Starting this summer with the SPI Exploratory Grants and the SPI Technogrants, the Swiss Polar Institute has reviewed its funding instruments to assess and lower the environmental footprint of Swiss scientific research in polar and high-altitude regions. Changes include cleantech and alternative data acquisition methods. Applicants will also be encouraged to measure the carbon emissions of their projects.
Based on the recent community consultation on sustainability and polar research, the Swiss Polar Institute has revised its funding instruments. This revision puts in place new framework conditions aiming at lowering the environmental footprint of its funded projects while maintaining scientific excellence. These changes stem directly from SPI’s wider and long-term commitment to support Swiss polar and high-altitude science while adopting a resilient and inclusive approach.
Starting this summer, the SPI Exploratory Grants and SPI Technogrants will be the first to adopt these changes. The new additions aim to promote best practices in the field, cleantech, as well as innovative and alternative data acquisition methods, while maximising scientific outputs. The calls will also encourage applicants to consider their projects’ emissions and to make informed decisions to mitigate their footprint whenever possible. To this end, the SPI will provide a CO2 assessment tool to assist applicants in calculating the projected and effective carbon emissions of their projects. The SPI welcomes community feedback on this newly established submission process and looks forward to your proposals.
More information:
- SPI Exploratory Grants
- SPI Technogrants
- News post from September 2023: Towards a reduced environmental impact of Swiss polar and high-altitude science
- News post from February 2024: Environmental footprint of Swiss polar and high-altitude science – Survey results
- “About us” webpage containing SPI’s guiding principles