We are pleased to announce our Communities of Interest (CoI) programme. CoI foster connections between IAPSS community members who share common research interests and want to build and promote knowledge sharing in a focused area with a view to achieving clear objectives and outputs.
CoI comprise self-selected IAPSS members who define their area of research focus, shared objectives and meeting frequency. Each CoI will have a lead (or leads) who coordinate community members and interface with the IAPSS team to draw on a suite of administration, engagement and communication support from dedicated webspace, online meeting support, through access to translation experts. CoIs will also be given the opportunity to apply for a small amount of funding to support knowledge exchange activity.
At this stage, we are calling for new communities. There will be opportunity to join an existing IAPSS community in Spring 2025.
Eligibility Criteria for a Communities of Interest
- Communities of interest must focus on an area that advances our understanding of targeted violence and terrorism prevention.
- Lead applicant(s) must be an academic affiliated with an academic institution in any Western Democratic countries.
- Any career stage can apply to lead a community of interest.
Application Process
Those interested in leading a CoI should send a completed application form to iapss@lancaster.ac.uk with subject line IAPSS Communities of Interest.
Timeline
Deadline for applications: applications can be submitted at any time up to April 2025
Decision on applications: within 4 weeks of submission
Meeting between CoI lead(s) & IAPSS team: within 3 weeks of decision
Launch CoI: within 10 weeks of submission
For questions please contact iapss@lancaster.ac.uk
Community of Interests Do:
- Bring together a network of experts with a shared interest in a specific topic area to exchange knowledge, resources, and best practices.
- Provide opportunity for an expert(s) in the field to take a leadership role in bringing together this community and working with them to shape a programme of activity
- Meet regularly (twice yearly as minimum) to maintain momentum
- Seek to attract members drawn from experts across different western democratic countries
- Encourage collaboration between members, including joint research initiatives, policy discussions, and knowledge-sharing activities.
- Receive support from IAPSS in the form of:
- Communication and administrative assistance to enhance visibility and coordination.
- Dedicated webspace on the IAPSS site and promotion of activity through communication channels (as required).
- Opportunity to apply for small-scale funding to support knowledge exchange activities (until all funds are allocated).
Community of Interests Do not:
- Receive direct funding from IAPSS to conduct original research.
- However, IAPSS encourages CoIs to pursue joint research and seek funding from other sources.
- Rely on IAPSS to manage activity and membership.
- While IAPSS provides the framework and guidance, the responsibility for community-building and engagement lies with the CoI leads.
- Operate as one-way communication channels.
- CoIs should foster interactive discussions and collaboration rather than simply distribute information.