Ri Freer Fellowship Information

About the Ri and Philip Freer

Founded in 1799, the Ri is a world-famous independent charity dedicated to enhancing public understanding of science and the role of science in society. Among its many luminaries, the analytical chemist and pioneer of modern experimental physics, Michael Faraday, is the most famous. Philip Freer was a collateral descendant of Faraday and a great philanthropist who established the Philip Freer Trust to support postgraduate students to “make a difference in the world”.

Ri Freer Prize Fellowship purpose

The Ri Freer Prize Fellowships are intended as writing-up awards for doctoral candidates researching the history of science; history of the Royal Institution; or heritage conservation science. Ri Freer Prize Fellowships are awarded based on candidates’ ability to identify and communicate the significance and potential of their research in a compelling way that can engage a general interest audience. For further details see the Criteria for Assessment.

Ri Freer Prize Fellow support

Ri Freer Prize Fellows will benefit from significant opportunities to promote their research on Ri platforms, and to establish valuable new contacts and collaborations in academia, industry, heritage, policy, charity and media sectors. This will include help in planning their future through career advice; assistance with applications for jobs,  and guidance with publication plans and research grant applications.

Ri Freer Prize Fellow commitments

Ri Freer Prize Fellows will commit to a number of general interest outputs to promote their research. The precise nature of these outputs will be decided in discussion with the mentor but are suggested to include short films; tours for visitors to Ri collections; and blogs. Ri Freer Prize Fellows will be supported to produce these outputs and where appropriate link their work to Ri collections and heritage as part of research promotion. Ri Freer Prize Fellows are not required to live in London but will be required to attend key events.

Application Process

Applications will be reviewed by a panel of experts in the specified subject areas. There will be no interview and decisions on fellowship prizes are final.

Referees are only contacted at the short-listing stage.

For any enquiries please contact hpratt@ri.ac.uk

Building closures from 9 December onwards

We are closed on the 10 and 12 December, along with other closures during the week starting 9 December, full details here.