Scottish Universities Research Collections Associate Scheme 2018

Connecting doctoral researchers in the arts and humanities with special collections, museums, galleries, and archives within Scottish higher education institutions.

Scotland’s universities have a rich and diverse resource of special research collections. Museums, galleries, rare books, and archives: collections recognised as being of national importance and world significance. The Scottish Universities Research Collections Associate Scheme (SURCAS) supports doctoral researchers in the arts and humanities to undertake short-term research/knowledge exchange projects with collections, culminating in a public engagement outcome.

Three projects have been funded through the scheme to date, exploring the overlooked music found in margins and illuminations of pre-16th century manuscripts; the archives of the oldest purpose-built public library in Scotland; and the suffrage resources of several Scottish HEIs. More information about these projects can be found at

Projects: content and duration

SURCAS 2018 is an opportunity for arts and humanities PhD students to access research collections from across the SGSAH membership. A list of participating collections is on the website at

  • Applications can be with one or more collections, we would encourage cross-collaboration where appropriate and possible.
  • Outcomes can take the form of an online exhibition, talks, short films, apps, performances, creative practice, or whatever the researcher agrees with the collections service.
  • Projects should begin and finish within the period 4 June – 22 December 2018.
  • Awards are normally made up to the value of £750 per project.

Commitment and minimum requirements

Associates will be required to deliver a public engagement outcome, as agreed in the application and proposal, this will involve:

  • applying their research in acollection setting;
  • creating innovative dissemination strategies;
  • designing and managing a project to carry out these strategies;
  • evaluating and reflecting on the success of the project.

Associates will also be required to:

  • Provide content for a case study on the SGSAH website;
  • Contribute at least one post for the SGSAH blog;
  • Associates may also be invited to speak at SGSAH events.

Applicationprocess

Please note that you should discuss your proposed project with the relevant collections staff and seek a statement of support in advance of submission (any such discussions do not constitute a guarantee of funding).

Please complete the following application form and forward to relevant collections staff and then your supervisor for completion of the final section. Supervisors should then send applications from their institutional email account to by 5pm on Monday 19 March 2018.

Name:
HEI: / Subject area:
Year of Study: / Full-time/Part-time:
PhD Research Title:
Lay summary of PhD research (100 words max)
Name(s) and location(s) of the Scottish collection(s) you will be researching
Proposed SURCAS Project (300 words max)
You should include in this section:
  • what you intend to explore from the Scottish collections (e.g. a particular artefact or collection or group of artefacts or collections)
  • why you wish to explore it/them: how the proposal relates to – draws on, contributes to, extends – your doctoral study; this relationship may or may not be based on the actual topic of your research, but might also/instead be related in terms of themes, methods, theoretical frameworks; or to your future career plans;
  • project objectives: your anticipated outcome(s) or activities; their anticipated value to the collection(s) involved;
  • project outputs: your intended mode of dissemination and projected end-point user;
  • an estimated time-scale of your proposed research project (e.g. 1 afternoon a week x 10 weeks; 1 week full-time), including proposed start and finish dates (Note that we normally expect projects to be complete within 6 months; we will consider longer projects if a convincing case is made);
  • your proposed methodology and approach;
  • an indication of how the project will contribute to the development of your researcher skills, with reference to the Researcher Development Framework ( );
  • details of any materials or resources that you will need (and please note costs in the next section)

Costs
In this section we require an indication of, for instance, likely travel costs if the collection(s) with which you propose to work are at a distance. You should note that SGSAH normally expects you to travel at economy rates with advance tickets. SGSAH may also be prepared to meet necessary accommodation costs; and will also consider digitisation costs where these may be less than accommodation costs. Where SGSAH pays for digitisation, we will expect that materials funded by us will be made freely available for researchers in future.
You must contact the relevant university service to discuss likely costs in advance of an application
Travel £
Accommodation£
Materials£
Other (please specify)£
Total sought from SGSAH£
Funding from other sources (please specify amounts, sources and whether applied for or already confirmed) £
Statement of support from HEI collections staff
This should be from the curator or collections manager from the relevant service or services. Where more than one collection is being used, we will accept a statement of support from any or all of the participating HEIs.
Signature of supervisor, confirming that:
The project ties in with your research project, whether in terms of content, methodology, theoretical approach; or informs your understanding of public engagement with research in ways that will be useful for your planned career goals.
You are on track to submit your thesis within the permitted time scale.
Name of Co- or Primary Supervisor:
Signature:
Date:

Hunterian Associates Programme at the University of Glasgow

One of the SURCAS pilot projects was a follow-on from a project started through the Hunterian Associates Programme at University of Glasgow. Applicants to SURCAS in 2018 making use of University of Glasgow collections (Archives & Special Collections and/or The Hunterian) will be welcomed as participants of the Hunterian Associates Programme and may take part in public engagement activities organised through HAP.