New award to enable Visiting Scholars to research Aberdeen's collections

A new award is to offer academics from outwith Aberdeen financial support to allow them to visit the University of Aberdeen as part of their research.

The University is now welcoming applications for the 2015 Special Collections Centre Visiting Scholars Awards.

The awards are available to academic researchers who would like to travel to Aberdeen to use materials in the Special Collections Centre. The award provides financial support for travel and accommodation up to £2,000 to cover expenses over a two to four week period while carrying out research relating to the University’s collection.

The Special Collections Centre is home to the University’s historic collections of books, manuscripts, archives and photographs. Housed in environmentally controlled facilities, the holdings comprise over 230,000 rare printed books, and 5,000 archival collections, with material dating as far back as the 3rd century BC.

Siobhán Convery, Head of Special Collections at the University of Aberdeen, said: “The University’s collections are of national and international significance and already attract scholars from around the world. But we are delighted to be able to offer additional support for researchers to come here. “This is a fantastic opportunity and I look forward to seeing the high calibre of applications I am sure we will receive.”

Dr Hazel Hutchison, Chair of The Friends of Aberdeen University Library said: “The Friends of Aberdeen University Library have been supporting Humanities research in the city for over 50 years. This new scheme will help to attract scholars from all over the world to come and work with the rare books, manuscripts, records and other resources, which make these collections such a treasure-trove for researchers. It's an exciting development which will lead to new projects and new links with scholars and universities around the globe.” This year’s awards are made possible by a gift from Henry Doss and Christine Arvidson, of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Henry Doss said: "These awards represent an outstanding opportunity for scholars from around the world to work directly with the tremendously important historic collections held at Aberdeen. We are delighted to be able to support the Aberdeen Humanities Fund and its partners in this new initiative."