Simons Award in Nuclear Disarmament and Global Security



Peace symbol

Simons Award in Nuclear Disarmament and Global Security

The Liu Institute for Global Issues in the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs invites applications from UBC students intending to undertake research on topics related to nuclear disarmament and global security.
Students selected will produce a research paper by May 1st, 2018. They will also be expected to attend any seminars, workshops and other activities related to nuclear disarmament and global security organized by the Liu Institute for Global Issues or the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs. Upon satisfactory production of the paper, undergraduate and graduate students will receive awards of $1,000 and $1,500 respectively.
Eligibility:
All full-time UBC graduate students and undergraduate students of at least third year standing of all disciplines who meet the UBC Senate requirements for Awards, are eligible to apply. Multiple participants that represent a balance across disciplines, gender, and experience levels will be selected.
Application Process:
Applicants should submit a research proposal; a covering letter; a curriculum vitae; a sample of the applicant’s prior work; and an application form. Details on the application materials can be found below.
Applications will be reviewed by a committee headed by Professor M. V. Ramana, Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security, Liu Institute for Global Issues, as well as Professors Richard Price (Political Science) and Paul Meyer (Simon Fraser University & The Simons Foundation). Awards are made on the recommendation of the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and in the case of graduate students, in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
Deadlines:
Applications must be received by November 20, 2017.
Successful applicants will be notified by December 5, 2017.
Research Proposal:
Applicants should identify a research project of interest that relates in some way to nuclear disarmament and/or global security. Sample topics include the 2017 Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons, impacts on indigenous peoples from nuclear weapons production and testing, cyber threats to nuclear arsenals and accidental nuclear weapon use, media coverage of the nuclear standoff between the United States and North Korea, and how artists have responded to specific events in the nuclear age. The proposal should provide a well-defined research question, a brief overview of the relevant literature(s) on the topic, and a research design within 1000-1500 words. The research proposal should be prefaced by a short abstract of roughly 300 words summarizing the applicant’s initial understanding of the topic and its significance.
Covering Letter:
Applicants should provide a covering letter, not to exceed one (1) page, that, inter alia, describes their interest in nuclear disarmament and/or global security.
Curriculum Vitae:
Curriculum vitae should not exceed two (2) pages.
Sample of Prior Work:
Applicants should provide a sample of prior work; written work is not to exceed fifteen (15) pages; we welcome multimedia submissions (art or video projects, presentations, and so forth) at the applicants’ discretion.
Application Form:
Download form: Simons Award Application Form-2017.
Submit all documents by email by the deadline to:
Andrea Reynolds
International Relations Program Manager and Advisor | Faculty of Arts | Liu Institute for Global Issues
Email andrea.reynolds@ubc.ca
Questions may also be directed to the above email.