Scheme 3

Objectives: The scheme is to provide support for groups of mathematicians, working in at least three different locations, who have a common research interest, who wish to engage in collaborative activities and whose geographical locations are such that reasonably frequent regular meetings - several per year - are a realistic possibility. At least two of the three locations must be in the United Kingdom.

Eligibility: Any mathematician based in the UK is eligible to apply for a grant, but see under “Form of application” below.

Criteria: A grant may be used for a variety of purposes associated with the group's activities, but will most likely be for the expenses of speakers and participants at common seminars. The Society wishes to support research students and young postdoctoral mathematicians, and applications should indicate details of the extent to which they will be involved in the programme. No strict criteria will be laid down as to the use of the money but the Society reserves the right to judge whether the activities proposed in an application are appropriate for a grant. There should be genuine involvement from all three nodes, and the Society would normally expect meetings to move around the nodes.

The Committee may ask for exceptionally strong cases to be made where there is geographical and subject overlap between different Scheme 3 applications, or between the Scheme 3 application and an existing research network.

The Committee will support only mathematical activities or the mathematical component of wider activities, and here the word mathematical excludes mathematics education.

The Society does not like to receive sequential applications for grants to support the same or closely related events, and will not allow its limits for individual schemes to be exceeded by artificially sub-dividing an application into a number of separate requests under different headings.

The grant is made for the academic year and the Society requires academic and financial reports.

Renewals
The new simplified system of renewals for Scheme 3 with a “light touch” for two renewals, followed by a full assessment every third year, has been reviewed following its introduction last year. If your application does not significantly differ from the previous year’s then normally you need only request a renewal by completing an extremely short form, see Form of application below.

You do not need countersignatures from the supporting institutions. The Committee will assess your renewal against the original application you submitted.

Every third year, or if you wish to use the grant in a different way (eg changes to the amount requested or grant holder or supporters), you must make a full re-application.

Your request for renewal should be submitted together with final reports for last year. Please note that these should always be full reports; “light touch” refers to the application procedure only. The report should be submitted on the Financial and Academic Reports Form which may be downloaded here in Word or PDF format.

renew at some appropriate level, or
give notice of termination at the end of the calendar year, in which case a sum equal to not more than one third of the previous year's grant can be claimed to cover actual expenditure in the residual period.

Value of award :The maximum grant awarded is currently £1,400; this is awarded where four meetings per year are held, or there is an equivalent level of activity.

The limits mentioned are upper bounds, not standard awards. Grants must be claimed in the financial year in which they are awarded.

For renewal applications under the “light touch” system please use the form which may be downloaded here in RTF or PDF format.
For new schemes and full renewal applications please use the forms which may be downloaded here in RTF or PDF format. The application form should be completed by a nominated 'grant-holder', who will be responsible for the use of the grant. The application form must be countersigned by a 'supporter' from each of at least two further institutions, or confirmation (in the form of printouts of emails) must be provided that the two supporters have seen the application and agree to participate. (If none of the applicants is a member of the Society, the application must be countersigned by a member.)

Applications should be set out clearly, and preferably typed. They should be self-contained; please do not append substantial documents that contain irrelevant detail or refer to websites for key information. Please send all applications in hard copy to the Programme Secretary at De Morgan House.

Queries regarding applications can be addressed to the Programme Secretary, Stephen Huggett (tel: 01752 586869) or Sylvia Daly (tel: 020 7291 9971, Wednesday-Friday), who will be pleased to discuss proposals informally with potential applicants and give advice on the submission of an application.

Checklist: Applicants may like to note the following checklist used by the Committee when assessing applications:

Mathematical quality of the project.
Well argued proposal, with a clear statement of the mathematical component in the case of a wider project.
Well thought out and cost-effective budget, with the request restricted to allowable costs, and an appropriate and clearly identified balance of funding from other sources.
The difference made by our grant to the viability and success of a project.
Likely beneficiaries.
Compliance with the Society’s policy on Women in Mathematics and expectations of those seeking grants.
Limitation on the number of grants awarded to any individual.
Sufficient time available for publicity of the event.
Receipt of satisfactory reports on previous grants.

Deadlines and decision timetable: New and renewal applications are considered at the October meeting of Programme Committee. The deadline for receipt of applications for this meeting is 15 September. Renewal applications will also be considered at meetings in November and January, and should be submitted as soon as final reports can be completed but no later than 31 December.