The aim of the Science & Research Committee is to promote the role of the society in scientific research, and to act as a forum for the academics in the membership.

We award small grants for research. Studies must be on the British or Irish flora, and should aim to produce results worthy of publication.

Approximately eight grants per year will be awarded, typically around £500 each (max. £1000). There is one closing date per year (6th Feb).

A completed application form together with one side of A4 detailing the project aims, background, methodology, planned outputs and budget breakdown, should be sent to P.Hollingsworth@rbge.org.uk, or as hard-copy to Dr Pete Hollingsworth, Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH3 5LR. Successful applicants will be expected to produce a final report outlining the outcomes of their research and to acknowledge the BSBI in any publications stemming from the grant.

Recent and current projects include:

• Status of Sorbus devoniensis in Ireland.
• Biogeography and conservation biology of Spiranthes romanzoffiana.
• Diversity and adaptations of Hirschfeldia incana, that promotes invasibility and spread in the UK.
• The distribution and origins of Carex salina (Saltmarsh sedge) in mainland Britain.
• The plant communities of disused railway ballast in Britain.
• The effect of sediment characteristics and lake-bed morphology on Charophyte persistence in flooded gravel pits.
• Distribution and ecology of Fumaria purpurea in Orkney.
• Identification of Urtica galeopsifolia.
• Creating a database of Sorbus species for the forthcoming Handbook.
• Taxonomic status and ecology of Cochlearia scotica.
• The ecology of Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium.
• Distribution and ecology of Shetland Pondweed, Potamogeton rutilus.
• The Hull Herbarium database.
• Genetics of Orobanche spp.
• BSBI Callitriche Handbook.
• Distribution and ecology of Irish Lady’s-tresses, Spiranthes romanzoffiana.
• Ecology and distribution of Wild Asparagus Asparagus prostratus.

Applying for grants

Topics that can be funded are:

• Floristic and distributional surveys (e.g. what grows where)
• Taxonomy, systematics and evolution
• History of botany in the British Isles
• Population biology
• Ecological genetics
• Conservation biology
• Ecology, including autecological, physiological and phenological studies
• Plant/animal interactions, including plant biochemistry.

Activities eligible for funding include: travel and subsistence for field-work, visits to herbaria, botanic gardens and other scientific institutions; specimen preparation; scientific equipment, consumables and laboratory services; purchase of hardware and software for data handling; publication costs (preparing camera-ready copy, preparation of illustrations, printing).

Activities not eligible for funding include: attendance at conferences/scientific meetings; direct contributions to student grants/salaries.

Tips on preparing an application

All applications should be set in the context of a research question, viz. a clear statement of what the problem is and how the applicant plans to tackle it.

• Describe the background to the study.
• Clearly state the problem or reason for the study.
• Describe what you are going to do, giving an idea of the size of the job where relevant (e.g. sample sizes, etc.)
• If not already obvious, describe the significance and outputs of the work, i.e. what new things we will learn from the study, or what the benefits to the botanical community will be.
• Provide a budget showing exactly what you want to use the funding for.

…. and all on one side of A4!

If this approach is not followed, the resulting application may suffer from lack of focus or contain ambiguities or omissions which will lower its chances of getting funding.