The KAC Global Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme 2019
Building on the success of last year’s Scholarship programme, Knowledge Action Change (K•A•C) is pleased
to announce the launch of the 2nd K•A•C Global Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme.
- build research capacity in the field of tobacco harm reduction;
- develop and promote the evidence base;
- raise awareness of research and its implications for public health policy;
- enable consumers to make more informed personal health choices;
- improve the implementation and understanding of tobacco harm reduction.
The Scholarships will commence at the Global Forum on Nicotine (GFN) Conference in Warsaw, Poland, between 13th to 15th June 2019.
We want people to learn from GFN and have the opportunity to implement this learning in their home countries. There will be 20 Scholarships for the year, with funds available to support agreed projects up to the value of $10,000. The Scholarships are a K•A•C initiative funded by a grant from the Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (FSFW). The programme was independently designed by and is run by K•A•C. Some projects may be included in future versions of the KAC publication “The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction”.
scholars can expect:
- travel to and from the GFN;
- accommodation for the duration of the conference;
- a bespoke programme for Scholars at the conference;
- the opportunity to hear about the experiences of previous Scholars;
- Mentoring and support throughout the programme from experts in the field;
- email, telephone and Skype support;
- a closed Facebook discussion group for Scholars;
- support in identifying “next steps” in a possible career in the field of tobacco harm reduction;
- the possibility of showing the outcome of your project (either in poster form or as a presentation) at GFN 2020.
- All scholars must be available to be in Warsaw between 12th June and 16th June 2019.
- All scholars will be expected to provide a 6-month progress report and a project summary at 11 months.
- Some scholars may be invited back to GFN 2020 to share learning and experience.
Indicative examples of the sort of projects that the scheme will fund might include:
- scope research on tobacco harm reduction priorities in a country;
- design a research project on the nature or use of tobacco harm reduction products;
- improve the applicant’s understanding of science and science skills by links with, or placement within, a research team or tobacco harm reduction organization;
- design and initiate an intervention project to enhance public and/or professional understanding of tobacco harm reduction and related projects;
- design and develop an organization to take forward research on the understanding of tobacco harm reduction;
- design and initiate a tobacco harm reduction intervention project within a health and social care setting;
- make and disseminate a short film or use other media to disseminate accurate information about tobacco harm reduction;
- organize a workshop(s) on tobacco harm reduction;
- develop science communication skills;
- write a research paper or other material for publication;
- establish a website or other social media resource to improve the understanding of tobacco harm reduction;
- examine how poorer countries might overcome problems presented by “high tech” tobacco harm reduction initiatives.
If you have an idea and are unsure how to progress with it, or whether it will satisfy the criteria please contact scholarships@kachange.eu.
The scholarship programme will prioritise applications from lower and middle income countries.
Context of the scholarships
Recent years have seen advances in the scientific understanding of products used for tobacco harm reduction, including laboratory-based and clinical studies of their effects and safety, behavioural studies of how and why they are used in different populations and contexts, epidemiological studies into patterns of use, and the relationship between the use of these products and changes in tobacco smoking. There is an increasing understanding of the range of appropriate and effective evidence-based regulation and standards for harm reduction products, and of harm reduction strategies and policies.
However, on a global basis scientific capacity for research on tobacco harm reduction and related products is not evenly distributed, and there is considerable variation in the use of evidence to establish effective and appropriate Public Health policies.
In addition, despite there being strong evidence for the effectiveness of a tobacco harm reduction approach, public understanding of the evidence base and its implications for both policy and personal health choices is limited.
This scholarship programme aims to redress this imbalance. We expect proposals to be modest but achievable: they will be assessed for their potential significance in advancing the field.
Eligibility criteria
We welcome applications from all potential scholars with an interest in tobacco harm reduction. This may include:
- people intending to enter the field of research into tobacco harm reduction and/or public health;
- postgraduate students;
- researchers and scientists;
- medical professionals;
- consumers;
- writers;
- internet and social media professionals;
- film makers and other audio-visual professionals.
A selection panel will assess applications and advise on support requirements for each project.
We will prioritise potential Scholars from low and middle income countries, and those countries where national developments have the potential to impact regional and global debates and developments.
An online application pack can be found here. Should you wish to add supporting information, please submit these, or provide links to them, in the appropriate section of the online application form.
Successful Scholars will enter into a Scholarship agreement with K•A•C.
Successful applicants will be notified by 15th March 2019.
Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarships © 2019 K•A•C .
