Townsend Working Groups
The Townsend Center sponsors research Working Groups in the humanities and the humanities-related social sciences. The aim of these Working Groups is to bring together faculty and graduate students at Berkeley in an effort to create scholarly dialogue and to foster the free exchange of ideas on shared research interests.
The Townsend Center funds nearly 60 groups per year ranging across a wide spectrum of subjects and disciplines. The primary coordinator of the Working Group must be affiliated with at least one UC Berkeley department, which will serve as the “home” department and will administer the funds awarded by the Townsend Center.
The applications for renewals and new Working Groups for the 2008-2009 academic year will be accepted until 5pm, May 2, 2008. Working Groups seeking renewal should please note that unused funds do not carry over into the new year.
PLEASE NOTE TWO CHANGES IN THE WORKING GROUP PROGRAM
1. In order to streamline the renewal process:
Groups that have been funded by the Center for at least three years may request renewal of support at their current levels simply by submitting a summary of their activities for the past academic year. If there is no proposed general change in the group’s activities funding will be approved at the current levels.
Groups that have been in existence for more than 10 years are invited to apply for a multi-year award (3 years). Please clearly state that you are applying for the multi-year award and provide:
- a clear description of the history of the groups
- justification for their continuing activities
- an explanation of their relationship to other programs and departments on campus
- statement of their future plans, along with a request for renewal.
2. Web 2.0 Technologies
In an effort to provide incentives for Townsend Working Groups to participate more integrally in efforts to advance the use of digital tools and Web 2.0 technologies at Berkeley, awards of up to $2500 will be made to groups proposing to collaborate with the Center on a web-based initiative by incorporating one or more of these technologies into their activities. Both new groups and continuing groups may apply for this funding. Groups should explain how they
would use multi-authoring and editing tools such as WordPress or other similar digital technologies (including wikis and blogs) to enhance or expand their activities. Funding levels will be based on overall feasibility of the proposed plan and budget. Applications not successful in the category will automatically be considered for regular funding.
-For a list of current Working Groups, click here.
-For questions about the program, please contact Program Coordinator Harris Kornstein at 510/643-9670 or harriskornstein@berkeley.edu.