Foundation also supports the efforts of Elsevier employees to play a positive role in their local and global communities. The Elsevier Foundation is funded by Elsevier, a leading global publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. http://www.elsevierfoundation.org

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet (http://www.thelancet.com/) and Cell ( http://www.cell.com/), and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include SciVerse ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/), SciVerse Scopus (http://www.scopus.com/home.url), Reaxys (https://www.reaxys.com/info/), MD Consult (http://www.mdconsult.com/php/249791785-174/homepage) and Nursing Consult ( http://confidenceconnected.com/login/consult?env=PROD&URI=/nursing/index), which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite (http://www.scival.com/) and MEDai's Pinpoint Review (http://www.medai.com/), which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier ( http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/homepage.cws_home) employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group PLC ( http://www.reedelsevier.com/Pages/Home.aspx), a world-leading publisher and information provider, which is jointly owned by Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. The ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

    
                  Grant Guidelines for the New Scholars Program

                 Call for Proposals Deadline: September 1st 2011
                      http://www.elsevierfoundation.org

Please Note: the online grant application proposal system will start accepting grants on July 1st

The New Scholars Program supports projects to help early- to mid-career women scientists balance family responsibilities with demanding academic careers. New Scholars seeks to actively address the attrition rate of talented women scientists caused by work-life balance issues. The Foundation provides one, two and three year grants to STEM institutions and organizations actively working towards a more equitable academia by:

- Encouraging networking and collaborations among institutions and/or across STEM disciplines in ways that support the challenges of faculty and staff with family responsibilities.

- Developing and implement strategies for advocacy and policy development to advance knowledge, awareness, and application of programs to retain, recruit and develop women in science and/or.

- Enabling scientists to attend conferences, meetings, workshops and symposia that are critical to the development of a career in science by helping them with childcare and other family responsibilities when attending scientific gatherings.

Preference will be given to proposals that clearly demonstrate the following;

- An institutional framework for the advancement of women in science, as evidenced by a strategic plan, policy framework, leadership commitment and/or a program of related activities.

- Develop innovative program ideas.

- Create and promote collaborative networks across institutions and/or disciplines.

- Develop model programs that will encourage continued efforts to advance women in science.

- Promote partnerships and knowledge sharing among institutions, including between institutions in the developed and developing world.

- A willingness to draw from the expertise and experience of previous New Scholar grantees.

- Have specific plans for sustainability beyond the funding period.

- Embody plans for dissemination beyond the awardee organization of policies, procedures, and "lessons learned" that are developed during the funding period.

- Describe clear criteria and objectives to be achieved through the grant funding.

- Present realistic budgets tied to outcomes.

New Scholars Guidelines

Proposals are welcome for single-year grants in amounts between US$5,000 to US$50,000. Proposals will be accepted for multi-year programs (up to three years) for grant amounts of US$5,000 to US$50,000 per year. Grant proposals should be submitted online no later than September 1 2011. Awards will be announced in December 2011. Proposals should be focused and well-defined, and must address each of the following elements:

- Cover letter: Provide a one-page description of the objectives and key activities of the program. Include contact details and the amount of funding requested.

- Goals and plan: A clear description of the program goals and implementation plan, including timeframe.

- Innovation: How will the program introduce new ideas, capabilities and/or capacity for the institution or country. How the program would serve as a model for others.

- Impact: The significance of the program's intended impact on science, health and society in that country or globally.

- Sustainability: How will the benefits of the program be sustained after the grant has been expended.

- Budget: The total amount of the grant requested and justification for the requested amount, including a clear budget overview spreadsheet that indicates in as much detail as possible intended expenditures and other sources of funding, if any.

- Evaluation: How the program will be measured and evaluated and how its results will be reported.

- Organization and partnership: A description of the organization requesting the grant, confirmation of its status as a non-profit entity, and a listing of key officers and staff who will direct the implementation of the program. Description of key program partners, if any.

- Length: Applications may only be submitted online through the Elsevier Foundation's online application system.

- Final Report for Awarded Grants: The Elsevier Foundation requires a final report from grantees at the time of completion of funded activities. The report should be both descriptive and evaluative, and include:

- Detailed summary of activities during the grant period

- Internal and external media coverage generated

- Accounting report of grant expenditures

- Assessment of project goals (including level of achievement)

Awards must be submitted online via The Elsevier Foundation's (http://www.elsevierfoundation.org/) online grant application proposal system between July 1st and September 15th. Please don't hesitate to contact the Elsevier Foundation with any questions concerning the development of your proposal.

    
    The Elsevier Foundation
    360 Park Avenue South
    New York, NY 10010 USA
    Phone: +31-20-485-2025
    foundation@elsevier.com

    Media Contact
    Ylann Schemm
    Elsevier Foundation
    +31-20-485-2025
    y.schemm@elsevier.com