New Researchers Stream – Call for Papers
Thursday 15th – Friday 16th September 2022
Location: Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
Book here using the ‘New Researcher (invitation only rate)’ if you have received confirmation via email: https://store.shu.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/central-services/events/voluntary-sector-and-volunteering-research-conference-2022
Questions? See our FAQ page or email vsvrconference@gmail.com
As part of the Voluntary Sector and Volunteering Research Conference 2022, we will be running our annual event for New Researchers. The purpose of the New Researchers Stream (NRS) is to give those who are new to research or new to the voluntary sector and volunteering research community an opportunity to:
- present their research to other new researchers
- get constructive feedback in a supportive environment
- meet and network with other new researchers
- network with established researchers and practitioners
Our aim is to foster a strong community amongst new researchers. Many well-established researchers in our sector started out their careers by participating in the NRS. Feedback from past years suggests that attending the New Researchers Stream helps establish a positive network at the conference and beyond.
Ways to engage
You can do a formal conference presentation or you can choose other ways to present your research, such as a short workshop, a poster, or creative session. Each presenter will be given around 20-30 minutes for their presentation and Q&A.
Opportunity for feedback
We aim to have an established researcher at each of the sessions who will provide you with feedback. You will also be given verbal feedback on your work during the session. We also encourage participants to give each other feedback.
How the New Researchers Stream interacts with the main conference
All delegates of the New Researchers Stream are invited to attend the plenary sessions of the main conference. You will also have plenty of opportunities to network with established researchers and practitioners during refreshment and lunch breaks. We have in the past also given NRS delegates a ‘wildcard’ to attend one of the sessions at the main conference.
If you want to attend more than one session, you will need to register for the main conference and pay the main conference fee. More information about this is available on the main conference page.
Duncan Scott New Researchers Prize
If you submit a full paper by a deadline of the 25th August it will be considered for the Duncan Scott New Researchers Prize which includes an award of £100. Your paper should:
- be between 2,500 and 4,500 words, including references
- include a literature review
- include a methodology section
- provide analysis of (early) findings if appropriate
- include full references using a recognised referencing style (e.g. Harvard)
If you have not completed your research data collection or analysis, it is fine to give some idea of any emerging themes or your next steps in the project – they do not have to be fully-formed. We accept that other researchers may have worked on your research project and so may be listed, but the paper itself must be written by one or more new researchers.
Fees
As part of its commitment to new researchers, VSSN subsidises much of the cost of attending the NRS. The fee to attend for the two days is £100; this includes registration, lunch and refreshments and the conference dinner.
Please note:
- there are a limited number of spaces in the NRS
- you must be a member of either VSSN, VAS, or another partner organisation to receive the subsidised rate (membership of VSSN starts at £35 and includes lots of great benefits: https://www.vssn.org.uk/join/)
- there is no early bird rate for the NRS
- the fee does not include accommodation or travel
VSSN provides a limited number of bursaries to cover conference fee for individuals who do not have access to funding from their organisation/institution and would not otherwise be able to participate. For more information, please email vsvrconference@gmail.com
Booking a place at the conference
Booking a place at the VSSN conference is essential for all those attending the New Researchers Stream. Please note that the new researcher stream is only available to those who have been accepted to present.
If your application has been accepted, please book via this link: https://store.shu.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/central-services/events/voluntary-sector-and-volunteering-research-conference-2022
More Information
If you have any queries about the New Researchers Stream, please contact us at: vsvrconference@gmail.com
