The Center provides funds for faculty-led seminars. The seminars may benefit the general Harvard community or small groups of scholars to discuss research relating to the core interests of the Center. This research focuses on international, transnational, global, and comparative national issues and may address contemporary or historical topics, including rigorous policy analysis, as well as the study of specific countries and regions outside the United States. The Center's intention in funding these faculty-led seminars is to stimulate collaborative, cross-disciplinary research or curriculum development.
Center funding for such activities typically covers costs for the meetings such as publicity, meals, audiovisual support, and other logistics. Funding may also include limited support for the accommodations of visiting speakers or a graduate-student organizer or rapporteur. Direct support for course preparation cannot be funded, but proposals that link courses and research activities are considered. Seminars that also carry course numbers may be considered for funding provided that the seminar has a direct link to Weatherhead Center research priorities, seeks other sources of funding (e.g., from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences), and engages at least three faculty members and several graduate students as regular participants.
Who Is Eligible
Only Faculty Associates of the Weatherhead Center may apply for this research support, but proposed activities may include other scholars and practitioners from inside and outside of Harvard.
How to Apply
Any Weatherhead Center Faculty Associate interested in sponsoring and organizing a new seminar series should submit a one- to two-page proposal describing the topic, a list of proposed speakers, an assessment of the potential audience, and a detailed budget. Each proposal is read by the executive director, who makes recommendations to the director. Questions and proposals should be submitted to the executive director, Erin Goodman. Faculty Associates submitting proposals are encouraged to ask the executive director for assistance in developing a budget.
Deadline
Proposals for faculty seminars are accepted throughout the year. Generally, decisions for new seminars are made in May for the following academic year. Exceptions can be made if resources are available.
Terms
The Center especially welcomes seminars that publish their research in some form, but this is not a requirement. Faculty who receive support from the Center should acknowledge it in future publications of their research. All seminar chairs will be asked to complete a survey on their seminar’s activities at the end of the academic year relating to the use of Weatherhead Center grant funds. This survey will focus on the intellectual and scholarly results of the seminar. Reporting memos are due June 30.
Funding Available
Funding varies and is based on the type, size, and frequency of seminar meetings. The standard grant for seminars that meet frequently (i.e., biweekly) is $3,500. Other seminars may be funded at half that amount. In the case of initiatives requiring considerably more funding, the Center's role is usually to provide seed money. For ongoing seminar series, a faculty review committee may conduct periodic evaluations.