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Research Working Groups

Faculty and graduate students are encouraged to form research working groups (RWGs) in areas of mutual scholarly interest. (See Research for a description of existing Polson Institute RWGs.) RWGs involve collaborations among Development Sociology faculty and graduate students, faculty and graduate students in other departments at Cornell and throughout the US, and scholars and development practitioners throughout the world. RWGs concentrate and coordinate research activity in particular substantive and methodological areas, sponsor special seminars and lectures that examine the latest research on particular substantive and methodological issues, and provide the organizational infrastructure for sustained cooperative research in development sociology. RWGs can operate on- or off-campus. On-campus groups involve faculty and graduate students from the Field of Development Sociology, and colleagues from other social science departments at Cornell. Off-campus research networks support the development and maintenance of effective research collaborations with colleagues at other universities and institutes across the country and throughout the world. Hence, regardless of whether interaction takes place at Cornell or off campus, Polson funds underwrite the costs of regular scholarly interaction, and enhance the likelihood of productive and innovative research collaboration in high priority areas of global development. While each RWG has its own particular goals, one or more of the following is expected:

• Hold an international conference focused on a particular area of development scholarship and/or policy
• Prepare a proposal for obtaining funding for a cooperative research project
• Prepare curriculum or other pedagogical materials to enhance teaching in a particular area of development sociology
• Publish a co-authored or co-edited book
• Prepare outreach-oriented or policy related materials that 'build bridges' between academic scholarship on development and public policy or program administration.

Application/Selection Process
Proposals for the formation of new RWGs, or the extension of existing RWGs, are solicited at the beginning of February, and in early September. Each RWG must be organized by at least one faculty member in the graduate field of Development Sociology or by a senior associate in the Department of Development Sociology. RWGs are funded at a maximum level of $5000 per year for up to 3 years. Unspent funds may be rolled over from year to year, but will be recovered by the Institute if not spent within 6 months of the RWG's termination. Extension past the initial 3 year grant is contingent on approval by the Steering Committee and requires submission of a proposal for extension. Proposals are evaluated by the Institute's Steering Committee, and should be submitted via email to Mary Wright (PIGD@cornell.edu). Proposals should be brief (2-3 double spaced pages maximum), and should discuss the following issues:

• The proposed group's substantive focus, and how this focus might contribute to the Polson Institute's themes
• How the proposed group's activities might contribute to the development of theoretical and conceptual advances that can inform research questions and/or innovative methodological approaches that will advance research and/or outreach on development
• How the proposed group will contribute to the Department of Rural Sociology and/or Cornell University beyond just addressing a Polson Institute theme
• Activities for which financial support is needed
• Participants, including leadership
• Proposals for extension of an existing RWG should summarize the group's accomplishments, and indicate how additional funding will contribute to continued productivity and the accomplishment of original and/or new scholarly goals and objectives.