Greenland Arctic Research Bursaries Scheme 2024-25 (United Kingdom)

Researchers in the United Kingdom and Greenland are well-placed to develop important new science partnerships that address pressing research questions. These partnerships can support the development of skill- and knowledge-based networks to strengthen both communities; foster the creation of positive, respectful and empowering partnerships; and create lasting research connections.

The United Kingdom’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology – working with the Greenlandic Research Council, the UK Science and Innovation Network and the NERC Arctic Office – funded a new bursaries scheme which began in 2023. This call is for the second year of the initiative, which will support UK-based researchers working in partnerships with Greenland-based scientists in 2024-25.

The outcomes of the bursaries programme are expected to support and further develop lasting research and collaboration links between UK-based and Greenland-based researchers; to provide opportunities for UK-based researchers to work with new partners in Greenland; and develop ideas for future international projects.

Bursary Details

• UK-based applicants: This programme is open to UK-based researchers in a broad range of science fields. Applications will be particularly welcomed from early career scientists and all those researchers within groups under-represented across the research community. It is expected that applicants will normally be employed in positions within UK institutions. PhD candidates undertaking the research as part of their qualification will not usually be eligible. Proposals could be for a single researcher or a small number of UK-based researchers working collaboratively. Eligible costs should not exceed £20,000 in total. Applications for smaller sums are especially welcome. All costs will be funded at 100 per cent.
• Greenlandic partners: The programme is intended to foster new UK research engagement with researchers based in Greenland. It will be the responsibility of the UK-based applicant to obtain written and specific permission for the UK-based researcher to join with the Greenland-based researcher or team, together with confirmation that any appropriate permits and access provisions are – or will be – in place. This letter or permission must come from the Greenland-based researcher.
• New applications and extensions: applications are welcomed by researchers who were successful in the 2023-24 scheme round and by new applicants. Existing bursary holders applying for the 2024-25 round must demonstrate:
  • the additional value being brought to UK and Greenland-based partners over and above the impact of their current work;
  • how the new proposed work is connected to and builds on the existing partnership; and
  • which new Greenland-based partners are included within the application and the additional value this brings.
• Timelines: All funded bursary activity must be completed during the 2024-25 financial year (1 April 2024 -31 March 2025)

Research Fields

• Applications are welcomed from across the full range of Arctic environmental, social and cultural research themes, including: Cryosphere, Atmosphere, Social and Human, Health, Marine, and Terrestrial research. Applications should demonstrate where the proposed methods of work and research questions are connected to and support Greenland’s National Research Strategy 2022-30.

Supported Activities

• The expectation is that this will be for practical work, networking and partnership building, including fieldwork and associated research and laboratory work as required, undertaken in the financial year 2024-25 (1 April to 31 March). Applications may be for work which addresses a specific research question or which is part of a wider initiative where the bursary scheme will add value and impact. Applications can also be for work which is focused on capacity and confidence building in new joint teams, sharing skills and techniques, developing practical methods which combine science and traditional and local knowledge and similar initiatives.
• The programme will not generally be available to support existing UK-Greenland joint research projects but will focus on new or significantly extended collaborations. Researchers with existing partnerships – whether funded through the 2023-24 bursary scheme or not – must clearly identify the additional value and the new aspects of the collaboration in their application.

Eligible Costs can include

• Travel, accommodation and subsistence, purchasing/hire/use of special equipment, logistics and shipping costs, specific training and permit/access costs. Where appropriate, travel and related subsistence costs for Greenland-based researchers to visit the UK can be eligible. Salary costs and associated costs, such as insurance, will not normally be eligible. Conference costs are unlikely to be eligible unless there are specific and focused links to the bursary, and fieldwork or other practical project work forms the major part of the proposal. Publication costs will not normally be eligible.

Eligibility Criteria 

• Applicants who are normally able to apply for UK Research and Innovation funding will be eligible to apply.

For more information, visit NERC Arctic Office.