Submit a proposal

The Institute invites proposals for research programmes of 6-months, 4-month or 4-weeks duration in any branch of mathematics or the mathematical sciences.

The Institute will be pleased to help nurture, without prejudicing the final outcome, proposals in the fundamental mathematical sciences as traditionally understood and in cross-disciplinary projects, for example in the mathematics related to biology, ecology, the environment, the economy, the physical sciences, medicine, indeed any area where innovative mathematics plays a significant role. Anyone interested in making a proposal should contact the Institute’s Director in advance of submission to request advice and informal feedback.

> Click here to download the presentation: “How to propose a six-month INI research programme“ (.pdf)

We request that programme proposal submissions should be made online via proposals.newton.ac.uk.

• To log in, proposers should use the same log in details as they do for Isaac, the Institute’s main database isaac.newton.ac.uk.  Those who have lost, or do not already have, an Isaac password should follow the instructions on proposals.newton.ac.uk.

Proposals must contain core information regarding the nature and scientific merit of the proposed programme and the suitability of the proposed organisers in terms of academic standing within their field, their potential for attracting stellar participants, and their organisational skills and experience in organizing major scientific events.

Please note that whilst you are welcome to suggest preferred dates for your proposed programme, the Institute’s complex schedule means that no guarantees can be made with regards to requested timings.

The core information that must be included is summarised in the table below.

Before preparing their submission we advise that proposers read the following document: A sample of the questions asked of proposal referees.  Further information is available from the Business and Operations Manager (email businessandoperationsmanager@newton.ac.uk; Tel. 01223 335981).

** Please note that it is expected that organisers are in residence at the Institute throughout their respective programmes **

Proposals for follow-on workshops may be submitted by a group of individuals some or all of whom were involved in the organisation of the parent programme.  They may be submitted via email via office@newton.ac.ukand are treated with a ‘lighter touch’ by the Scientific Steering Committee since the parent programme had already been approved. Anyone interested in making a proposal should contact the Institute’s Director in advance of submission to request advice and informal feedback.

A proposal for a follow-on workshop is typically between 5 and 10 pages A4.  Proposals should state the impact of the parent programme and how the organisers anticipate the proposed follow-on workshop would augment, extend or enhance that impact.  The core information that must be included is summarised in the table below:

Thanks to a substantial uplift in UKRI funding as part of the EPSRC Additional Funding to Mathematical Sciences, INI is proud to launch its new SATELLITE PROGRAMMES initiative, further strengthening our commitment towards increasing activity in other parts of the UK.

The Institute invites proposals for satellite research programmes of 6-months, 4-month or 4-weeks duration in any branch of mathematics or the mathematical sciences.

> (PDF) Overview of the INI satellite programme scheme, including sample timescales and budgets

As per standard programmes described above, proposal submissions for satellite programmes should be made online via proposals.newton.ac.uk. These proposals should contain all the same information as standard programme proposals and additionally include:

• Information about the host location, its capacity, and the facilities it offers;
• Information about why it would be beneficial to UK mathematics for the proposed programme to be held at the proposed host location.

Anyone interested in submitting a proposal for a satellite research programmeshould contact the Institute’s Director in advance of submission to request advice and informal feedback.

The purpose of a scoping meeting is to bring together researchers from several disciplines where there is a perceived need or a good opportunity to exploit modern developments in the mathematical sciences in other areas. A scoping meeting is especially relevant when different disciplinary approaches need to be integrated or where a shared language needs to be developed, for example when there is no strong history of interdisciplinary work to rely upon.

Scoping Meetings are not in themselves scientific meetings. They should be structured so that careful consideration is given to the possibility of making a proposal to the Scientific Steering Committee (SSC), along the lines indicated below, for a programme. If it is agreed that such a possibility exists, steps should be taken during the scoping meeting to implement this decision; for example by identifying organisers and key participants, and deciding at which INI deadline to submit.

• The notion of a scoping meeting is not prescribed and in organising them INI will be sensitive to the conventions of particular scientific communities
• All areas of research where there is a need for mathematical development are appropriate
• Scoping meetings should not be so large as to be unwieldy in reaching decisions
• They can be held in Cambridge or elsewhere, as is convenient for the participants
• They can be cross disciplinary, or related to different areas within the mathematical sciences
• They should involve the relevant experts in considering the possibilities for a full programme
• They should involve relevant national and international experts with an interest in investigating the possibilities of a full programme
• Scoping meetings can be held at any suitable location, in Cambridge or elsewhere, and should involve a manageable number of relevant experts who are interested in investigating the possibilities that would be afforded by a full programme.

Anyone interested in putting together such a programme can raise the possibility at any time with the Institute Director (director@newton.ac.uk). There are no deadlines for this type of activity.

Background

The Isaac Newton Institute (INI) has an agreement with the Research Councils and ICMS in Edinburgh that its main focus will be on research programmes of four or six months’ duration, or exceptionally one month when a good case is made. In particular it does not hold one-week workshops (as ICMS does) and it is not a conference centre. Programme proposals to INI should be prepared according to the guidelines, by including descriptions of:

• the mathematical/scientific background and timeliness of what is proposed possible future directions and developments
• the aims of the proposed programme and its mathematical content
• the structure of the proposed programme and the role of workshops within it
• balance of key personnel and early career individuals, researchers and gender balance
• why the proposed programme is particularly suited to the Newton Institute
• how the proposed programme might be of benefit to the UK
• its open for business, outreach and impact potential

There are two deadlines per year for proposals, 31 January and 31 July, and proposals received by these dates are considered by meetings of the SSC in May and October.

It is often the case, and has been typically so in the past, that such proposals are prepared by a coherent group of individuals who have a shared view of the scientific imperatives for the programme being proposed and a thorough understanding of its scientific background, who are knowledgeable about the key individuals in the area and know about the centres of excellence, and are involved in relevant networks worldwide.

However INI is increasingly aware of areas where the need for mathematical input is widely recognised, for example in the Strategic Plans of RCUK and the individual Research Councils, but where there may be diverse perspectives on the role of mathematical thinking. It is to encourage cross-disciplinary cooperation in such circumstances that the notion of Scoping Meetings is being developed.

Previous scoping meetings

Purpose
The UK mathematical community is supported by myriad official and unofficial networks, some only existing virtually. The INI Network Support is designed to provide modest funding so that these networks can continue and intensify their work, and new ones be formed. Both national and international networks can be funded. Eligible cost include international travel of UK residents and travel to the UK.

Value
£5,000 – £25,000, depending on the size and ambition of the network.

Eligible costs include:

• staff time to support the network;
• associated travel costs (national and international);
• meeting costs (e.g. catering costs).

Location
Grants need to be held at a UK HEI or similar.

Duration
For a period of maximally two years until 31 December 2025.

Application
Applications should be made using the below form, and should include:

• The name of the grant holder and their institution.
• A description of the network, its purpose, past activities (if relevant), and plans for the future.
• The names of key participants and stakeholders.
• A description of the activities to be supported by the INI Network Support.
• An EDI plan.
• Information on any existing funding and applications for such.
• A budget.

> (.PDF) INI Network Support for the Mathematical Sciences application form
> (.DOCX) INI Network Support for the Mathematical Sciences application form
> Completed applications should be sent to office@newton.ac.uk

Application deadline
This scheme is made possible through time limited EPSRC funds. The current deadline has been extended until 28 February 2023. Further deadlines will be posted here as they are announced.

Review process
Applications will be considered by the Scientific Steering Committee of the INI. The applications will be evaluated on the underlying science, the value added that such a network would bring, and any contributions to improving equality, diversity and inclusivity in the mathematical sciences community.

Additional guidelines

• The funding is intended to sustain the network over the whole funding period. It is thus expected that activities are carried out throughout this period.
• The funding is not intended to support one-off events (e.g. workshops).
• A network should normally have several nodes and/or benefit a significant number of people. Typically, 20-30 researchers (including students and post-docs) distributed over three to five institutions or more should be involved.
• The inclusion of international researchers is encouraged.
• Meetings and workshops organised by networks should generally be open events.
• When costing a meeting, expenses should be limited to £70-£100 per person per day (inclusive of costs for overnight stays)
• Proposals should include a brief description of the organisational structure of the network.

> A list of existing recipients of Network Support funding can be found here: www.newton.ac.uk/events/network-support-for-the-mathematical-sciences