AEGIS welcomes proposals for new Collaborative Research Groups (CRGs). This page outlines the general requirements for the submission of an application for a new CRG.
When to apply
A proposal needs to be submitted to the AEGIS Board at least one month prior to a Board meeting, via the overall AEGIS CRG Coordinator, who is a member of the AEGIS Board. Board meetings are held every half year, usually in early to mid-December and early June. The Board considers the submission prior to its presentation at a Plenary Meeting for formal acceptance. AEGIS Plenary Meetings are usually held every half-year, following closely after a Board meeting.
CRG Coordination
Each CRG needs a minimum of two Coordinators – usually one Chair, and one Secretary – with a clear stake in the theme of the CRG. The total number of Coordinators ideally should not exceed three at one time (although substitutes ought to be available to stand in when needed). These can be changed after a minimum period of two years, but CRG Coordinators are generally expected to hold posts for at least four years to enable continuity in the running of the CRG. A thorough handover from a former to any new Coordinator needs to be ensured.
The CRG needs to have at least one of the proposed Coordinators situated institutionally at an AEGIS member institution, and preferably more. However, the AEGIS Board also strongly encourages at least one of the Coordinators to be an African scholar, based in or linked to an African institution. (At present, only Europe-based institutions can be members of AEGIS.)
Coordinators are responsible for:
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Actively maintaining the CRG network
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Initiating/organising occasional relevant activities or events (closed or public)
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Encouraging applications to the CRG Annual Grant competition
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Appointing one CRG representative, preferably the Chair or Secretary, to the AEGIS-Brill Series editorial board
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Reporting annually (or as required) to AEGIS, via the overall AEGIS CRG Coordinator (one month prior to Board/Plenary meetings
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Updating the CRG’s own page on the AEGIS website
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Encouraging and coordinating submissions of CRG-related panels to ECAS
Benefits of being an AEGIS CRG
The following benefits are available to CRGs:
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Being at the forefront of initiating and engaging in key thematic research debates within African Studies
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Credibility of institutional association within an AEGIS framework
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Use of the AEGIS networks in multiple ways (visibility, communications, advertising events, profiling activities and publications, etc.)
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Eligibility for the CRG Annual Grant Competition (2000 Euros available annually for each of two successful CRGs on a competitive basis)
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Allocated panel space at ECAS conferences
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Visibility on the AEGIS website
Guidelines for applying
Applications for establishing a new CRG should include at least the following elements in a clearly structured proposal (of 3-5 pages):
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A clear conceptual focus for the CRG (ensuring that this doesn’t overlap too much with other existing CRGs)
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An argument for the relevance and value of the CRG – both academically in itself, and in its contribution to AEGIS and African Studies more broadly, as well as in terms of wider societal considerations
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The overall aim/s of the CRG (what it wants to achieve in broad terms)
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Some potential/anticipated activities in the coming year/s
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Indication of links to relevant current or future research projects/programmes
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Identification of a credible number of interested and committed/confirmed members of the CRG (at least twenty or above to start with)
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The names and relevant biographical information of the proposed Coordinators, and their particular links to the proposed CRG theme
Applications should be emailed to the current AEGIS CRG Coordinator, David Ambrosetti (LAM, Science Po Bordeaux): d.ambrosetti@sciencepobordeaux.fr
