Challenge-Based Project Awards created to honour Provost Prendergast

Posted on: 26 July 2021

The Prendergast Challenge-Based Project Awards created in honour of the Provostship of Patrick Prendergast were launched today.

These Challenge based awards are made possible through the generous philanthropic support of the Provost’s Council, a network of leading Trinity alumni and supporters who act as advisors to the College. Donations in honour of Provost Patrick Prendergast, will fund two awards, each to the value of €600,000.

Each award will enable a team of academics from different disciplinary backgrounds to recruit up to five PhD students to work on an impactful project addressing a global challenge. The awards recognize that global challenges are complex and driven by multiple and often overlapping phenomena that are best addressed by exploiting the collaborative expertise of multiple disciplines.

This exciting initiative aims to foster innovative cross-disciplinary research inspired by the cluster areas in the EU Horizon Europe’s Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness pillar:

· Civil Security for Society

· Climate, Energy and Mobility

· Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society

· Digital, Industry and Space

· Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

· Health

The call will be open to Trinity academic staff from Assistant to Professor grades and each team will be expected to demonstrate balance across career stage, disciplinary background and gender.

Expressions of interest will be expected by 24 September 2021 with full proposal submission by 29 October. Successful projects will be expected to commence in September 2022.

“I wish our academic applicants fruitful conversations in the coming weeks and look forward to receiving exciting proposals guaranteed to make the assessment process challenging. Our sincere thanks to the Provost’s Council for their generous recognition of the leadership of Provost Patrick Prendergast,” commented Professor Martine Smith, Dean of Graduate Studies.

More information on how to apply for the Prendergast Challenge-Based Project Awards, including information on workshop and brokerage events, will be made available shortly on the Graduate Studies website.