GUIDELINES FOR RESEARCHERS
SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS TO THE ASSOCIATION


1.  SAGTA wishes to be actively involved in encouraging the well focused development of UK research in contaminated land which takes into account the problem holder's perspective. This extends to a positive welcome for receipt of information on initiatives and proposals for research projects from the research community which may gain an endorsement of support from SAGTA. (See our Watchpoint below)

2.  From certain submissions so far received, SAGTA has identified a wide variation in the quality and content in various research proposals.

3.  Given SAGTA's desire to be proactive in supporting high quality proposals, SAGTA wishes to encourage researchers to provide appropriate information which may then allow meaningful evaluation of the submission.

4.  Research funders, to whom proposals may ultimately be submitted, may have specific requirements. SAGTA has identified the following headings as important to the process of any evaluation:

Context of Research

  • area of proposed research and its objectives:

    - to establish research proposer's views of possible outcomes and a vision of anticipated benefits

  • previous/current research or other current proposals (if any) upon which the research is intending to build and integrate:

    - to utilise the research proposer's specialist knowledge and expertise to ensure the proposal does not unnecessarily overlap with, or duplicate other research

  • relevance of the research topic to the research programme to which application for funding is/will be made:

    - to understand the relevance of the researcher's application

  • relevance (or otherwise) to any other research sponsors:

    - to identify opportunities for collaboration and reduce possibilities of overlap and duplication

  • perceived opportunities for future research/development arising out of this project:

    - to establish an in-depth understanding of the topic in the context of overall research with an aim to identifying opportunities for forward planning on related topics


Resourcing
  • composition of research team:

    - to establish the overall capability/resourcing of the researcher's proposal and confirm that the appropriate range of skills/expertise and facilities are available to perform the research

  • background and previous experience of research team:

    - to establish the availability of individual expertise within the research team


Management
  • management and control of the research project:

    - to confirm effective research project planning/management provisions

  • timescale - start/interim milestones/finish of research project:

    - to scope out the planned research programme


Dissemination
  • beneficiaries of research outputs:

    - to identify researcher's views on the audience for information on research progress and outputs

  • anticipated interim/ultimate outputs from the research project:

    - to scope and establish the range of formal outputs

  • proposals for extent (and limitations) of dissemination of information from the research project at interim/final stages:

    - to encourage proactive involvement with problem holders

    - to establish restrictions or limits of confidentiality and ownership of intellectual property rights on research outputs


Exploitation
  • indicative plans of how the results of the research (if successfully concluded), will be utilised, by whom and on what timescale:


Support from SAGTA

  • anticipated input and role that SAGTA may provide in respect of the research proposal.

5.  For researchers' further information, the attached assessment form indicates a suggested framework which members of SAGTA may use to assess proposals which come to its notice.

6.  Researchers who submit their proposals for review and endorsement by SAGTA are reminded that such endorsement will not normally be accompanied by the commitment of SAGTA funding for the research.

7.  SAGTA will endeavour to inform proposers of its reasons for not supporting proposals.


Watchpoint

A number of research applications received by SAGTA have incorporated inferences that SAGTA support has been gained as part of the proposal when no such commitment has been given. This has been of concern to SAGTA, particularly when certain submissions have been received after the formal issue of the proposal to research funders. SAGTA is concerned that any such situation does not occur in order to ensure that:

  1. SAGTA's interest in a proposal or otherwise is not misrepresented; and

  2. such proposals which SAGTA feels are worthy of specific support are properly identified.

When SAGTA intends to endorse a proposal, this will normally be provided in the form of a confirmatory letter to this effect. SAGTA anticipates this correspondence would then be attached to the proposal as part of any relevant application.