14 January 2021

Participate in Leiden European City of Science 2022

Who Knows

In 2022, Leiden will be the European City of Science (ECS). One of the ambitions of the ECS is to organise activities, held daily throughout the year, in which exchanges between science and society – so between science, arts, culture and citizens – are facilitated. ECS will do this by creating a 365 day calendar. The overarching theme of ECS is Who Knows? Click here for more information and click here for a detailed description of the set-up of Leiden City of Science 2022 in the playbook.

ECS is a great chance to show the importance, relevance, and necessity of the Humanities for society as a whole and for the citizens of Leiden in particular. Many staff members in our faculty already engage with society through exchanges between science, arts, culture and citizens.

It is important that our faculty takes part in the ECS 365-day calendar. To stimulate and support ECS initiatives from our staff members, the Faculty Board has decided to set up a 20.000 euro fund for matching or fully financing ECS-activities.

Grants

Humanities Faculty staff members who have a (paid) contract can apply for financing to fully or partially fund their ECS initiative. Of course, all staff members are free to approach the ECS organization (Lucien Geelhoed) itself. The faculty coordinating team for ECS chaired by prof. Robert Zwijnenberg would however like to be informed about this. This way it can keep an overview on the input of faculty members for this important year and use this for communication purposes.   

The total fund is 20.000 euro. There is no maximum (or minimum) amount that can be applied for. If funding is awarded, the granted money needs to be spent in the 2022 (calendar) year.

Procedure

To apply for funding, please fill out the application form and send it to Marcel Belderbos (m.c.belderbos@hum.leidenuniv.nl) before the first of April 2021. The proposals will be reviewed by a committee consisting of prof. Kitty Zijlmans, prof. Ariadne Schmidt, prof. Robert Zwijnenberg, prof. Marlou Schrover, prof. Stephan Raaijmakers, Marcel Belderbos, policy officer research and Christine Smittenaar, head of the Communication and Marketing department. On the basis of the proposals it receives, the review committee will discuss possibilities for further matching from the ECS-organisation. The review committee will also look at opportunities for cooperation between applicants. The committee will give its advice to the Faculty Board who will make the final decision on awarding the funding.  

Reporting

If a grant is awarded, the applicant is asked to submit a report of maximum 2 A4s within two months after the initiative is completed, in which he/she reflects on:

1. The success of the initiative in light of the aims as described in the application.

2. How the funding was spent.

3. Possible future steps to build on the initiative’s results.

Assessment

Two groups of criteria will be used in assessing the submitted proposals: the goals of the Faculty and the aims of the ECS (please take a look at page 10-14  of the ECS playbook). Therefore, applicants are requested to elaborate on how their proposal relates to the goals of the ECS, as well as how it relates to the foci and themes of the Faculty.

During the European City of Science 2022 year the Faculty aims to show the many voices in, and diversity of, Humanities to the citizens of Leiden and to engage with them in conversation. The initiative should make the importance,  relevance, and necessity of the Humanities in their everyday lives clear to the people of Leiden. The Faculty has identified five key themes for this year: Identity Migration, Artificial Intelligence, Museums and Collections and Public Space. We particularly encourage proposals that relate to one of these themes, though all topics and themes will be considered.

For any questions or if you would like to receive further information, please contact Prof. Robert Zwijnenberg (r.zwijnenberg@hum.leidenuniv.nl).