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HomeGuidelines for Academia Sinica Sustainability Science Research Program
Approved on February 24, 2021
- The Academia Sinica Sustainability Science Research Program (SSRP) has been established to adjust to global trends and support national policy on sustainable development by encouraging mission-oriented transdisciplinary research that combines the natural sciences, life sciences, humanities and social sciences and engages stakeholders. By progressing from knowledge to action, SSRP seeks optimal solutions for sustainability problems. With clearly defined milestones, SSRP research is designed to focus on applicability and engage with the international community. These Guidelines have been established to promote this end.
- Applicants for SSRP projects must meet the following qualifications:
- Project Principal Investigators (PIs) must be full-time AS Assistant Research Fellows (equivalent or above). AS jointly-appointed research staff may serve as Project PIs, but only if a full-time AS research staff member is Co-PI for the Main Project.
- Subproject PIs should be Assistant Research Fellows (equivalent or above).
- In order to promote sustainable science exchange and collaboration between AS and domestic/foreign universities, colleges and research institutions, full-time employees of academic or research institutions outside the AS may be invited to serve as Subproject PIs (or Co-PIs). At least one third of Subproject PIs within a project must be AS research staff.
- SSRP projects may be classified into the following categories according to project period and stage:
- General Research Projects: Project period is three years, open to application based on topics selected for that year.
- Top-down Research Projects: In principle, project period is one year. Such projects are for special sustainable topics with development potential and promoted in accordance with AS policies.
- SSRP projects may be classified into the following categories according to project scale:
- Multi-component Team Research Projects (McTRP): An McTRP includes one main project and several subprojects. The Project PI shall be responsible for assembling a research team, and overseeing sub-projects in cooperative research to achieve overall project objectives.
- Team Research Projects (TRP): A TRP is proposed and carried out by one Project PI and one or multiple Co-PIs. The Project PI shall oversee funding allocations and project progress.
- To apply for a SSRP project, the applicant’s host unit should submit the following documents to AS:
- Research Proposal
- Applicant’s curriculum vitae and list of recent publications
- Other required documents according to the requirements for that year
- SSRP proposals are reviewed in three stages: first round review, panel review, and final budget review.
- First Round Review:
- Based on the selected topics for that year, AS will appoint Center for Sustainable Science (CSS) advisory committee members as well as other experts and scholars to form the Annual Review Committee.
- Annual Review Committee members will recommend panel reviewers for each proposal.
- After consultations with the referees, proposals will be submitted to relevant domestic and foreign experts and scholars for written peer review.
- The panel reviewers will summarize the written peer review results and if necessary send them to the applicants for rebuttal.
- Panel Review:
- The panel reviewers will conduct a final written peer review.
- The Annual Review Committee will convene an Expert Panel Review Meeting in order to recommend proposals for each topic.
- Final Budget Review: The Central Academic Advisory Committee (CAAC) will approve proposals for each topic during the SSRP Project Resolution Meeting according to written peer review results and referee review recommendations.
- First Round Review:
- A Project Execution Agreement should be submitted prior to commencing a project. Project execution and
evaluation should be processed in accordance with the Agreement.
During the project, annual progress report should be submitted for review by the SSC and the CAAC, with review results of the first year report serving as a reference for third year funding.
Research groups are required to attend SSC seminars on a regular basis, and upon project completion present research results at a seminar while also submitting a final report describing all deliverables. The final report will be reviewed, with review results serving as a reference for future AS program applications. - Should a Principal Investigator (PI) be involved in academic ethics violations or conflict of interest regulations, his or her case will be processed according to the “Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Ethics Committees at All Levels, Academia Sinica.”
- These Guidelines and amendments thereof have been approved by the General Assembly, and approved and promulgated by the Academia Sinica President.
