Call for proposals under the India-South Africa Astronomy Flagship

Department of Science and Technology
Government of India
CALL FOR PROPOSALS
INDO-SOUTH AFRICAN FLAGSHIP PROGRAMME IN ASTRONOMY
JUNE 2015
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Contents
1.
Introduction .....................................................................................................................................2
2.
Aims .................................................................................................................................................3
3.
Guidelines for applicants .................................................................................................................3
4.
Assessment procedure ....................................................................................................................5
5.
Contact details .................................................................................................................................5
1.
Introduction
India and South Africa share common aspirations for scientific and technological development, and
for the growth of human capital resources. The countries are members of the BRICS consortium, and
have a current bi-lateral agreement to foster joint progress. Their shared goals are particularly
apparent in the area of astronomy and astrophysics. Indo-African astronomy cooperation began with
projects in radio astronomy in Nigeria and Mauritius in the 1980s, and the optical Nainital-Cape
Survey, started in 1997. The Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA) joined
SALT in 2007, and the National Centre for Radio Astrophysics of the Tata Institute of Fundamental
Research (NCRA) has recently joined the SKA.
Astronomy captures the imagination of people everywhere, and touches a fundamental human
desire to understand the universe that surrounds us and our place in it. It provides an ideal way to
attract young learners into scientific and technical studies, developing the human capacity for the
knowledge-based economy of the future. Its appeal transcends boundaries of class and race and
speaks to all members of our societies. The goal of the Indo-South African Flagship Programme in
Astronomy is to exploit these basic strengths for the mutual betterment of our peoples.
The projects of this programme will be built on the principles of equity, sharing the costs and sharing
the benefits. Supported activities must speak to common interests and must draw upon
complementary strengths of the partners. Proposals will require joint participation from both
countries, will be openly solicited from the astronomical communities of the partners, and will be
evaluated both on scientific and technical merit and on contribution to human capacity
development.
Indian and South African astronomers share many common research interests and active existing
collaborations. These include observational, theoretical and computational studies of the Sun and
space weather, exo-planets, stellar astrophysics and astro-seismology, star formation, evolution of
low and high mass stars, the interstellar medium and astro-chemistry, galactic chemical evolution,
transient phenomena, pulsars, neutral hydrogen in galaxies, active galactic nuclei and high-redshift
galaxies, and galaxy evolution.
Both countries are active in developing virtual observatory facilities, and have fundamental interests
in astronomical outreach and education. Following areas of strategic importance have been
identified for the partnership:
 GMRT-MEERKAT collaboration, leading to significant contributions towards SKA (e.g.
MeerKAT Absorption Line Survey - MALS)
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promoting human capacity development through expanded student and postdoctoral
training
collaborative instrumentation development programs in both radio and optical technologies
multi-wavelength investigations of time-variable astrophysical phenomena
2. Aims
The primary aim of the Indo-South African Flagship Programme in Astronomy is to significantly
strengthen areas of cooperation in areas of strategic importance to both countries. As such, the
applicants will need to demonstrate how and why their joint proposals add significant value to
astronomy in both countries.
An important aim of this programme in the short-term is to work toward setting up a joint
instrumentation group and joint development of a large optical telescope in the longer term.
3.
Guidelines for applicants
3.1 Who can apply?
Proposals should be submitted to NRF by a South African** Principal Investigator (PI) and to DST
India by the Indian Principal Investigator (PI). The programme is open to applications from both
senior and young researchers. The Indian and South African PI’s must be in the possession of a PhD
(or equivalent qualification), and must be employed at an institution recognized by NRF and DSTIndia. The Indian and South African PI’s should be employed at a recognized higher education or
research institution such as a university, university of technology, science council or national facility
in Indian and South Africa respectively. Researchers employed at private companies are not eligible.
** South African-based
3.2 What can be applied for?
The following modalities may be applied for:
Enhanced scientific exchange programme
Proposals are invitedin the fields of astrophysical-related science, engineering, technology,
computational hardware and software development and outreach. Joint supervision of a doctoral
student is a requirement, with research studies carried out in either country, for a maximum of
R100 000.00 / Rs. 6,00,000 per year for three years. Bursaries and fellowships are not covered
through this programme.
Joint research seminar/workshop
South Africa and India will host one joint Indo-South African focused seminar / workshop per year in
each other country for the duration of this programme. Funding will cover the following expenses in
connection with organization of seminar / workshop:
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International return economy airfare for Indian scientists traveling to South Africa to
participate in seminar / workshop (International travel and associated costs for South
African scientists traveling to India will be met by the NRF)
Accommodation for Indian scientists traveling to South Africa to participate in seminar /
workshop (Accommodation for South African scientists traveling to India will be met by the
NRF).
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Domestic travel and accommodation for Indian participants of Bilateral Workshop held in
India. Domestic travel and accommodation for South African participants of Bilateral
Workshop held in South Africa would be paid by the NRF.
Organisational expenses and local subsistence like meals, local transport by the host
country.
Joint instrumentation development project
While funding is not directly available for instrumentation hardware from this programme,
developing human, institutional and scientific capacity in support of instrumentation projects that
are of critical value to South Africa and India will be given very high priority. Joint supervision of a
doctoral student is a requirement, with research studies carried out in either country, for a
maximum of R200 000.00 / Rs. 12,00,000 per year for three years. On the Indian side Fellowship to
one students (JRF/SRF) can be supported by DST India. No Bursaries or Fellowships will be supported
on the SA side. The projects should have a strong human capacity development component, to
provide training of future instrumentalists and engineers. Listed below are typical instrument
projects that are of strong interest to astronomers in both countries and that would exploit their
complementary strengths:
● optical imaging polarimeter
● multi-object spectrographs with fibre and IFU inputs
● focal plane detector systems for the optical and near infrared
● next generation monitor control systems for radio telescopes
● SKA work packages
● adaptive optics systems
3.3 Submitting an application
The application form is available on the NRF website (see www.nrf.ac.za) and DST India website (see
www.dst.gov.in or the attached format). The completed application form must be submitted to Mr
Stephen Dlamini at [email protected] in South Africa and Dr. Rajiv Kumar at [email protected] in India by 31
July 2015.
Indian applicants for funding should submit completed application form and all relevant, clearly
labeled attachments in as single attachment to the email address: [email protected] to reach by 5:30
pm on 31st July 2015. An email acknowledging receipt of the application will be provided to the
applicant in 3-5 working days. They are also requested to submit three hard copies to DST by 10th
August 2015. It should be ensured that application with identical title has been submitted by his /
her South African counterpart scientist with NRF by due date (Indian side). Only applications
endorsed by the competent authority will be accepted.
The onus is on the applicant to find their own research partner. Proposals must be received in
both South Africa and India. Proposals which have only been received in either South Africa or
India, but not both, will not be considered for funding.
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3.4 Intellectual Property
The researchers of each country must take adequate steps to ensure protection and sharing of the
intellectual property that could result from the joint research projects.
4. Assessment procedure
The NRF Standing Astronomy Grants Panel will prioritise the applications from the South African PI’s.
NRF and DST-India will agree on a common priority list before the grants will be allocated to the
South African and Indian PI’s based on available funding.
5.
Contact details
NRF: Mr Stephen Dlamini
Grants Management and Systems Administration
[email protected]
India:
Dr. Rajiv Kumar
Scientist 'E', International Division
Department of Science & Technology
Ministry of Science & Technology, GOI,
New Delhi-110016 India
[email protected]
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