Membership
SEI's research tackles global challenges by translating environmental research into tangible outcomes for public discourse and decision-making. With a focus on multidisciplinary collaboration, we lead in environmental humanities and social sciences, continuously evolving our research themes to address the most critical environmental issues.
As a SEI member, you'll receive:
- regular updates on our work and fellow members' research
- exclusive invitations to our events
- invitations to networking events that support industry, government and community connections
- opportunities to be involved in public engagement and research translation activities
- access to SEI's funding and support programs. *
*USyd members only.
Submit an expression of interest now.
Membership at SEI
Our members are key to our success at SEI. Our members enable our impact and contribute to the unique community that defines the Institute To facilitate the delivery of SEI’s strategic goals, we think about our member offer across three different levels.
This structure helps us allocate our resources effectively and ensure that we are reflecting engagement and interest from members in pursuit of our goals.
Whether you're a University of Sydney (USyd) researcher, an external member, or in a SEI-funded position, there's a membership level designed to enhance your involvement and support your contributions to environmental research and action.
Eligibility
- University of Sydney researchers and students not funded by SEI
- External members (not USYD staff or students)
Benefits
- Receive a monthly member bulletin.
- Invitations to SEI’s bi-annual member networking events.
- Access to SEI seminar series, and researcher development workshops.
- Invitations to SEI closed events (sometimes USyd members only).
- Introductions to other SEI members upon request.
- Access to SEI funding schemes (e.g., collaborative grant scheme for USyd members only).
- Access to SEI member development fund.
Eligibility
- Active members of SEI projects or research themes.
- Previous SEI Collaborative Fellows or Collaborative Project team members.
- SEI Advisory Committee members.
- Regular attendees or speakers at SEI events (e.g., seminar series, research funding workshops).
Additional Benefits
All benefits of Connected membership, plus:
- priority invites to bespoke member offerings (e.g., roundtables with visiting fellows)
- priority participation in SEI research dissemination and translation offerings (e.g., panellist/speaker roles)
- direct notification of relevant funding and media opportunities, and
- introductions to USyd central services as SEI deems appropriate (e.g., communications for media and op-ed opportunities, for USyd members only).
Eligibility
- in a SEI funded position (Research Assistants, Postdoctoral Fellows, PhD Candidates, SEI Honours Research Fellows)
- hands-on research and event support provided upon request (pending team capacity and alignment with SEI’s strategic goals)
- current SEI Collaborative Fellows or Collaborative Project team members
- SEI Research theme leads, and
- researchers working on SEI grant applications and projects.
Additional Benefits
All benefits of Contributor membership, plus
- proactive research and event support and invitations from SEI staff
- hands-on support provided by SEI staff (pending team capacity and alignment with SEI)’s strategic goals)
- access to the SEI office and hot desks
- invitations to monthly SEI team morning teas
- research impact and achievements highlighted in SEI annual report and open day, and
- opportunities for mentoring and bespoke development/training.
As part of our commitment to ensuring that each member receives an appropriate level of support and engagement with the Institute our membership levels are fluid and will shift as members become more or less engaged with the activities of SEI and our strategic focus.
Please note, if you leave the University of Sydney, you will automatically become a Connected member.
Funding and Pitching series
In 2023, the Sydney Environment Institute will be running a Funding and Pitching Series. This series aims to provide participants with an understanding of the funding landscape across all funding categories, provide some practical sessions on topics such as grant writing and pitching, and includes a dedicated series of workshops for DECRA applicants.
This series is only open to SEI members and University of Sydney staff and students. For any enquires, please contact SEI via sei.events@sydney.edu.au
Wednesday 10 May 2023, 12.00 - 1.00pm
Want to know the basics when it comes to research funding in Australia? Join Sydney Environment Institute Director David Schlosberg, and Deputy Director Thom van Dooren as they present on Australia’s funding landscape, particularly for environmental and climate research, the unique opportunities and barriers of multidisciplinary funding applications, and some of the common funding schemes SEI has experience with.
Registration via Eventbrite here
Tuesday 23 May 2023, 1.00 - 4.00pm
This op-ed training has been designed to support some of SEI’s researchers raise the profile of the Institute and our members, influence national debate and policy, and showcase the amazing research SEI is producing. This session will be facilitated by Anthony Bubalo, an expert in research translation with over 30 years experience writing for outlets such as The Australian, The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Financial Times, Ha’aretz and Asahi Shimbun newspapers as well as The American Interest and ForeignPolicy.com.
The in-person workshop will cover;
- What is an op-ed, and why should you write one?
- What is the basic template for an op-ed?
- Practical work on writing a great hook, structuring a piece and key tips for the op-ed writing style.
- How and where you should pitch your op-ed.
Registration via invite - closed.
Wednesday 31 May 2023, 12.30-2.30pm
This seminar will provide an introduction to the Australian Research Council (ARC) with a particular emphasis on the assessment process. The seminar is aimed primarily at early- and mid-career researchers who are considering their first ARC application. We will briefly cover the kinds of funding that are available and some helpful tips for planning and drafting applications.
We will mainly focus on demystifying the assessment process so that researchers can plan their applications strategically. We will consider topics such as:
- What are the stages of assessment and who is involved in them?
- How should you pitch an application?
- What are the assessment criteria and how are they interpreted?
- What makes a competitive application?
The workshop will be convened by Associate Professor Thom van Dooren (SEI Deputy Director, Member Engagement) who is currently a member of the ARC College of Experts.
Registration via Eventbrite here
6x 2hr workshops will be held in March, April, July, August, and September.
SEI will be running a series of workshops to guide prospective applicants through the process of applying for an Australian Research Council DECRA. The workshops will run from March to October and will be led by Associate Professor Thom van Dooren (SEI Deputy Director, Member Engagement).
The series will begin with a general overview of the ARC process and the DECRA application, as well as guidance on how to conceptualise a clear and compelling project. Over the next several months, we will work through each of the sections of the DECRA application. Participants will be offered general guidance and advice on how to write each section, followed by feedback on drafts.
Registration via EOIs - closed.
6x 1.5hr workshops will be held in April, May, June, August, September, and October.
Developed specifically for mid- and early career researchers (MECRs) at the Sydney Environment Institute, this series of workshops will be help researchers plan and develop a research strategy for their career stage. The workshops will focus on a range of key topics: publications, grants, collaborations, leadership, and engagement/impact. We will particularly consider the challenges and opportunities in building a successful research career in interdisciplinary environmental scholarship.
The workshop will be run by A/Prof. Thom van Dooren and will also draw on the expertise of a range of other senior scholars from the SEI community. Participants will be asked to share their own research plans and to think creatively, supportively, and ambitiously with one another, and the coordinators, about their research strategy.
Registration via EOIs - closed.
Thursday 14 September, 10 am - 12 pm
This workshop provided an opportunity to share ideas for potential ARC Discovery Projects (DP) with the SEI community. The session was intended as a forum for learning more about the research going on at SEI, developing collaborations around shared interests, and gaining meaningful feedback on ideas in formation.
Registration via EOIs - closed.
SEI Seminar Series
The SEI Seminar series offers an informal space for SEI University of Sydney members to present research, test ideas and receive feedback from a diverse group of SEI’s multi-disciplinary environmental researchers. This is a space where researchers can learn about new concepts and be inspired by colleagues.
In previous sessions we have heard journal article ideas and suggested different avenues of where to take arguments or where to publish. We have been introduced to new research from projects elsewhere in the University and responded with multidisciplinary feedback.
This series was created to keep us connected while in isolation in lockdown and has proven so popular that it currently continues every three weeks. Deputy Director Prof. Danielle Celermajer Chairs this series.
If you would like to attend, please get in touch with SEI via sei.events@sydney.edu.au