Birkbeck's Brainstorming Grants Group hosts another high-profile speaker
The new initiative for academics has had a Nobel Prize winner among its illustrious roster of speakers and is supporting researchers to transform their ideas into fundable grant applications.
Distinguished physicist, Dame Athene Donald, was the feature speaker at the recent Brainstorming Grants Group event, part of a series of sessions for Birkbeck researchers which has attracted an impressive line-up of speakers.
Dame Donald, a role model for many in the physics community, delivered her talk on Writing a Successful Grant Proposal – From the Perspective of a Referee, a subject which fits well with the Brainstorming Grants Group’s remit to support academics who wish to be a principal investigator on an external research grant.
The Brainstorming Grants Group is a learning programme for academics, chaired by Dr Caroline Kamau-Mitchell (Reader in Occupational Health) which features speakers who are global pioneers, including a recipient of the Nobel Prize and fellows of the Royal Society.
Dr Kamau-Mitchell said, “We’re grateful to have such a prestigious speaker attend the group and I know the advice she imparted is invaluable to our researchers who often need an extra level of support as they navigate a system which can have many setbacks along the way.
“The series, which was set up last year, was really born out of a desire to provide a space for my peers to brainstorm ideas together, have intellectually rigorous discussions, and get helpful critique from academics who have been peer reviewers for external funders.”
Professor Julian Swann, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Research said, “Birkbeck prides itself on its research excellence and its support for our researchers. We’re incredibly pleased to have such an esteemed speaker as Dame Athene Donald share her own experience of writing grant proposals throughout her career. She has had such a tremendous impact on the wider research community and I am sure all in attendance took a great deal away from her valuable insights and advice.”
During the Q&A segment, Dame Donald responded to questions about her own research and methodology. She also gave advice on public engagement and on how researchers could raise their profiles.
Birkbeck researchers in the Brainstorming Grants Group will continue their work on grant applications over the summer and will have a reunion session in September. Next year’s sessions will continue with more distinguished speakers who have forged ground-breaking careers.
Further Information
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