About

The NFDI4Biodiversity Training Team is glad to announce the launch of the first call for Training Funds. This initiative aims to provide financial support for the development of training ressources such as Open Educational Resources (OERs), tools, training data sets as well as organizing training events tailored specifically for the biodiversity community. We support innovative/interactive approaches within the realm of biodiversity science. In addition, we invite and encourage applicants to propose unique topics within Biodiversity Data Science or Biodiversity Data Management that may currently be underrepresented in existing resources.

It's important to note that this call specifically excludes generic research data management and open science topics. Our primary focus is to create resources that serve the diverse needs of our core audience, including Master's and PhD students, early-career to senior scientists, professors and citizen scientists in the field. We encourage applicants to consider leveraging and enhancing existing course materials, aligning them with standards rather than starting from scratch.

We look forward to receiving proposals that not only contribute to the advancement of biodiversity education but also promote collaborative learning and knowledge-sharing within the community. This call represents an opportunity to make a lasting impact on biodiversity education, and we encourage all eligible candidates to submit their innovative ideas.

Funding

For the current call, NFDI4Biodiversity Training Funds is allocating a total of €15,000 in financial support, to be distributed among the successful proposals. Proposals can cover costs up to € 5,000 per project. 

Deadline

We operate on a rolling basis, welcoming proposals throughout the year to provide potential contributors with flexibility in submitting their ideas. Thus, we aim to foster a continuous flow of innovative ideas and educational resources that contribute to the enrichment of biodiversity science. Interested parner are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their proposals at their convenience throughout the year. This approach ensures that the NFDI4Biodiversity Training Funds remain accessible to a broad range of contributors, accommodating diverse schedules and timelines.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a concise report, not exceeding four pages, detailing the developed resources. The deadline for submission is set to June 2024. The project duration should not exceed six months. This timeframe allows contributors to carefully develop and refine their resources while ensuring that the materials are ready for review and potential implementation by the biodiversity community.

Application and Evaluation Process

1. Eligibility and Affiliation:

   • Any researcher affiliated with an NFDI4Biodiversity consortium member organization can apply.
   • Applicants not affiliated with an NFDI4Biodiversity consortium member organization can apply if they cooperate with a member organization. Please contact the training coordinator in advance for guidance.

2. Proposal Submission Guidelines:

   • Projects must be concisely described via the application form provided below.

3. Evaluation Criteria:

   • Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
     • Relevance to NFDI4Biodiversity
     • State-of-the-art content
     • Novelty (addressing gaps in existing resources in Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences)
     • Creativity of teaching methods (e.g. OER, tools, training data sets, escape rooms)
     • Potential for integration into NFDI4Biodiversity training portfolio

4. Acknowledgment and Review:

   • Upon receiving your proposal, we will send an acknowledgment within the day to confirm its receipt.

   • The proposal will be directed to reviewers for thorough evaluation. The decisions will be made by the steering comitee. The projects were assessed in terms of their integration in the work programme (which TA/Measure or SIG is responsible) and in terms of priority. Innovative ideas are welcome, but should not be at the expense of the main work.

5. Funding Decision:

   • If the submitted proposal is selected for funding, the applicant agrees to make the produced materials available and provides a permissive license (e.g. Creative Commons Licenses CC-0, CC-BY; Open Data Commons Licenses ODC-PDDL, ODC-BY; Software Licenses GPL v3, MIT, MPL). 

This application and evaluation process is designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and alignment with the goals of NFDI4Biodiversity. We encourage all eligible researchers to submit their proposals, contributing to the advancement of Biodiversity and Environmental Science.

Support and Consultation

If you have any questions, require clarification, or seek guidance regarding the call or the preparation of your proposal, please don't hesitate to contact our Helpdesk . Our team is here to assist you and ensure that your submission aligns perfectly with the objectives of NFDI4Biodiversity. Whether you need assistance in understanding the criteria, refining your proposal, or addressing any concerns, our team is dedicated to providing the necessary support.

We look forward to receiving your innovative ideas and working together to enhance the educational landscape.