Funding – The British Society for Literature and Science

The BSLS offers five funding schemes for its members:

Small Grants, intended to support literature and science events, especially those with a public-facing component
PGR/ECR Conference Fund, intended to support PGRs/ECRs presenting literature and science scholarship at conferences other than that of the BSLS
Research Grants, intended to support archival research and similar activities undertaken by PGR/ECR/under-funded/precariously-employed persons involved in literature and science research
Bursaries covering the registration fee for two PGRs presenting at the annual BSLS conference
Hardship funding for under-employed or precariously-employed in-person presenters at the annual BSLS conference

The 2024-25 deadlines for Small Grants, PGR/ECR Conference Fund, and Research Grants will be 1 June 2024, 30 September 2024, 30 January 2025, and 15 May 2025.

BSLS Small Grants Scheme

The Small Grants Scheme is intended to support literature and science events, especially those with a public-facing component. The scheme is open to applicants at any career stage, including postgraduates. Applicants can apply for up to £400.

Examples of activities for which the awards might be used are expenses for arranging a visiting speaker, a seminar series, or a symposium. Requests for support towards the associated costs for online events are also welcome. Applications for support to stage special BSLS panels at appropriate conferences (other than the BSLS annual conference) will be considered.

Applicants must make a case for how the award will contribute to the development of literature and science. Where funding is sought for BSLS panels a clear indication of the scope of the panel – and of its contribution to the understanding of literature and science – must be included.

A detailed budget should be included as part of the application and applicants should state whether they have applied to any other funding sources (and the outcomes of those applications) as well as information about any institutional funding support. The small grant scheme is open to applicants at any career stage, but preference will be given to those with limited or no access to other funds. International members of BSLS are welcome to apply for the awards, but they should note that they will be distributed via PayPal or in the form of bank cheques made out in pounds sterling. Serving members of the BSLS Executive Committee are not eligible to apply for the awards.

Application for the awards is competitive and must be made before the proposed event or activity is due to take place. Applications will then be considered by the BSLS Executive Committee and grant outcomes will be communicated within one month of the respective deadlines. Recipients of small grants are asked to acknowledge BSLS sponsorship appropriately in publicity for events and to provide a brief report on events for the BSLS newsletter and website.

The complete application should be no longer than 500 words. It should be emailed, as a Word attachment, to Sara Cole (s.cole@lancaster.ac.uk). Please put ‘BSLS Small Grant’ in the subject heading of your email. Queries about the scheme and/or the eligibility of your proposal should be directed to Sara Cole.

Details of past Small Grants Awards can be found here.

BSLS Postgraduate and Early Career Conference Fund

The Postgraduate and Early Career Conference Fund is intended to support PGRs/ECRs presenting literature and science scholarship at conferences other than that of the BSLS. In addition to funding attendance at literature and science conferences, workshops, summer schools and events (in person or online), we would like to fund members who intend to give papers on literature and science at conferences, workshops, and events which are not specifically focused on this topic, in order to promote the study of our field more widely.

Applications are invited for bursaries of up to £300.

Eligible expenses include conference fees, travel and accommodation costs, associated childcare costs, and virtual registration fees. Conferences or events must be taking place after the funding deadline (applicants awaiting decisions on their conference abstracts are eligible to apply, but any award would be conditional upon their paper being accepted for presentation). Applicants must provide an outline of their proposed activities, justify why the funds are required (i.e. give a break-down of the budget) and state whether they have applied to any other funding sources (and the outcomes of those applications). You should also state why you think the particular activity would be valuable, both for your own career and with regard to the wider objectives of the BSLS.

Both funded and non-funded PGRs are eligible to apply, but it will add weight to your application if you are able to demonstrate a particular need for the funding. The BSLS particularly wishes to use the PGR and ECR fund, where possible, to assist applicants to attend and participate in events that might otherwise be beyond their reach financially.

International members of BSLS are welcome to apply for the awards, but should note that they will be distributed in the form of bank cheques made out in pounds sterling or via PayPal. Serving members of the BSLS Executive Committee are not eligible to apply for the awards. We cannot enter into correspondence about the decisions of the Committee.

Applications should be no longer than 500 words. Successful applicants will be expected to provide a brief report on their paper and experience of the conference, for the BSLS newsletter and website.

The application should be e-mailed, as a Word attachment, to Liliane Campos, (liliane.campos@sorbonne-nouvelle.fr). Please put ‘BSLS PG and ECR fund’ in the subject heading of your email. Applications will then be considered by the BSLS Executive Committee, with bursaries awarded shortly after each deadline. Queries about the fund should be directed to Liliane Campos.

Details of past awards from the Postgraduate Conference Fund can be found here.

Research Grants Scheme

The new Research Grants are intended to support archival research and similar activities, particularly those undertaken by PGRs, ECRs, and others who are under-funded or precariously employed.

Applicants can apply for up to £300.

Expenses may include but are not limited to: the cost of travel and accommodation related to archival or research-focused trips; associated childcare costs; and funds to support remote research such as scanning or photocopying, or digitising projects intended to increase accessibility.

Applicants should be current members of BSLS and should apply by making a case for how the award will contribute to the development of individual research goals in the field of literature and science. A detailed budget should be included as part of the application and applicants should state whether they have applied to any other funding sources (and the outcomes of those applications) as well as information about any institutional funding support. The research grant scheme is open to applicants at any career stage, but preference will be given to those with limited or no access to other funds.

The application should be e-mailed, as a Word attachment, to Sharon Ruston, (s.ruston@lancaster.ac.uk). Please put ‘BSLS Research Grant’ in the subject heading of your email. Applications will then be considered by the BSLS Executive Committee, with bursaries awarded shortly after each deadline. As a condition of the award, recipients are asked to provide a brief report on the conference for the BSLS newsletter and website.

Queries about the fund should be directed to Sharon Ruston.

BSLS Conference Bursaries

Further details for the conference bursaries will be provided along with other conference information, annually. Contact the BSLS chair with queries; application instructions will be communicated by the conference organiser. Recipients will have their conference registration fee paid directly by the BSLS and are asked to provide a brief report on the conference for the BSLS newsletter and website as a condition of the award.

Hardship Fund Donations

Following feedback from our membership at the 2023 AGM, we are launching an option for members to donate to the hardship fund supports early career and/or precariously employed members attending our conference. Funds collected by this means will be part of a reserved fund, distinct from our general funds, and will be used for the designated purpose. The Hardship Fund will cover successful applicant’s registration fees.

Applicants at any career stage are eligible, including postgraduates, who are presenting research at the BSLS annual conference. Preference may be given to PGR/ECR applicants. BSLS membership is a requirement for conference presenters.