Kindness UK Doctoral Conference Awards
The Kindness UK Doctoral Conference Award scheme supports conference attendance for postgraduate researchers (PGRs) at Sussex carrying out research that can illuminate kindness and its effect on people and communities. Please note that kindness is understood to take many different forms, and therefore students working across all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Details of previous winners can be found on the Sussex Kindness Research webpages.
Relevant research could involve work on a very wide range of issues, including (and certainly not restricted to):
- Medical and social care services
- Business practices
- Educational initiatives and strategies
Pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours- Supportive scientific advances, technologies, and products
- Legal/justice practices and political activities
- International aid and development work
- Developments in the arts and the media
Funding is available up to a maximum of £1,000 per student to cover accommodation, travel, and conference registration costs.
The Kindness UK Doctoral Conference Award scheme is administered by the Sussex Researcher School (SRS) on behalf of the University.
This fund was last awarded in February 2020, and we hope to launch a further call for applications this year.
The following criteria will apply:
- Applicants must be currently registered for a postgraduate research degree at the University of Sussex and the application must be made prior to submission of the thesis.
- Applicants must demonstrate the broad relevance of their research to illuminating kindness and its effects on people and communities.
- Applicants must be active participants in the conference, with a paper on the relevant research already accepted for presentation.
- Applicants must provide a clear and reasonable budget with a breakdown of accommodation, travel, and conference registration costs. Expenses for visas or subsistence should not be included.
Funding applications will be considered by an academic selection panel and Kindness UK. In allocating the awards the following criteria will be used:
- Quality and relevance of application
- Conference profile and suitability
- Supervisor’s statement
Furher information:
- Payment to successful applicants will be in the form of reimbursement. Documentary evidence, in the form of receipts or equivalent, covering all expenses included in the budget, must be provided to the SRS at the relevant time in order for payment to be released.
- Students travelling abroad must obtain University of Sussex travel insurance for the trip. You can apply for travel insurance through Sussex Direct.
- Successful applicants will be expected to contribute to a dedicated kindness blog for Sussex Kindness Research, aimed at a non-specialist audience. The blog will include reflections on the conference experience with a specific focus on kindness and how the applicants research illuminates kindness. This will be published on the Sussex Kindness Research blog and may also be publicised by Kindness UK.
- There may also be opportunities for applicants to present their work at kindness events organised by Sussex Kindness Research.
- Unsuccessful applicants who are requesting funds for overseas conference attendance will automatically be entered into the pool of applicants for the Doctoral Overseas Conference grant.