ResearchAnnouncement

Research Announcement: UCT research news and funding opportunities

4 May 2023

Dear colleagues

The purpose of this announcement is to keep members of the UCT research community informed about news and funding opportunities in the research space. All new funding opportunities can also be found on the current funding opportunities page of the Research Support Hub.

In this newsletter:

Noticeboard

Funding opportunities and funder announcements

Research capacity building

Noticeboard

On the Research Announcement noticeboard, we share news and items of interest from the UCT Research Office.


ASSAf update on the Code of Conduct for Research 

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has submitted the POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act) Code of Conduct for researchers to the Information Regulator who has three months to review, publish for comment, make changes  and then approve as final. Once approved, the code becomes legally binding for all research that involves human personal information.

The submitted code is available here on the ASSAf website. 
Reminder: eRA topical session 2, Award Management - manage research projects with the eRA system 
10 May 2023 at 13:00 (SAST)

The pre-awards internal approvals process, contracts module, and post-awards (project awards) module are interlinked and serve as an integral part of the research project lifecycle. These modules form part of the award management umbrella in eRA.  

During each of these phases, information is fed from one processing stage to the next to mitigate the duplication of efforts and smoothly transition between the various stages of the research lifecycle.
  
Keen to learn more about how they are linked and maximise the use of the post-awards record to manage your research project?  

Register here to learn more.


eRA production system weekly downtime

Please note that the eRA production system will be unavailable every week between 16:00 on Wednesday evening and 08:30 on Thursday morning. Please ensure that you are completely logged out of the system before this time.
  
This is to ensure that the system resources are freed up for maintenance activities.

Funding opportunities and funder announcements

Visit the current funding opportunities page on the Research Support Hub to view all open funding opportunities.


Call for nominations: 2023 South African Women in Science Awards
UCT internal deadline: 5 June 2023
DSI deadline: 19 June 2023


The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) calls for nominations for the 2023 South African Women in Science Awards (SAWiSA). These awards recognise and reward excellence by women scientists and researchers, and profile them as role models for younger women. The awards will be made to women who are South African citizens or permanent residents.

Nomination criteria:
  • Any person who knows the nominee and her work well can make a nomination. The nominator should provide the motivation as required in the nomination form.
  • Nominees must be South African citizens or permanent residents.
  • Overall winners in the past 10 years are not eligible to be nominated in the categories in which they have previously won.
Download the application form here and the nomination form here. More details may be viewed here.
Reminder: Advanced Computing Committee (ACC) research equipment grant call 2023
Deadline: 31 May 2023

The Advanced Computing Committee’s (ACC) annual call is open and researchers are invited to apply for funding for strategic research-related computer equipment and software items (including implementation support, like specialised computing services) not covered in the conventional way by Faculty Equipment/IT Committees.

The purpose of the ACC grant is to provide funding for prioritised, medium-sized (R50 000 to R750 000) items. However, applications for large items (>R750,000) will be considered if part of a coordinated effort across departments and/or faculties that includes one or more of the following: e-Research, Data Institute or ICTS.

Please see the call details here for more information.

Reminder: University Equipment Committee (UEC) research equipment grant call 2023
Deadline: 26 May 2023

The UEC has opened its annual call for research equipment grant applications. The UEC considers applications for strategic equipment items that are aligned with the research strategies of UCT, faculties and departments, and are not covered in the conventional way by faculty equipment committees. Category 2 applications (>R1.5 million) may be submitted, however, it should be noted that the NRF National Equipment Programme call is only expected to open again in 2024.

Please see the UEC call for more information.

Reminder: Call for DHET creative research outputs submissions

The Research Office invites research staff to submit their 2020, 2021 and 2022 creative research outputs for submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET). This process results in the DHET awarding subsidies to UCT for creative research outputs in the following subfields: fine and visual arts; music, theatre, performance and dance; design; film and television; and literary arts.

More information, including guidelines, processes and resources can be found here.

Reminder: Call for applications for UCT Enabling Grant Seeker Excellence awards

The call for applications for the UCT Enabling Grant Seeker Excellence awards is open. In the context of an unpredictable national research funding environment, the purpose of this intervention is to encourage applications to external – particularly international – funders as well as multi-, inter- and trans-disciplinary research collaborations. By allocating fractional funding based on grant submission without waiting for the successful outcome, seed funding is provided to enable immediate progress. Please see the call document which contains a link to the application form.

Queries can be directed to Robyn Udemans.


Research capacity building

Below are events, workshops and webinars that offer capacity-building opportunities for the UCT research community.

Digital Scholar Series: Is this thing on? Getting your data ready for analysis
10 May 2023 from 13:00 to 14:00 (SAST)

Once your data is captured, it is time to start analysing it. No matter what your research project, it helps to ensure that the data is ready to be wrangled, re-formatted, examined, queried, etc. In this session, we look at how you can ensure that your data is ready for the rigorous process of turning it into information that can be usefully presented.

Register here.

Digital Scholar Series: Attached to data – working collaboratively on research projects
17 May 2023 from 13:00 to 14:00 (SAST)

Conducting a research project doesn't have to be a lonely journey; many researchers frequently work together to generate new knowledge. Making sure that the right information is used by everyone and making sure it stays original and current is a challenge. We look at a few relevant, collaborative spaces and tools online that can help you work together. After this session, you will never look at files attached to emails the same way again.

Register here


Reminder: Upcoming Emerging Researcher Programme (ERP) events
Supervision webinar dates: 9,11,16,18 May, Mindfulness taster session date: 10 May

The ERP is pleased to invite you to the following events:
  • Supervision webinar series
    The ERP invites you to join us for this series of four webinars to explore various aspects of the supervisory process. This series is designed with first-time supervisors in mind and is open to UCT academic staff only. 

    Webinar 1: 9 May 2023 from 10:00 to 12:00
    Webinar 2: 11 May 2023 from 10:00 to 12:00
    Webinar 3: 16 May 2023 from 10:00 to 12:00
    Webinar 4: 18 May 2023 from 10:00 to 12:00
    Click here for more information and to RSVP by 5 May 2023.
  • Mindfulness taster session
    Mindful practice is a mental workout which allows us to act with greater intention in our lives. Mindfulness teachers Tessa Roos and Jacqui Wigg will offer this one-hour interactive and experiential taster session. We explore what mindfulness is and look at how it may benefit you professionally and personally. The session is for UCT academic staff only.
    Date: 10 May 2023 from 13:00 to 14:00. Click here for more information and to RSVP by 8 May 2023.

The Research Announcement is produced by the Research Office, University of Cape Town.

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