Questions and answers on the new prizes and awards campaign being launched by the Safir research funding support
Why does the University of Münster want to establish a nominating culture?
Prizes and awards mean not only financial support but also recognition, and they are an important advertisement for the outside world, showing the outstanding work being done by our researchers and boosting the University’s image. In addition, they are a central element in any successful academic career. Whether it’s a master’s thesis, a dissertation or a researcher’s life’s work - there are prizes and awards to fit every stage in a career, and for all disciplines. Depending on what the invitation to apply says, researchers can nominate themselves or somebody else from their discipline. "Nominations should be a part of good scientific practice and, ideally, be on everyone’s to-do list at least once every semester," says Birte Blut, who, together with Dr, Sarah Thieme, provides advice to all researchers on academic prizes and awards.
What support does Safir provide for researchers?
The Safir team helps to find suitable invitations for applications and provides support in compiling documents which, if requested, it examines to make sure they have a strategic fit to the application. "The first step for anyone is to inform themselves about which prize fits their own research profile. The researchers themselves have the specialist expertise, and their faculty colleagues are best able to assess the excellence of their research, but we can provide help and relieve them of some of the work involved," says Sarah Thieme. The second step then, she says, is to pluck up the courage. Younger researchers in particular often have misgivings, she adds, and are too self-critical. This is where the low-threshold offers at Safir kick in - for example, the new series of events entitled "Meet the Awardee" which is aimed explicitly at researchers in the early phases of their careers and which aims to break down inhibitions.
What is the added value of nominations, even if applicants don’t receive a prize?
Researchers get recognition from their colleagues just as a result of being nominated. This appreciation of what they have achieved in their research increases their motivation to continue working on a particular topic. "The nomination is in itself an accolade," says Birte Blut. "In addition, it can help the applicant to set up networks because the documents go through several hands and, in doing so, spark people’s interest in the research topic. It’s beneficial for their further career if applicants can make a name for themselves within the University or among members of the jury and build up a network of contacts." Nominations always have an added value: "Anyone who applies for prizes or gets themselves nominated keeps their documents right up to date, revises their CV, takes a close look at their work from another angle, and learns how to market it and communicate it."
Where can suitable invitations to apply for prizes be found?
There are countless scientific prizes - offered by organisations ranging from small, subject-specific foundations to the German Research Foundation or the European Research Council. Current invitations can be found for example in the FIT newsletter, at the Office for Electronic Research Funding Information, ELFI (Servicestelle für elektronische Forschungsförder-Informationen), on the Safir website, or on notices displayed in individual faculties. It’s often worth taking a look at the CVs of colleagues who have already received a prize or an award to see which ones are available for your own discipline.
This article is from the University newspaper wissen
