An Award focusing unambiguously on excellence and granted to candidates of the highest calibre to enable them to undertake a programme of cutting edge, internationally significant work Guiding Principles
* A monetary award of up to R1.0 million
* The Award is intended to enable scholars based in South Africa to undertake a programme of work for a period of up to one year, by making possible full time concentration on the work, contact with outstanding peers (locally and in foreign countries) and adequate logistic resources
* The Award covers the full range of disciplines including the Natural Sciences, Social and Economic Sciences, Humanities, Law, Engineering and Technology
* Only candidates of exceptional ability will be eligible for consideration
* A formal selection process for one Award in 2010
* The strengthening of relationships and partnerships between local institutions, foreign institutions and the Trust
* Building research excellence while stimulating scholarship in academic life
* The Trust reserves the right not to make an Award
Criteria
* Candidates will be: well established in their fields; leading scholars who have done advanced research for many years (i.e. the Award is not for the purposes of studying towards a higher degree); outstanding achievers with a track record of sustained intellectual effort at the highest level
* Where international travel is envisaged, the Trust will encourage residential stays at one or two host institutions rather than short visits to many, unless, given the context of the proposed work, this can be justified
* The Trust will favour nominations or applications that describe a clearly focused and specific project
* Candidates who demonstrate a capacity and commitment to the transfer of skills and knowledge to fellow South Africans will have an advantage
* Candidates must be residents of South Africa and age will not be a factor in selection Special consideration will also be given to the following points:
* The value of the proposed work: its particular application to teaching, research and development in South Africa; its potential to push the frontiers of knowledge in the given field or area of interest; its contribution to the advancement or application of knowledge in the service of society
* The effectiveness and practicability of the programme proposed and its feasibility in the given timeframe
* The candidate’s proven achievement and his or her ability to profit from the use of the Award. By proven achievement the Trust would be looking for candidates who have: attracted research funding on a competitive basis; published in international peer-reviewed journals of high standing; extensive publications in the form of scholarly books or other works; successfully supervised postgraduate students to completion; secured invitations to, and seats on, international bodies and institutions, etc
Written applications must be supported by the following information:
* Full details of the candidate’s proposed work, including estimated time scales, possible time abroad and costs (specifying the major components of the budget and associated expenses)
* A brief synopsis (2 to 3 A4 pages) of the work to be undertaken, in lay terms, together with a written motivation explaining the reasons for undertaking the work
* The envisaged output including journal articles, books, manuscripts, papers to be delivered, talks to be presented, etc
* An up-to-date curriculum vitae plus a complete list of publications
* Current written reports from at least four highly placed referees who are familiar with the candidate’s work. At least two of these referees should be foreign (including one from a proposed host institution, if applicable) and two should be independent South African referees of international standing. Referees should be properly briefed by the candidate about the nature of the Award and its significance so that their remarks are directed appropriately and their reports should be submitted under separate and confidential cover directly to the Trust. The Trust may elect to contact these referees or other experts for further information
Nominations, Applications & Selection Process
* The Trust will consider nominations from institutions (the preferred route) and also applications from individuals who do not have specific institutional affiliations
* Reference to “institutions” includes South African Universities, Universities of Technology, Science Councils, Research & Policy Institutes, Museums and other institutions or agencies of similar national standing
* Institutions are requested to publicise the Award internally, to call for nominations and actively seek out and encourage their best candidates to apply. There is no limit to the number of nominations that may be made by any one institution. However, each nomination will require formal endorsement by the candidate’s institution in the form of letters from his or her Vice-Chancellor, Principal, Rector, Chairperson or Chief Executive or one of their Deputies (as appropriate)
* Candidates without institutional affiliations may apply directly to the Trust
* The Trustees will make the final decision based on the nominations and applications received, and no correspondence on its decision will be entered into by the Trust
Payment and Reporting
Funds will be disbursed in two instalments – an initial payment in advance and the second at the half-way stage, on submission of a progress report to the Trust. The Fellow will be required to submit a reflective report to the Trust within six months of completion of the programme – this should cover any time spent abroad and the impact of the work.
Awardees will also be encouraged (and financially supported) to deliver public lectures on the completed work in one or more of the three South African metropoles, under the joint auspices of the Trust and the Academy of Science of South Africa
Application Closing Date: 29 October 2010
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