International Polar Year - The Netherlands

In connection with the coming International Polar Year (IPY) the Steering Group Polar Programme launches this Call to submit applications for polar research. The means and aims of this Call are especially aimed at the national participation in the IPY.

This IPY●NL round is a complement to the regular Netherlands Polar Programme (NPP). The next regular NPP round is expected to be held in mid 2006, on condition that a new favourable decision is made regarding the NPP.

The IPY intends to give an impulse to internationally coordinated scientific research of the polar areas. The aims include:

• Exploration of new scientific border areas
• Deepening of understanding of polar processes and their global interactions
• Increasing the possibilities for perceiving changes
• Formation of a new generation of polar researchers (Education)
• Arousing interest among a wider public and decision makers (Outreach and Communication)

The scientific and policy basis of the Call are described in more detail in the Call for proposals IPY●NL.

Submissions in this national IPY Call can be made only if the research is part of an international ‘full proposal’ submitted to the IPY Joint Committee.

See further the standard regulation on NWO's subsidy policy.

What can be applied for

Applications may consist of various partial projects, that describe research to be done by at most one research assistant (AIO) or postdoc. No more than one AIO or postdoc position can be applied for per application form.

If for a research project more than one AIO or postdoc position is applied for, then each AIO or postdoc position must be applied for on a separate form in addition to the coordinating application form that covers the total project.

The costs of personnel, materials, field work and knowledge transmission must be specified as part of the partial projects. In the coordinating application form the interrelations and the coordination between the various partial projects must be described and only costs relating to coordination can be specified.

More information in section 1.4.2 of the Call.

When can be applied

The closing date for applications was 18 January 2006.

Extra Information

• Applicants are allowed to name (through Iris) no more than two co-applicants.
• The full text of the Call for proposals IPY●NL can be found under Documentation.
• The general rules on NWO subsidies and the ‘guidelines for submitting applications in the ALW Open Programme’ since 1 September 2005 apply. Apart from scientific quality, however, there will also be an evaluation on the grounds of policy relevance.
• Wherever the Call for proposals IPY●NL deviates from the standard NWO guidelines or the ALW Open Programme guidelines, the Call’s stipulations take precedence.

Field work Antarctic area

In the case of applications involving field work in the Antarctic it is necessary to fill out the form WBA-IPY alongside the application form as a preparation, if the application is approved, for a possible official permit application under the Antarctic Protection Law (WBA).