The BLS has instituted a travel fund for overseas members. The aim is to help and encourage overseas members of the Society to visit the UK primarily to collaborate with UK members in laboratory and/or field research; requests to support visits to use facilities such as herbaria will also be considered, in which case a UK member need not necessarily be involved. Visits to attend conferences will not be supported. The total annual sum available for such awards is £1,000 and the scheme will be under annual review. Council considers it preferable that a small number of people are funded to a significant level, if not in full, rather than awarding small sums to a large number of respondents. Unsuccessful applicants can apply again in a subsequent year, and for the same project, unless informed otherwise when the result of the application is announced. Recipients of grants should provide a report on the work undertaken suitable for publication in the Bulletin within one year of the visit and the BLS should be acknowledged for their financial contribution in any publications that should result from the work. A copy of any such publication should be lodged with the Society.
Applications should be on one side or A4 paper (there are no special forms) stating in the following order: applicant's name, position, full postal and e-mail addresses, fax number, the approximate dates of the visit, details of the travel costs that will be incurred, and the name of the UK collaborator (or person in charge of the herbarium or other facility). A case for support should be made in about half a page (less than 400 words) and should clearly state the aims and objectives of the project, how it will benefit from the collaboration and the expected output. Grants will be awarded partly on the basis of need and applicants should explain what efforts they have made (or will be making) to secure funding from other sources. Applicants should arrange for the UK collaborator to provide a letter of support: this should be sent directly to the Society independently of the application.
Please note that the primary objective of this fund is to provide money for travel; funds permitting, it will be our aim to support travel costs in full. If there are sufficient funds, a contribution to accommodation costs will be made which will not exceed £10 per day or £200 in total. Contributions to subsistence will not normally be made.
Applications should be made before the end of February in any one year. All correspondence (ie applications, letters of support and submission of subsequent reports and reprints) should be addressed to The Secretary. Successful applicants will receive their grant on arrival at their host institution.
