In this blog post, Rosie Maccagnano, UK Research Funding Manager in Edinburgh Research Office and Nicola Cuthbert, Research Development Manager at Institute for Academic Development, highlight the newly launched UK Young Academy initiative and what to do if you are interested in applying for membership.
The UK Young Academy: launch of a new interdisciplinary organisation
As part of a global initiative of Young Academies, the UK Young Academy’s focus is to provide an opportunity to early career researchers, innovators and professionals to actively participate in discussions addressing societal or global challenges.
Seven senior partner academies covering different areas of knowledge and expertise are working together to establish a Young Academy that will cover all areas of the UK; the partners are:
- The Academy of Medical Sciences
- The British Academy
- The Learned Society of Wales
- The Royal Academy of Engineering
- The Royal Irish Academy
- The Royal Society
- The Royal Society of Edinburgh
Call for membership
A call to appoint the first 60 members to the Young Academy has been issued and the application process is now live, with a deadline of Thursday 8 September 2022. Membership is for 5 years. Members are expected to attend the New Members Induction Meeting on 24-25 January 2023 and commit roughly 4-5 hours per month. As part of the application process, you are required to submit a 3 minute video on a topic, issue or subject area that interests you, that could be an area for consideration for the UK Young Academy’s work programme.
Is this for you?
The UK Young Academy are looking for dedicated, driven and dynamic applicants who live in the UK and are committed to collaborate with others from different sectors.
If you’re thinking of applying, consider the following:
- Are you in the early stages of a professional career?
- Do you have at least three to twelve years of experience post-qualification or working in your profession?
- Do you have a track record of excellence? This can include a significant contribution to your field, awards won, led a team to deliver an important new project.
Members from other global Young Academies share their stories on how being part of a Young Academy has benefitted them – see the range of varied projects they have been involved with here:
Case Studies Archive | UK Young Academy
What are the Young Academy Appointments Committee looking for?
The Appointments Committee will assess the three main sections in your application covering your career, your personal statement and how you feel you will contribute to the UK Young Academy. Your application will need to demonstrate your professional achievement, evidence of excellence, other relevant and broader skills, interests and experience you might have.
It’s also important to demonstrate a passion for working with others, your capacity for leadership, any interests you have in wider societal issues, and a flair for innovative/creative thinking and entrepreneurial activity.
Interested?
If you are interested in applying for membership, the University have online resources to help you with your application. For all queries, please email the Young Academy team directly: enquiries@ukyoungacademy.org
Further information and resources
Applying for Membership | UK Young Academy: Access to guidance for applicants and the online application portal.
Personal Effectiveness | The University of Edinburgh: Access to toolkits and workshops to drive your own development.
Developing your leadership as a researcher | The University of Edinburgh: A flexible 8-module online course to support you to focus on research and priorities.
IAD online resources | The University of Edinburgh: A selection of online resources and guides for research active academics.
