Chapter call open!

Hi all,

great news, finally we can submit the application to start our Polish chapter! The call is available here: https://www.mariecuriealumni.eu/chapters

We need at least five founding members - there is eight of us here, but the following rule applies:

"The founding members of the chapter must ensure that they will reside in the geographic area for a period of at least twelve months from the date of submission of the application."

I think that means that our chapter members residing outside of Poland cannot act as founding members :( (though we can and want to include them in all other activities!).

We can apply for max. 5000 EUR for a period of one year (1.11.2016 - 30.09.2017), but we need to decide what activities to propose and how much they will cost.

I would be grateful if you could answer the following:

1 - do you qualify as a founding member according to the rule above? (things might have changed since I have asked this question last time) If yes, please provide email address I should put in the form.

2 - we need to prepare the section "your reasoning to propose this Chapter and the multiple objectives you aim to achieve (max 250 words)". what are your ideas here?

3 - what activities would you suggest we plan for this year? We need to propose events to put in the application form "the activities (e.g. meetings, events, communication, etc.) you are planning to promote within the Chapter (for a minimum of one year period), and with a final report of the activity to be presented at the following AGM"

4 - and how much do you think the activities would cost? How do you think we should spend the budget? We need to estimate required budget for the events in the point above.

I'd start with myself:

1 - yes, I am sure I will be in Poland for the next 12 months and I want to be a founding member :) use my work address:  mgorna@chem.uw.edu.pl

2 - I have prepared this text (238 words) - please feel free to correct or add to it:

"Poland is a large country with an under-explored community of past and present MCAA fellows, who would benefit from networking and improved recognition in the country. We would like to form a national Chapter which will allow us:

• to network between MSCA fellows and alumni, as well as with external partners such as National Contact Points and national organisations funding and promoting science.
• to act as ambassadors of MCAA, MSCA, science and mobility (between countries or sectors).
• to promote MCAA and MSCA as a brand of excellence in science and career development

Our plans for this first year include:

• organization of a kick-off meeting for networking between Chapter members
• attendance of conferences and workshops related to Polish science, especially those that are interdisciplinary or directed at young researchers
• recruitment of MCAA members to the new Polish chapter
• improvement of skills and career prospects of Chapter members through improved networking and conference and workshop attendance

The organisations with which we would like to collaborate include the National Contact Points (at KPK and at the Polish Academy of Sciences), the National Committee of EU Grant Coordinators (KRAB) and Polish societies for young researchers abroad or in Poland (e.g. PolDoc, Polonium Foundation, Oxford University Polish Society or Cambridge University Polish Society). The current timing is also very fortunate, since Poland plans to establish a national agency for academic exchange (similar to DAAD in Germany)."

3 - I think we should have a meeting for the chapter kick-off and spend the rest of the budget on sending delegates to various conferences for networking - but we should know already for the sake of the proposal what events we would like to attend. I suggest the next meeting of EU grant coordinators in Poland (KRAB15), "Science. Polish Perspectives" or "Polish Scientific Networks" (assuming they organise those again). Where else we could send people? Do you know of other likely events? Please also add any local or free events we could participate in without any extra budget to cover it.

4 - I have planned 5000 EUR for five events (kick-off for all of us and 4 events for 1 delegate each). What do you think?

4a) a kick-off meeting for the Chapter, for example a 1-day event in Warsaw in the summer. I estimate that meeting costs would include (total 4185 EUR):

- room rental for 1 day: 1000 PLN netto (285 EUR brutto)

- catering for 50 people for two coffee breaks and lunch: 3500 PLN (800 EUR)

- reimbursement of travel + accommodation: 120 EUR travel grant per person, x 25 = 3000 EUR

- printing promotional materials, programme and a poster etc.: 100 EUR

if any of you would like to correct this budget or add anything on top, let me know.

4b) KRAB15 meeting: 170 EUR: 20 EUR materials/shipping + 150 EUR travel grant to cover travel + accommodation (we hope organisers would wave the registration fee)

4c) conference "Science. Polish Perspectives 2017" (a conference for young Polish researchers abroad, takes place every year in UK): 305 EUR = 20 EUR materials/shipping + 250 EUR travel grant to cover travel and accommodation + 35 EUR registration fee for a presenting participant

4d) conference "Polish Scientific Networks 2017" (a conference organised each year by Polish ministry of science, young scientist of Polish Academy of Sciences and FNP studentship fellows): 170 EUR =  20 EUR materials/shipping + 150 EUR to cover travel, accommodation and including registration fee (~150 PLN)

4e) one more event or workshop taking place in Poland: 170 EUR = 20 EUR materials/shipping + 150 EUR travel grant to cover travel and acommodation; for example to a scientific festival or some kind of yourng researcher's forum?