In 2021 CliC launched its first open calls for Grants & Fellowships, and for Grants only in 2022 with the goal to increase the engagement of Early Career Scientists in CliC activities and to promote participation of scientists from regions currently under-represented in CliC, such as South America, Asia, and Africa. Applications had to address CliC’s vision and objectives as addressed in the CliC Strategic Plan 2022-2031.
CliC Grants invest in people: the next generation of cryospheric scientists. In addition to regular research activities, the Grants support the development of leadership and project management skills to aid in the career development of early career researchers and those from nations that do not have strong investments in research. The aim is to increase the likelihood of these researchers taking up leadership roles in climate science, including in the leadership of CliC.
The difference between fellowships and grants was the type of activities to would be supported.
Fellowships were targeted at research visits to laboratories, research groups, etc. as well as launch research synthesis, fieldwork, or analysis. A condition was that the visiting facility must differ from the applicant´s country of origin and current country of residence.
Grants would support the following activities:
- Promotion of best practice protocols on research in cryosphere regions attentive to societal and community needs and expectations
- Educational activities/capacity exchange related to cryosphere research
- Activities to promote leadership and project management skills
- Research/activities to support participation in policy decision processes
- Science communication efforts aimed at policy-making
- Dissemination and outreach activities, e.g., production of media pieces about CliC activities, research highlights, etc
Awards varied between 10 – 20 000 Swiss francs. The timeline was completion within a year of the commencement of the grant.
Eligible candidates had to be either enrolled as a Ph.D. candidate at the time of the application, be an Early Career Researcher (i.e., have obtained a Ph.D. within 7 years by the deadline), or scientists from under-represented nations in CliC from South America, Asia, or Africa.