Getting the most from
learned societies'
funding opportunities The Regional Studies
Association
Regional Studies Association
Learned societies promote and develop their field of
inquiry and could be of assistance both as a provider of small
grants and awards, but also as a network through which to
obtain other funding.
Three key ways learned societies can help in the search
for funding:
1.
2.
3.
Through ‘springboard’ or micro grant funding to help you get
larger, longer term grants.
Through their network.
Through travel and conference funding.
Regional Studies Association
‘Springboard’/micro grants & network funding
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Offered by many learned societies – the big players
sometimes offer reasonably significant grants.
Objectives normally either:
1.
To develop the researcher or project so they become attractive to the
bigger funding bodies.

2.
To fund collaborative research networks/study groups to discuss and
develop research questions and foster academic networks:


Royal Geographical Society/IBG, www.rgs.org.uk provide these types of
awards.
Regional Studies Association offers up to £3,000 for members to organise
events to discuss topics of common interest.
Good starting point are directories of learned societies:
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–
Academy of Learned Societies in the Social Sciences (www.acss.org.uk)
British Academy (http://www.britac.ac.uk).
Regional Studies Association
Opportunities through their networks:

A significant number of funding opportunities arise out of the
networks that learned societies offer through:
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–
–
–
–
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–
Finding collaborative research partners
Identifying new ways to make opportunities ‘fit’ research
Gaining advice and insight from more experienced colleagues
Finding publishing partners and therefore greater hit rates
Finding ‘mentors’
Enhancing applications by discovering who, what and where has been
funded
And so on…
Regional Studies Association
Funding to attend conferences

Many learned societies offer some type of conference
bursaries or travel grants precisely because the networks are
so vital. For example RSA offers:
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–
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Free conference places through their conference bursaries
Two ‘Bill Ogden memorial prizes’ providing a free conference place and
travel support to the winter conference.
Travel Award offering up to £200 towards travel costs to a NON RSA
event.
Regional Studies Association
That’s 3 ways learned societies could help, but they also
offer a lot more….
The RSA is a learned society concerned with analysis of regions
and regional issues.
It aims to serve the regional studies community – students,
academic, practitioners and policy makers.
Through its international membership it provides an authoritative
voice of, and network for academics, students, practitioners,
policy makers and interested lay people in the field of regional
studies.
Regional Studies Association
2009 Membership benefits

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Funding opportunities
The possibility to apply for up to £3,000 of renewable research network
funding
Eligibility to apply for conference bursaries
The possibility to apply for Travel Awards (£200 to cover transports
costs to attend non RSA events within regional studies)
Networking
International Territorial Networks (UK Sub-National Branches, Country
Sections and Country Representatives)
Directory of Regional Researchers via the new membership portal
(expert register)
E-bulletin Network (including job vacancies posting)
International Conferences with territorial pricing
Free annual President's Luncheon (2009: House of Lords)
Regional Studies Association
2009 Membership benefits

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Discounts
To all Regional Studies Association Conferences (new Territorial fees for
annual international conferences)
30% discount on the Association’s Book Series: Regions and Cities
30% on all subject related Taylor & Francis books and e-books
including Routledge
Regional Studies Association
2009 Membership benefits

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•
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Opportunities
Present your work at RSA conferences and events
Get feedback on your work and meet experts in the field
Pro-active membership (become a Country Representative, open and
run a UK Sub National Branch or an International Section, become part
of the RSA Board etc…)
Awards
Taught Master, Best Undergraduate, Early Career, Best International
Conference paper, Best Book, Best Contribution to the field
Regional Studies Association
2009 Membership benefits

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Publications
10 issues of Regional Studies
4 issues of Spatial Economic Analysis (SEA)
4 issues of Regions , the Association’s quarterly magazine
A fully searchable recent issues CD (Regional Studies and SEA)
A fully searchable Regional Studies archive
Free online subscription to the following 8 Routledge e-Journals:
City
Policy Studies
Space and Polity
21st Century Society
International Planning Studies
Planning Practice and Research
Regional and Federal Studies
Entrepreneurship and Regional Development
Regional Studies Association
Territorial Membership




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Newly introduced in 2008;
Allows wider access to all;
4 bands reflecting the ability to pay according to GDP (lowest
band pays a ¼ of the full rate);
5 categories of membership (Individual, Student, Early Career,
Associate and Corporate);
A further 20% off when joining during an RSA
conference/event.
Regional Studies Association
Territorial Membership fees: Savings
When you book our Annual Conferences early, you save on
average:
Band A
Band B
Band C
Band D
RSA members 22%
individual
and
corporate
41%
61%
80%
RSA members 41%
student, early
career and
associate
44%
61%
80%
Non RSA
members
12%
12%
12%
12%
Regional Studies Association
If you would like to discuss any opportunities for you within the
Regional Studies Association or/and wish to join us, please
contact the RSA at :
rsa@rsa@ls.ac.uk
or
please call +44 (0) 1323 899 698
www.regional-studies-assoc.ac.uk