Public Announcement for FY2014 Incubation Studies (IS) Application
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN)
Ⅰ. Background Information
The Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN) is an inter-university research institute established in 2001 by the Japanese government to promote integrated research with a view toward creating academic disciplines that help to solve global environmental problems.
Until recently, many environmental studies have been undertaken individually in various scientific fields. Proclaiming since its inception that “global environmental problems have their origin in human-cultural issues,” RIHN has pursued its mission of elucidating the essence of environmental problems and presenting an integrated view of the state of humanity and nature.
In an attempt to shed light on the question of “human-nature interactions, ” RIHN is involved in research work in various issues and areas. Having identified our five research domains of “circulation”, “diversity”, “resources”, “ecohistory”, and “ecosophy”, we are pursuing research projects under a diverse range of themes. In the goals/plans for the Second Phase of Mid-term Planning that began in FY2010, we aim to reveal the true nature of global environmental problems by developing consilience that combines the research domain programs with futurability initiatives, thus launching a series of projects geared toward designing a future society under a new paradigm.
Ⅱ. Application Guidelines
1. Descriptions of Incubation Studies
Incubation Studies (IS) are projects jointly conducted by RIHN researchers and researchers affiliated with other research institutes for the purpose of discovering new seeds for integrated research designed to offer solutions to global environmental problems. Under RIHN’s research project structure, IS will be commenced for a period of six to twelve months and then it will be considered to be promoted to a stage of feasibility study (individual Collaboration feasibility studies, hereinafter, “Individual Collaboration FS”). After the upgrade to individual Collaboration FS is approved following an internal project review, research will continue for another six or twelve months. If qualified by RIHN’s internal project review and the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), which comprises reviewers from Japan and other countries, the proposed project may be developed into a full research project with the RIHN Board of Advisors’ approval.
We are currently inviting researchers for joint research under the framework of IS that would seek approval to be upgrade to the Individual Collaboration FS stage in either October 2014 or April 2015, and then aim to be promoted to an Individual Collaboration Research Project based on the results of evaluation at the end of the relevant fiscal year.
2. Eligibility
- 1) Professors, associate professors, lecturers, and assistant professors of national, public, and private universities, and other relevant institutions/centers.
- 2) Those acknowledged by the RIHN Director-General as being equivalent or superior to those in 1) above in their ability to promote research.
3. Project theme
A project theme shall be chosen after preliminary discussions with RIHN’s research and education staff and in accordance with the RIHN Mission and Goals explained in RIHN Prospectus, on our website, and etc. (See “Ⅱ. 7. References” for more details)
4. Research period
From May 2014 to the end of February 2015 (If promoted to an Individual Collaboration FS in October 2014, IS will be deemed complete at that time).
5. Necessary expenses
For successful applicants, RIHN will cover travel expenses, supplies expenses, etc. within the limits of its budget. Please form budget planning for about 300,000 to 1 million yen.(Such subsidies may not be used for purchasing supplies the value of which is over JPY100,000)
Furthermore, please note that the travel expenses within Japan are reimbursable only for the distance from the location of the researcher’s institute to Kyoto, considering the purposes of the joint research performed at RIHN.
6. Schedule after application (subject to change)
| • Screening of documents | Tuesday, April 8, 2014 |
|---|---|
| • Presentation of research plan (successful applicants of document screening) |
Friday, April 18, 2014 (option) Monday, April 21, 2014 |
| • Review for adoption | Monday,April 21,2014 |
| • Commencement of research | Thursday, May 1, 2014 |
| • IS Reporting/Individual Collaboration FS Promotion Presentations | Friday, September 5, 2014 |
| • Decision for promotion to Individual Collaboration FS (for the October term) |
Friday, September 5, 2014 |
| • RIHN Research Project Presentations* | Wednesday, November 26–Friday, November 28, 2014 |
| *If promoted to an Individual Collaboration FS in October, FS research results must be presented. | |
| • IS Reporting/Individual Collaboration FS Promotion Presentations | Friday, March 6, 2015 |
| • Decision for promotion to Individual Collaboration FS | Friday, March 6, 2015 |
7. References
Please use the following links to download the reference materials.
- Basic Policies on Research Activities of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature: Attached
- Mission and Goals: RIHN website
- Founding Mission and Goals: RIHN website
- Workflow to Full Research: Attached
- Rules for Research Projects of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature: Attached
- Operational Rules for Research Projects of the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature: Attached
- Requirement for Individual Collaboration Research Project: Attached
- Review Policies and Procedures for FR, FS and IS at the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature: Attached
Ⅲ. Submission of Application Forms
1. Documents to be submitted
Please use the following links to download the application forms, etc.
- Attached Form: Application Form for FY2014 Incubation Studies (IS) (Approval from the head of your affiliation or their equivalent is required.) （WORD(doc) / PDF）
- Attached Form 1-1: IS Research Plan （WORD(doc) / PDF）
- Attached Form 1-2: Resume of IS Proponent （WORD(doc) / PDF）
2. Due date:
Applications must arrive no later than Thursday, April 3, 2014.
The document may be sent by mail or submitted in person. However no e-mail application will be accepted.
3. Sent to:
International Affairs Subsection, Research Cooperation Section,
Research Institute for Humanity and Nature
457-4, Motoyama, Kamigyo, Kita-ku, Kyoto, 603-8047 JAPAN
Ⅳ. Screening
The RIHN Project Review Task Committee will screen the application including budget planning. The project proposals that passed the document screening will be subjected to a general reviewing process, which includes a public hearing with participation of RIHN members, before a final decision is made by the RIHN Executive Board.
The attached document titled “Requirement for Individual Collaboration Research Project” describes general requirements for the project. To what extent your project proposal will meet the requirements, if the proposal is authorized to proceed to the project phase, will be our screening review criteria. Please refer to the document when creating your proposal.
Ⅴ. Others
- Travel expenses to attend Presentation of research plan (successful applicants of document screening) shall be at your own expense.
- The language used for communication in the Presentations shall be the Japanese or the English language.
- If you are not a research or education staff member at RIHN, please consult with any staff member of RIHN well before preparing your application documents, and state the name(s) of those members in the application form. If your project proposal is accepted as IS, RIHN will appoint an "incubator" (advisor) from its staff to provide necessary advice on the research design, methods, organization and other matters of your IS proposal.
- If your proposal is accepted as IS, a research representative (the applicant) will be required to present an IS report and FS research plan at the IS Reporting/Individual Collaboration FS Promotion Presentations (See “II. 6. Schedule after application” above). Please be reminded that the IS report could be disclosed.
- When your IS has been promoted to Individual Collaboration FS, the research representative (the applicant) is required to assume a position as Visiting Professor or Visiting Associate Professor at RIHN (for duration of the Individual Collaboration FS, which is six to twelve months). Also, when Individual Collaboration FS has been promoted to a full research project, the leader is required to assume a position as full-time Professor or Associate Professor at RIHN.
- Please note that the public invitation of proposals for Institutional Collaboration FS, which requires a higher degree of coordination with an applicant organization, is scheduled to commence on or later than September 5, 2014. If the review committee of the IS Reporting/Individual Collaboration FS meeting of September 5, 2014 determines that the proposal should proceed as an Institutional Collaboration FS, revision may be made on the proposal to apply for such an Institutional Collaboration FS.
Inquiries
International Affairs Subsection, Research Cooperation, Research
Cooperation Section, Administrative Office
Tel: +81-75-707-2152
E-mail: 