RSFA RESEARCH GRANT

Razia Sultana and Farida Akbar (RSFA) Research Grant for Sustainability in the Built Environment

What projects does RSFA focus on?

The student projects will be targeted towards the masses and not just a selected class of people. These will exhibit environmental, social, and economic sustainability for the general public. Projects will be located in Pakistan; these may be proposed on variable areas and scales.

Nature-projects

The nature of the projects may include but not limited to the following:

  • Low-cost, but honorable housing using rubble, adobe, bamboo, and wood-frame construction
  • Urban agriculture
  • Rain and flood harvesting, water purification, and waste recycling through blue-green infrastructure
  • Town/neighborhood planning focusing on local employment, production, and consumption (taking inspiration from ideas such as DE growth and Reshoring)
  • Landscape for sustainable climate control and land conservation
  • Proforestation, reforestation, afforestation
  • Eco villages, off-grid settlements, and “15-minute city” as imagined in the context of Pakistan
  • Any other project that is similar in nature to and aligned with the RSFA grant description given above and as approved by the RSFA research grant committee.

Grant Amount, Other Benefits, & Administration

Direct and individual applications from students are not accepted for RSFA Grant. Instead, public universities in Pakistan are advised to contact RSFA team. Upon signing of a memorandum of understanding, the RSFA and university representatives work together to select the winning student from the shortlisted candidates. RSFA grant amount is PKR 50,000/- given once to a winning student. Depending upon the availability of the funds, more than one student may be selected. Project/thesis proposal is selected at least 15 months before the student graduation, preferably at the time of project/thesis initiation. The grant is then disbursed in two stages during the graduation year detailed as follows.

  • Project initiation (beginning of the final academic year): Announcement of the winning student and signing of the contract between the student and RSFA donors at the beginning of the approved project/ thesis.
  • At the end of semester 1: Payment of PKR 25,000/- against an overall performance by the student with grades acceptable to the program of enrolment.
  • After submission of all RSFA grant requirements: Payment of PKR 25,000/- and souvenir presentation in semester 2, and submission of grant related material to the RSFA donors (mentioned below under Grant requirements).
  • The winning student gets an official title of RSFA Scholar. They are free to use it in their resume after successful completion of their program and submission of all RSFA documents and other requirements.
  • RSFA Scholar is entitled to three 60-minute long sessions with internationally qualified built environment professionals. These sessions can be held any time during their graduation year discussing their project progress.
  • Scholar’s name and work will be displayed on RSFA website.
  • Inability to perform to an acceptable standard in semester 1 may cease the grant amount. Similarly, grant requirements will have to be fulfilled by the students in semester 2 to be eligible for the next grant disbursements and using the title of RSFA Scholar.
  • Any other project that is similar in nature to and aligned with the RSFA grant description given above and as approved by the RSFA research grant committee.

Covered expenses:

RSFA research grant may be used to offset costs for field trips, live case studies, book purchase, hardware/software subscription/purchase, and/or project report printing. The grant amount is fixed and not subject to expenses.

Submission requirements for winning student:

  • Student introduction highlighting personal, educational, research, and professional background and achievements (not more than two pages including recent photo of the student).
  • A synopsis (500 words) of research findings and design implications to the RFSA Grant committee at the end of their project. This will be an MS Word file.
  • Thesis copy in pdf format mentioning RSFA support in the acknowledgement or funding section (not more than 7 MB).
  • High resolution presentation images that are prepared for final student defense.
  • Compilation of the above-mentioned images along with supporting abstract, research findings, and other text into a presentation of not more than 15 pages.
  • A 2-minute video presentation (AVI or mp4 file professionally made) by the student summarizing the project/thesis.
  • Two 1800-2000 words articles written by the winning student 12 and 24 months after graduation. These articles will be published by the student in any respectable newspaper or scientific journal. Acknowledging RSFA Scholar, RSFA reserves the right to using these article for publication on its own website or any other publishing platform.
  • The language of the above submissions will be English.
  • A signed consent allowing RSFA to use all the above submissions for its website and any other social media to create awareness about sustainability in the built environment.