Netherlands Polar Programme (NPP)

In March 2010, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science decided to make a total of M€ 6 available during the period 2010 to 2014 for research activities focused on Antarctica. NWO-ALW has added M€ 2.5. With this, the New Netherlands Polar Programme has started. An important condition under which these funds have become available is that they will first of all be devoted to the development of five mobile research laboratories. These shall be realised at the British Rothera Research Station on Antarctica, in collaboration with the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) (for further information see 'Documentation'). For the staffing and partial material equipping of these mobile laboratories an open funding round is being organised. The funding now released will in part be used for this. The evaluation of the grant proposals, and realisation and coordination of the NNPP have been assigned to NWO-ALW.

The 2010 round is specifically targeted at Antarctica and covers the following two themes:

• Ice, climate and sea level
• Polar oceans (including polar marine ecological research)

The combined objective for this round is a strengthening of the international collaboration between NWO-ALW and the British Antarctic Survey.

Who can apply

Researchers who are employed by a Dutch university or a research institute recognised by NWO, possess at least a university degree or an equivalent qualification and have an employment contract for at least the duration of the application process and the research for which a grant is requested.

What can be applied for

• A PhD researcher or a three year post-doc on the basis of full-time positions. A personal bench fee will be awarded to each PhD or postdoc to (partly) cover costs such as travel and the printing of a thesis;
• Consumables that support the research up to an amount of Є 30,000 for a postdoc position and Є 40,000 for a PhD position; -equipment that supports research up to an amount of Є 110,000 for which there shall be a matching requirement (see the brochure under 'Documentation'). The equipment is clearly intended for the project described in the proposal. The relationship with that project and the need of the equipment for this should be clearly argued;
• Travel costs necessitated in connection with the research in so far as these are not covered by the bench fee and costs incurred for carrying out fieldwork. The total costs for consumables, travel costs and fieldwork may amount to a maximum of Є 55,000 for the PhD position and Є 45,000 for a postdoc position.

No grant can be requested for permanent staff, student assistants, analysts/technicians, overheads, general laboratory equipment, maintenance and insurance costs, congress visits and publication costs.

When can be applied

• Closing date for submitting applications was 30 September 2010

After the deadline, proposals can no longer be improved or supplemented.

Extra Information

In this round there is a clear focus on collaboration with the BAS on Rothera Research Station. In the proposal, the applicant should state whether the proposal is intended for use of one of the five mobile laboratories. Besides an evaluation organised by NWO, these proposals shall also be evaluated by de British Antarctic Survey for the extent to which the NWO and BAS research elements collaborateand strengthen each other. Applications specifically focused on Antarctic research that fall within the two themes stated but are not targeted at use of the mobile laboratories are also welcome.

Criteria

For the evaluation of the scientific quality:

1. Originality/innovative character of the proposal
2. Scientific quality of the proposal
3. Scientific quality of the research group

For assessment of the appropriateness within the focus on the mobile laboratories:

1. Use of proposed mobile research laboratories on Rothera Research Station
2. How much experience the applicant has in leading a field laboratory

For evaluating the collaboration with the BAS:

1. Degree of collaboration with BAS researchers as perceived by the BAS.
2. Relevance and urgency in relation to the Antarctic research programme of BAS.

Procedure

The proposals will be submitted to international referees. An evaluation committee of independent scientific experts will prioritise these proposals and issue an advice to the ALW Divisional Board. Proposals submitted for the mobile laboratories shall also be submitted to the British Antarctic Survey. They will issue an advice to the ALW Divisional Board. In spring 2011, the Divisional Board will decide which proposals to fund, based on both pieces of advice.

Committees

After the deadline, the ALW Divisional Board will appoint an international evaluation committee for the scientific evaluation of the proposals.

Budget

For this round a budget of € 2.5 mln is available.

Financiers

Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, NWO Division for Earth and Life Sciences

Contacts

• Ms drs. L.H.W. Noor
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 08 20, fax: +31 (0)70 381 90 33, e-mail: l.noor@nwo.nl