AHRC – New Generation Thinkers scheme

Have you ever argued along with a radio debate or thought of a programme idea that would be perfect for the airwaves? If so, the New Generation Thinkers scheme is for you.

On Monday 10th November the Arts and Humanities Research Council and BBC Radio 3 are opening a call for academics with a focus on arts and humanities topics to apply for the opportunity to develop a programme idea.

BBC Radio 3 programmes like Free Thinking (opens in new window), the Verb, the Essay, and the Sunday Feature, provide a platform for debate and commentary from scholars from across the world. New Generation Thinkers will join them on air. Further, the scheme also works with BBC TV Arts who will be looking to develop New Generation Thinkers’ ideas into arts television.

The New Generation Thinkers Scheme is intended to support up to sixty early career researchers with an opportunity to spend the day at the BBC to hear first-hand about the commissioning process and develop their programme ideas alongside experienced BBC producers. From these sixty researchers, ten will be selected to go on to develop their ideas as the 2015 New Generation Thinkers.

The scheme is open to all early career researchers based in a UK Research Organisation (either Higher Education Institution or Independent Research Organisation [IRO]).  Applicants do not have to be funded by the AHRC to apply. We also encourage those people who have previously applied unsuccessfully to the scheme, even if they made it to the workshop.

We welcome applications from researchers working in all areas of the arts and humanities. This year we are again extending the call for researchers who work in areas of social sciences and medical science whose work intersects with the arts and humanities. There are a series of interfaces, and many areas of common ground between. This can be seen in the cross-councilConnected Communities and Life Long Health and Wellbeing programmes.

The subject coverage for this year’s schemes covers all disciplines covered by the AHRC, including additional subjects that intersect with the work of our sister councils the Economic and Social Research Council and Medical Research Council. For further information on the disciplines covered please visit the New Generation Thinkers call page (opens new window).

This is the fifth year of the scheme. Previous participants have presented documentaries, taken part in on air discussions on BBC Radio 3, made pilot films for TV and spoken at public festivals. You can also find out more about previous winners from 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011.

For further information, contact Alex Pryce (AHRC), a.pryce@ahrc.ac.uk, 01793 41 6025.