Provost's Interdisciplinary Seminar Fund

Request for Proposals:
May 1, 2007

The Provost announces the FY 2007 seminar fund to stimulate the creation of interdisciplinary discussions and connections that could grow into lasting cooperative intellectual efforts and programs. The opportunity is intended to support the Penn Compact's emphasis on the integration of knowledge. This fund will provide financial support for up to three years for seminars and is designed to support initiation of new seminar series that emphasize interdisciplinary research and scholarship. To be eligible for funding, seminars must draw on faculty scholars from at least two schools. Seminars that include Penn graduate or undergraduate students will be particularly welcome as will seminars with participation from the non-academic community outside the University. The fund will provide each seminar with approximately $10,000 a year (depending on documented need) for up to three years. Funding in the second and third years is subject to success in the previous year(s). To receive continued funds, a report is due May 1, 2007. Success is defined as growing attendance, publications, general visibility and other evidence of intellectual progress. Each proposal must contain criteria by which its success can be judged.

Applications to the Provost's Interdisciplinary Fund should contain:

i.   A Seminar title.

ii.  A brief (no more than five pages) description of the intellectual area of the seminar and of how the suggested new connections will advance the subject.

iii. The names and affiliations of the principal faculty (no more than four) proposing the seminar with a two-page CV on each.

iv. The names and affiliations of others who will be major participants in the seminar.

v.  A suggested set of criteria or goals by which success of the seminar program can be evaluated.

vi. A detailed proposed budget for the first year of the seminar. The budget may be dedicated to honoraria, travel, and other directly associated expenses, but entertainment should be kept to a minimum. Also, co-funding from departments, schools or other sources should be documented and will increase the credibility of the application.

The application should be sent electronically as one MS Word or PDF document without images to Irene Soroka, sorokai@pobox.upenn.edu by Friday, May 1, 2007. A committee will review the applications and funded proposals will be announced in June.

—Steven J. Fluharty, PhD
Vice Provost for Research