Black and Caspian Sea Collaborative Research Program Funded by The Starr Foundation 2002 - 2003 Application Materials Application deadline: May 1, 2002 Grantees for 2001-2002 Several applicants have requested a clarification on an eligibility requirement regarding this program: Groups of a minimum of three scholars are eligible to apply. At least one of the researchers must be a US citizen or permanent resident and at least two of the researchers should be citizens and current residents of two different countries in the Black and Caspian Sea region at the time of application. Go to the Black and Caspian Sea Basins Regional Resource Page For more information, contact irex@irex.org. The last decade has unleashed major forces of change in the Black and Caspian Sea region. On the most rudimentary level, interactions of various types, including trade and travel, have proliferated in this region. Large regional projects, including political ones such as GUUAM and the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Zone, and economic ones such as oil and gas pipelines, mean that regional developments will continue to bear consequences for each country in the region while developments at the national level will have regional effects. However, region-wide basic and comparative data, as well as regional analysis of ongoing trends, are lacking. In September 2000, IREX convened a regional conference in Odesa, Ukraine, to assess the regional dynamics at work, as well as the state of existing knowledge and skills, and to analyze these trends. The participants of the Odesa Conference called attention to the pressing need to carry out collaborative research if understanding of the region and its dynamics are to improve. It is in response to this demand that IREX has decided to launch its collaborative research program for the Black and Caspian Sea region. This collaborative research program is made possible by a generous grant from The Starr Foundation. Description Grants will be awarded to projects focusing on issues of practical relevance and current interest to academic, corporate and policy-making communities. The region is defined to include: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Ukraine. Groups with a minimum of three scholars, all of whom hold graduate degrees, are eligible to apply. At least one of the researchers must be a US citizen or permanent resident and at least two of the researchers should be citizens and current residents of two different countries of the Black and Caspian Sea region at the time of application. Projects will be evaluated on the basis of their potential to contribute to regional studies, their practical relevance, and their methodological rigor. Eligibility Minimum of three researchers per application (one US citizen / permanent resident; two citizens and current residents of two different countries of the Black/Caspian Sea region). All scholars must hold graduate degrees equivalent to masters level or above; and Successful applicants must demonstrate how their research in pertinent fields will make a substantive contribution to knowledge of the Black and Caspian Sea region, and argue the practical relevance of such knowledge. Grant Provisions Grants are not to exceed $25,000. A total of up to five grants will be awarded. Eligible expenses include: travel and associated expenses, research expenses, stipends, honoraria, materials, and publication expenses. Successful projects may be asked to make changes to their proposed budget prior to the final award decision. Award decision will be made on or about July 1, 2002; and successful projects may begin as early as August 1, 2002. Listed at AZER.com: 2/25/2002 AI Home | Magazine Choice | Topics | Store | Contact us From Azerbaijan International © Azerbaijan International 2002. All rights reserved.