Deadline: 8-Feb-23
The British Academy is inviting proposals from a research team led by a Principal Investigator (PI) to use a cross-temporal, multi-scalar approach to address three specific challenges: Typology challenge: how can they classify net zero policies? Synthesis challenge: what is the SHAPE evidence on net zero policies? Evaluation challenge: which net zero policies work in practice and why? Researchers would be expected to produce policy and research outputs that are accessible to policymakers and practitioners.
Scope of the call
- They are now seeking a research group led by a Principal Investigator that can use a cross-temporal, multi-scalar approach to address three specific challenges that they have identified as requiring further research and analysis:
- A typology or framework challenge – how can they classify net zero policies? The current national net zero policy is arguably fragmented – not fully considering the priorities such as cost of living, of those at the more local level, and not joined up across different governance levels.
- A synthesis challenge – what is the SHAPE evidence on a range of varying net zero policies in practice (these could be clear net zero policies with interactions on issues such as energy, circular economy, critical materials, nature-based solutions)? Policymakers, particularly those in less-well-resourced institutions (such as SMEs or local authorities) have limited resources to identify and review the full range of evidence available from SHAPE disciplines to develop effective policies on net zero that take account of this evidence.
- An evaluation challenge – which broad range of net zero policies work in practice for local policymakers and why? local actors face a range of policy options on net zero, many with few precedents to draw on. This is combined with competing priorities and narratives, resource constraints and some public and political contestation and backlash around net zero policies.
Funding Information
- They expect to make a single award of up to £150,000 (with Full Economic Costing at 80%). This means that the maximum budget that can be stipulated is £187,500, of which the British Academy would fund 80% (ie £150,000). The project duration will be 15 months starting in March 2023 and completed by June 2024. Awardees will be required to engage closely and regularly with the British Academy throughout the award duration and meet clear deliverables and deadlines.
Eligibility Criteria
- The lead applicant must be a researcher from the humanities or social sciences and be based at an eligible UK university or research institute. The lead applicant must be of postdoctoral status or (or have equivalent research experience) and their position must last at least the duration of the grant funded by the Academy.
- Projects can involve Co-Applicants and other participants. No individual may be a Co-Applicant on more than two projects under this call (nor may a PI be additionally a Co-Applicant on more than one other project).
Selection Criteria
- Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Relevance of the application to the programme aims, scope and requirements – specified.
- The feasibility of the proposal in terms of appropriate and robust methodology;
- The expertise of the applicants in the subject area;
- The demonstrated commitment and ability to meet the deliverables and deadlines outlined;
- Value for money.
For more information, visit Net Zero Policy Programme.
