Michael Nones
Michael Nones
Michael Nones
Michael Nones
Ilona Uryga-Bugajska
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?
12 Comments
Hi, I would like to move things forward, thank you for your input Rohan and Alejandra. Unfortunately no other members replied yet, so I will also send an email in case people just forgot their MCAA site password :)
I will use the Baltic Festival as an example for the last event (we can replace it with another one if it turns out free), thank you Rohan.
Due to space restraints I have modified the description of planned events to the following - see below. There was no space to mention that we have already collaborated with EuroDoc (we might mention it in a report if there is one?). Other than that if nobody has any comments, I will submit everything as it is in the coming days (if we find two more members as co-founders).
One more thing: in 2017 is the 150th birthday of Maria Skłodowska Curie! I have mentioned this to Brian Cahill and he suggested we should celebrate this with a meeting, preferably in Poland, though an alternative location could be in France. We have a chance here to contribute to the meeting and start a Chapter in a very good year and circumstances :)
Best wishes,
Maria
Here is the section "Please provide your reasoning to propose this Chapter and the multiple objectives you aim to achieve (max 250 words)."
Poland is a large country with an under-explored community of MSCA 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 interdisciplinary or directed at young researchers)
- recruitment of members to the new Polish chapter
- establishing a buddy system for incoming fellows
- establishing a presence on-line – on a webpage, a blog or social media accounts
- participation in commemoration of Maria Skłodowska Curie’s 150th birthday
- improvement of skills and career prospects of Chapter members through networking and conference or workshop attendance
The organisations with which we would like to collaborate include the National Contact Points (at KPK or PAS), the National Committee of EU Grant Coordinators (KRAB) and Polish societies for young researchers abroad or in Poland (e.g. EuroDoc, PolDoc, Polonium Foundation, Cambridge University Polish Society). The current timing is also very fortunate, since Poland plans to establish a national agency for academic exchange (NAWA) soon.
Helo Maria, I replied, it seems that you didn't see my email. I sent it directly to you one week ago ;)
Hi Clara, thank you for doing that and also letting me know again that I've missed something!
Unfortunately I can't find it in my inbox or spam, could you post it here, or forward it to me again + also at an alternative address: mgorna@cantab.net
It seems that this forum is more reliable than my mail service... oops! Hopefully I have not missed emails from you guys in the past!
best,
Maja
Here the mail ;)
Hello Maria! Thank you very much for the information.
Here my answers, they are general, in bullet points. :)
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. Yes I will be living in Wroclaw for two more years. But I have to do a secondment in Madrid, I don't know when and for how many time. If this is not a problem I will be happy to be a founding member.
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"*
Hi everyone,
Sorry for the silence from my side, here are my answers:
1. Yes, I plan to stay in Poland for the forseeable future and would like to be a founding member. Please use mkarp@fuw.edu.pl as my email address.
2. I think Maja's proposal is OK.
3. The current list of activities sounds great. I think we could add "establishing collaboration with the Paris MCAA chapter, to form a link between chapters located in MSC cities. In particular, work with Paris chapter on commemoration of MSC's 150th birthday".
4. I second Rohan's idea to provide some funding for participation in the General Assembly. In particular we could establish links with Paris during that event.
Hi, thank you all, please bear with me with a long summary post with the next version. Please correct if I got anything wrong, too.
Ad 1. thank you so much also to the rest of you for signing up again to be a founding member. I would count all of you in, that makes us 6 already which is sufficient. to start the Chapter, hurray! It is important to always have at least 5 "residing" members, so I think it should be fine.
Ad 2. regarding your comments, my text was already 250 words long and it was tough to fit all that new stuff in... I tried to shift as much of it as I can to the next point where there seems to be more space available in the table. So here is the newest version, 245 words, which leaves only FIVE words spare :)
"Poland is a large country with an under-explored community of MSCA fellows, who would benefit from networking and improved recognition in the country.
The national Chapter will allow us:
- to network between MSCA alumni, and with external partners such as National Contact Points and 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 the year include:
- organization of a Chapter kick-off meeting
- recruitment of new MCAA/Chapter members
- attendance of conferences and workshops related to Polish science (especially interdisciplinary or directed at young researchers)
- establishing a buddy system and help in proposal writing
- establishing a presence on-line – on MCAA webpage or social media accounts
- commemoration of Maria Skłodowska Curie’s 150th birthday
- improvement of skills and career prospects of Chapter members through networking and conference or workshop attendance
- promotion of research and career opportunities to Polish community, which is still less successful in obtaining EU funding compared to EU28 average
The organisations with which we would like to collaborate include the National Contact Points, the National Committee of EU Grant Coordinators (KRAB), Polish societies for young researchers abroad or in Poland (e.g. EuroDoc, PolDoc, Polish Societies at Oxbridge). The current timing is also very fortunate, since Poland plans to establish a national agency for academic exchange (NAWA) soon."
Ad 3, I have realised that more details are needed because the column headings are: Activity/ Date/ Target-Group/ Objective of Activity.
Which brings me to the second isssue - I think some of the events I suggested do not qualify because everything has to take place before 30.09.2017. I will remove "Science. Polish perspective" because this takes place in November this year and might be late in 2017 again - instead I've added attending a unique Oxbridge Ball which I can register for as a Cambridge alumna. It could also be something else you'd like to put there to attract connections with people from abroad to promote mobility into Poland? I have added also attendance to the AGM in Salamanca meeting for an extra person (though not sure if it qualifies as they have travel grants already for some partcipants. BTW, I will register for the General Assembly anyway to represent our Chapter and I will apply for the travel grant, let me me know if you do the same.)
When do we want to have our kick-off meeting? If it is a weekend, probably even those who have to teach could join, or do we prefer a working day? For now, I will put June/July 2017 as a place holder (it is nicer when it is warmer, isn't it?).
Here is the table:
Activity |
Date |
Target-group |
Objective of activity |
|
Organisation of Polish Chapter Kick-off meeting |
July 2017 |
MCAA members, Polish Chapter of MCAA, national contact point representatives |
Gather chapter members, network, set policies, plan agenda |
|
Attendance at Polish Scientific Networks 2017 |
June/July 2017 |
Polish scientists, young researchers, governmental organisations, other alumni associations (Foundation for Polish Science) |
Network and represent; inform about MCAA, MSCA |
|
Attendance at KRAB15 (Meeting of National Committee of EU Grant Coordinators) |
April/May 2017 |
Polish scientists, MSCA grant coordinators, representatives of government agencies and national contact points |
Network and participate in panel discussion on MSCA; inform about MCAA, MSCA |
|
Attendance at MCAA General Assembly in Salamanca |
March 2017 |
MCAA members |
Network, inform on planned Chapter actitivites |
|
Attendance at Baltic Festival of Science in Gdańsk |
May 2017 |
general public and youth |
Promote science, mobility, MSCA, MCAA |
|
Establishing a buddy program for incoming fellows |
January 2017 |
MCAA members coming to Poland |
Help MCAA members, network, engage new members |
|
Celebration of Maria Skłodowska Curie 150th birthday (which falls in November 2017) through an information bulletin (or alternatively a MCAA meeting) |
September? 2017 |
MCAA members, Polish scientists, general audience, youth and students |
Promote science, gender equality, mobility, professional career development |
|
Establishing collaboration with the Paris MCAA chapter, to form a link between chapters located in cities in which Maria Skłodowska-Curie worked. In particular, work with Paris chapter on commemoration of MSC's 150th birthday |
March 2017 |
MCAA members, French Chapter, Polish Chapter |
Network, promote MSCA and science |
|
organisation or participation in information workshops about MSC grants at unis |
Jan-Sept 2017 |
Scientists, university grant offices, National Contact Points |
Promote career and research opportunities, strengthen Polish science and local MCAA engangement |
|
Attendance at Oxford University Polish Society Ball in Warsaw (Charity Ball Celebrating 60 years of the Society), co-organised by Oxbridge Polish Society |
December 2016 |
Polish alumni of Cambridge, Oxford or LSE, Oxbridge Polish Society, Oxford University Polish Society, Cambridge University Polish Society |
Network with other alumni organisations, promote and attract Polish science and mobility back to Poland |
|
Proposal writing aid program; in collaboration with National Contact Points and KRAB |
January 2017 |
From MCAA members towards MCAA members and prospective MSCA fellows or grant coordinators |
Help MCAA members in career and skill development, increase MSCA awareness, prepare better working conditions for MCAA members |
|
Final Report |
|
MCAA AGM |
Inform members on Outcomes |
Ad 4. and here is the modified budget: (I hope we can still apply for Micro Grants for materials or travel on top of that)
Activity |
Estimated Cost |
|
Organisation of Polish Chapter Kick-off meeting, ca. 50 participants (conference room and catering, ca. 25 travel grants; printing the programme, a poster and promotional materials) |
4170 EUR |
|
Attendance at Polish Scientific Networks 2017 (1 Chapter member; registration fee ~150 PLN, travel, promotional materials) |
170 EUR |
|
Attendance at KRAB15 (1 Chapter member; travel, promotional materials) |
170 EUR |
|
Attendance at OxPolSoc Charity Ball – registration fee |
90 EUR (75 GBP) |
|
Attendance at one more networking meeting abroad or in Poland – for example, MCAA General Assembly in Salamanca (if no travel grant from MCAA is obtained, since these are limited). |
400 EUR |
Hi all, as there are no comments, I will submit this on Monday as it is (unless you want to change something till then - let me know over the weekend).
Sorry for the lag, I appreciate that we are all doing this in our spare time and some even while travelling :)
best
Maja
It looks great to me! Thanks for the job! :)
Hi all,
I got sort of tired of prolonging this any further, so I have submitted the latest version exactly as in my last post (the one from Nov 15th with the tables pasted). So we have now officially applied, hurray! They results will be in next month probably (they say the decision is made in the month following the application).
Fingers crossed, and thank you all for your contributions!
Maria
Sorry for the lag!! it's perfect! Thank you very much :)
can't wait to start.
BTW I went to the ERC day in Wroclaw and it was very interesting :)
Kind regards.
Clara
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.
I do qualify as a founding member and 99% I will be in Poland for the next 12 months and foreseeable future.
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?
I agree with your proposals, may be we can add: something along the lines of providing help in new proposal writing for members, also providing a buddy program for new incoming fellows.
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"
The buddy program I think does not need any budget, also, the help with proposal writing will not need money, but may be if we are to organize webinars or something we might need a small amount of money for experts. (just a suggestion)
Also every year there is a Baltic Science Festival in Gdansk, I might be able to represent MSCA there, we might need some promotional stuff for that. In any case, I will check and let you know if there are any other costs involved with the organization of this event.
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 agree with your proposals in terms of money management. If possible we can also have a delegation for the general assembly in Spain next year. There are micro grants available, but dont know how many people can actually get it. I personally would have loved to go, but unfortunately I will be attending another conference and will not be able to go.