EPS Young Minds (YM) Sections can apply for grants supporting activities. These activities are enhancing the professional experience of members of the sections by directly focusing on technical skills, by strengthening professional ties, or by furthering communication and educational experience. Also, in the spirit of collaboration, Sections are encouraged to work together on events and activities. Finally, activities have a clear focus and goal, and maximize “impact per Euro”. This trains participants and organizers to focus on the relevant aspects of their activity, which is crucial for the success of their careers.

Some examples of proposed activities are:

• Professional Development: technical sessions, seminars, lectures, short courses.
• Networking: events held to promote your Section, to strengthen social ties, to network with scientists, professionals and companies, and recruit new members.
• Outreach:  youth and adult education events including classroom demonstrations, science fairs, etc.

Eligibility

To be eligible for YM grants every section needs to fill two forms before the grants deadline:

• the Section CENSUS form, to confirm the Section members list (they should be members of EPS or one of its national societies);
• the Activities REPORT and the YMCA REPORT form, in order to report previous granted YM activities. The report consists of a title, a 250-500 words text and at list a picture. The submitted data will be uploaded from the YM webmaster as post on this website.

Deadlines

EPS Young Minds Sections can apply for Activity Grants, totaling up to 1000€ per year.
The deadlines for the application are two: January 15 and July 15.

Checklist & Tips

Grants are in high demand and not all requests can be accepted. To increase your chances of acceptance, it is important to provide a clear and detailed application that emphasizes the goals and objectives of your program and distinguishes it from other applications.

• Start preparing your application early. Allow plenty of time to gather required information and submit well before the deadline. Power failures happen and are not an excuse for late submission.
• Consult with all the Section members, an activity must be felt like a group activity, and not the hard work of few members or either you alone.
• Keep your audience in mind. Reviewers will use only the information contained in the application form. Do not assume that reviewers are familiar with your section, and your section activities. Keep that in mind when writing the application.
• Be brief, concise, and clear. Make your points understandable. Provide accurate and honest information. If any required information or data is omitted, explain why.
• Be organized and logical. Many applications fail to be approved because it is difficult to follow the thought process of the applicant or because parts of the application do not fit together.
• Impact per Euro. We expect our members to work hard to maximize the effect that money spent has, issue that a young scientist will always have to face in the world of research.
• Scientific and professional relevance. Activities are expected to either enhance the participants’ exposure to science and technology, to enhance their organizational experience, and/or to further their connectedness with other scientists and professionals. Does the activity bring new skills to the Section members? Has it a direct connection to scientific research or dissemination of science?
• Visibility and communication. Often we spend a lot of time to run an activity, and not enough to show people why it was important, or what we did. Does this activity bring visibility to you, your community, your National Society or EPS?

Examples

Here there are some examples of “good” and “bad” activities. Remember that in any case, the total cost of food and beverages per year cannot exceed 300€.
Good activities are:

• seminars of fellow students, postdocs, or professors on their areas of expertise (e.g. money for coffee and cookies; or pizza and softdrinks; no speaker fees)
• outreach programs with local schools (e.g. money for hands-on experiments for students and posters; limited transportation fees; no speaker fees).
• networking programs with local scientists and professionals (e.g. money for food and beverages; very limited transportation; no accommodation).

Bad activities are (and why):

• paying speakers or your Section members (motivating people without just money is a crucial skill for any effective leader)
• expensive meals and beverages (cooking yourselves brings sections closer together)
• spending a lot on traveling expenses (maximizing impact par Euro is key for success)

Download the YM grant guidelines!