There are a lot of good conferences coming up this year, some small and some very big; some free and some rather more expensive. If you are put off by registration or accommodation fees, you don’t have to be. There are grants available for people to travel to conferences and workshops, and I’ve listed some below. I haven’t mentioned grants for specific conferences, but most learned societies offer grants for students and new post-docs to attend their events. Please let me know in the comments or via email (charis @ garnetcommunity.org.uk) or Twitter if you know of any general funds which I haven’t listed.
Not that I’m biased (of course…) but the GARNet workshop on Plant Synthetic Biology and UK PlantSci 2013 are excellent opportunities to use these funds! Plant Synthetic Biology registration starts from £175 for students, including accommodation, lunches, and conference dinner. Early bird registration for PlantSci 2013 starts from £80 for students, including lunch and refreshments, but you will have to arrange your own accommodation.
Company of Biologists travel grants from the Society of Experimental Biology: if you’re a PhD student or young post-doc, apply by 31 March for funding to attend a UK or international conference. You have to be a member of SEB, or to buy a multi-year membership.
Society of Biology travel grants: Undergraduate and postgraduate students can apply for £500 for overseas travel in connection with biological study, teaching, research, or attending conference.
Honor Fell travel award from the British Society for Cell Biology, sponsored by the Company of Biologists: grants of up to £300 for UK meeting attendance, or more for international meetings, are available to students and post-docs.
Biochemical Society travel grant: Members of the Biochemical Society can apply for a travel grant between £200 and £500 to attend a meeting.
Genetics Society Junior Scientist Grants: up to £750 is available to PhD students and post-docs within two years of their viva to cover travel, accommodation, and registration cost for conferences and meetings. There are quarterly deadlines, you will need to apply by 1 Feb for spring conferences.
The British Society of Plant Pathology: Travel funds are available for BSPP members to assist with expenses for conferences, study tours and visits. The amount available varies, but will not be more than half the cost of your trip. The next deadline in 28 February.
If you’re a student, you can use your training grant to pay for conference fees and travel. Attending and presenting posters or talks at conferences is an important part of a PhD studentship.
Your institution may have a conference fund for student and post-doc travel to conferences, so speak to the graduate school or your supervisor if you want to find out more.
This fund is only applicable to Biochemical Society meetings but it is an excellent initiative, and definitely worth highlighting. If you want to go to a Biochemical Society meeting but you’re on parental leave, or need to take your children and a carer with you to a conference, apply for a Stay Connected bursary. The bursary will cover free registration and/or free accommodation for a child care provider.
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