The Mansueto Institute for Urban Innovation invites Working Group proposals from faculty across the University of Chicago, addressing arising interdisciplinary themes of special interest in the field of urban science and practice.
About Mansueto Institute Working Groups:
Working groups are small gatherings of researchers and scholars (typically 4-12 people) from various institutions dedicated to intense discussion and collaboration over a few days with the objective of identifying and laying down a research agenda on a theme of special interest. Working groups can meet several times over an extended period of time. Proposals that include a diversity of researchers outside the University at different career stages are particularly welcome. Every proposal must have a UChicago faculty lead.
Successful proposals will identify a question or theme of special interest for group discussion and collaboration that is compelling for its novelty, interdisciplinarity and scope. Themes may deal with theory, methods and/or new datasets. Working groups that include a tangible objective, such as a publication or grant application are particularly welcome, though exploratory discussions are also encouraged.
Working Groups at the Mansueto Institute provide the most important mechanism for interdisciplinary discussions and collaboration towards developing leading ideas and methods in the field. They are facilitators of interdisciplinary, convergent approaches and the main stepping stone towards Institute Initiatives, which are areas of extended focus and support at the Institute. They may also be aligned with other Institute programs, such as novel educational curricula, the Graduate Certificate in Urban Science and Sustainable Development and the Institute’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
Working groups provide UChicago faculty with use of the unique interdisciplinary environment of the Institute and its national and international reach and convening power, along with staff support. While the University remains virtual, the Mansueto Institute will provide zoom hosting for working group meetings. As it becomes physically possible, we anticipate offering space and logistical support at the Institute’s new space at 1155 E 60th Street.
Application and evaluation process:
The Institute and its Faculty Advisory Council will review all applicants for Working Group support.
Faculty leads for Mansueto working groups will receive:
- Financial support for working group-related travel and convenings
- Staff and logistical support for organizing, promoting and hosting the working group meetings and subsequent outputs
- Space and support for their working group meetings at the Mansueto Institute, located in the newly renovated building at 1155 E 60th Street, across from the Rubenstein Forum
Faculty leads for Working Groups are expected to:
- Create and maintain a list of Working Group members
- Secure an initial commitment to participation from the members of the Working Group
- Write an initial abstract (~ 500 words) for the Working Group, which will be submitted with the application for Mansueto Institute support
- Determine meeting topics, relay participant roles, and facilitate Working Group meetings
- Maintain active communication with the Mansueto Institute
Working Group proposals must include:
- Working Group Title
- An abstract or statement of purpose that is interdisciplinary in nature, which should describe desired outcomes from the working group such as white paper(s), collaborative research proposals, grant applications, etc
- A list of intended participants, identifying their home Institution and the Working Group Leads at UChicago
- Your desired start date for the Work Group convenings
Please upload the proposal document in pdf form to apply:
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with support to begin in Spring/Summer 2021.
About the Institute
The Mansueto Institute is a hub for urban science, training the next generation of urban scholars. We develop fundamental knowledge of the processes that drive and sustain cities, with the goal of creating a coherent field of Urban Science and Practice grounded in empirical evidence, excellence and innovation. In pursuit of this goal, the Institute brings together researchers from the social, natural, and computational sciences, along with the humanities, to pursue innovative, interdisciplinary scholarship, develop new educational programs, and provide leadership and evidence to support global, sustainable urban development.