Bursaries

The 2010 deadline for applications for BSG bursuries has passed.

Aims

The aims of the BSG bursaries policy are:

• i. to facilitate BSG members to attend BSG conferences and events (e.g. one day seminars, BSG annual conferences, ERA events, co-hosted seminars, conferences and meetings with related organisations).

• ii. to provide a vehicle for BSG members to benefit from financial surpluses derived from previous conferences.

• iii. To enable students, recent postdocs, retired and unwaged BSG members to actively participate in BSG events and meetings.

Bursaries are awarded by the Bursaries Panel , comprising of three Executive Committee members, including the Hon. Secretary. The Executive Committee agrees the conferences to be supported each year.

The budget allocated to such bursary support is proposed by the Treasurer in consultation with the Bursaries Panel and agreed by the Executive Committee. The Bursaries Panel apportions the budget as it thinks fit, taking into account

• i. the number of applications submitted

• ii. the total amount of money requested and

• iii. minimum number of awards to be made for the predefined 'bursary-supported' conferences/meetings.

Bursary Applications Acceptance Criteria

Bursary applications will be accepted where

• i. the applicant is a current BSG member and has been a member for at least 12 months,

• ii. support is requested for a conference or meeting approved for Bursary support by the Executive Committee, and

• iii. where the application is received (by post/e-mail) by the advertised application deadline. All bursary forms state the criteria for bursary application acceptance.

The membership is informed through the BSG website, monthly BSG e-mail updates and the online newsletter Generations Review of the conferences for which bursary support is available, the budget allocated, and the dates during which bursary applications are accepted. An average of a three month application period prior to the commencement of the 'bursary-supported' conferences is appropriate. However, this is decided upon by the Bursaries Panel and may alter according to the spacing of the conference dates. The Bursaries Panel processes the applications and informs the applicants of the outcome within three weeks (approx.) of the application deadline. (This is specified by the Bursaries Panel members.)

Bursary Award Guidelines

The Bursaries Panel considers all accepted applications and selects which applications should be awarded bursary support and what proportion of the amount requested is granted. In making the selection, the Panel will take on board the following guidelines:
• only one accepted application per person per year can be supported

• preference will be given to applicants wishing to attend BSG annual conferences if they are presenting either a paper and/or poster

• the maximum ceiling for BSG annual conferences is the full registration cost of that particular year's conference costs. Travel expenses are not usually paid unless there are extenuating circumstances

• preference will be given to accepted applications from students, recent postdocs, retired and unwaged BSG members, and to those who have not previously received a BSG bursary.

In general, the number of awards made is primarily dependant upon the size of the budget, the number of applications received, and the amount of support requested within each application. Successful applicants may be asked to provide a brief 'report back' (500-800 words) to the online newsletter Generations Review. The Bursaries Panel reports to the Executive Committee the progress of applications and the composition of the applications awarded. This is also reported at the AGM and in Generations Review.

Concessions

Separate funds also finance discounts given at the BSG annual conferences. These are concessions of 20% discount of the total conference cost to full-time students, retired or unwaged BSG members attending the annual conference. Concessions are obtained on demand and the policy is agreed by the conference organisers and the Executive Committee. The funds for these concessions are dealt with separately by the Treasurer and the conference organisers. The implication for the Bursaries Panel is that all awards made to accepted applicants for BSG annual conferences are 20% less if the applicant is eligible for concessions.