Deadline: 30-Nov-21
The Knowledge•Action•Change (K•A•C) is pleased to announce the 5th K•A•C Global Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme (THRSP) that helps to:
- Build research capacity in the field of tobacco harm reduction and raise awareness of research and its implications for public health policy.
- Develop and promote the evidence base
- Enable consumers to make more informed personal health choices.
- Improve the implementation and understanding of tobacco harm reduction.
THRSP have developed a scholarship package to ground scholars in the theory and practice of tobacco harm reduction (THR). The scholarships will begin at the Global Forum on Nicotine Conference (GFN), which will be held in Warsaw, Poland, between 16th & 18th June 2022.
Context of the Scholarships
Recent years have seen advances in the scientific understanding of products used for tobacco harm reduction (THR), including:
- laboratory-based and clinical studies of their effects and safety
- behavioral studies of how and why they are used in different populations and contexts
- epidemiological studies into patterns of use
- the relationship between the use of these products and changes in tobacco smoking.
There is an increasing understanding of the range of appropriate and effective evidence-based regulation and standards for THR products, and of THR strategies and policies. However, scientific capacity for research on THR and related products is not evenly distributed across the globe and there is considerable variation in the use of evidence to establish effective and appropriate public health policies.
Despite there being strong evidence for the effectiveness of a THR approach, public understanding of the evidence base and its implications for both policy and personal health choices is limited. This is often not helped by sensationalist and inaccurate reporting in the media.
The scholarship program aims to rectify this imbalance, they expect proposals to be modest in the first year and achievable. They will be assessed for their potential significance in advancing the field of THR.
What successful applicants can expect?
- Attendance at GFN 2022 (if possible, if not possible due to the ongoing pandemic, all learning activities will take place online)
- The opportunity to hear the experiences of previous scholars
- Support in identifying ‘next steps’ in a possible career in the field of THR
- A bespoke scholar’s program
- Expert mentoring and support throughout the scholarship program
- The possibility of showing the outcome of your project at GFN or similar event in 2023
Types of Proposals
Indicative examples of the types of project proposals that the scheme would like to receive:
- Scoping research on THR priorities in a country
- Designing a research project on the nature or use of THR products
- Improving the applicant’s understanding of science and science skills by links with, or placement within, a research team or THR organization
- Designing and initiating an intervention project to enhance public and / or professional understanding of THR and related projects
- Forming an organization to take forward research on THR
- Developing a THR intervention project within a health and social care setting
- Making and disseminating a film (s) or other media containing credible and accurate information about THR
- Organizing workshops and training events on THR
- Developing science communication skills related to THR
- Writing a research paper or other material for academic publication on THR
- Establishing a website and / or other media resources to improve understanding of THR
- Examining how poorer countries might overcome challenges presented by ‘high tech’ THR initiatives.
Enhanced Scholarships
K•A•C also runs an enhanced scholarship program. Enhanced scholarships can be applied for by anyone who has successfully completed all elements of the basic scholarship program in any preceding years. Six enhanced scholarships are available each year. The enhanced program is intended to encourage more in-depth projects than the entry level program, and also aims to facilitate the personal development of participants. Up to half of the enhanced scholar stipend can be used for a scholar’s personal development.
Details of how to apply for an enhanced scholarship are given after enrollment on the first-level scholarship program.
Advanced scholars can expect to receive:
- assistance in honing their proposals
- travel to and from Warsaw to attend the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN)
- accommodation for the whole period of GFN, including additional days for scholars
- per diems for the duration of GFN
- a stipend of up to $ 25,000 to undertake the project and for personal development
- continuation of the mentoring scheme, with an expert mentor
- ongoing support from the Scholarship Program Manager
- help and guidance on appropriate avenues for personal development
- assistance with problem solving – both practical and academic.
Eligibility Criteria
- The scholarships program prioritizes applications from lower, and middle-income countries.
- THRSP welcomes applications from any potential scholars with an interest in THR. This includes:
- people intending to enter into the field of research into THR and / or public health
- postgraduate students
- researchers and scientists
- medical professionals
- consumers
- writers
- internet and social media professionals
- film makers and other audio-visual professionals.
- Scholars can expect considerable input at the start of the process. This includes:
- assistance in honing your proposal post-submission
- travel to and from Warsaw to attend the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN)
- An online course in the theory and practice of THR
- accommodation for the whole period of GFN, including additional days for scholars
- a stipend of $ 10,000 to undertake the project
- per diems for the duration of GFN
- enrollment onto the Mentoring scheme, with a named expert mentor
- ongoing support from the Scholarship Program Manager
- assistance with problem solving – both practical and academic
- the opportunity to return to Warsaw in 2023 to share your findings, either as a poster display, as a speaker, or as an enhanced scholar.
Requirements
- Availability: All scholars must be available between 14th and 19th June 2022
- Learning: All scholars must complete induction courses (at GFN’22 and online)
- Reporting: All scholars will be expected to provide a 6-month progress report and a project summary at 11 months
- Sharing: Some scholars may be invited back to GFN or similar event in 2023 to share learning and experience.
For more information, visit https://thrsp.net/scholarship-programme/