FRONTIERS, an initiative funded by the European Research Council, invites applications from science journalists worldwide for immersive residencies at European research institutions. These residencies, spanning 3 to 5 months, offer unparalleled opportunities to delve into frontier research across diverse disciplines, including social sciences and humanities.

Four calls are envisaged in 2023-2026, supporting up to 40 fellowships (up to 10 in the first call), for a total funding available of 600,000 EUR.

Program Objectives

The FRONTIERS initiative aims to empower science journalists in bridging the gap between complex scientific discoveries and public understanding. As an essential link between scientific endeavors and society, journalists play a crucial role in communicating high-risk/high-reward frontier research responsibly and accurately.

By fostering independent journalism, this initiative wants to give journalists opportunities to learn and work on in-depth reporting projects by immersing themselves in the research environment and interacting with scientists and scholars. The main aims are to:

• • Enhance journalists’ professional development
  • Foster critical thinking and ethical reporting
  • Bolster public trust in scientific institutions
  • Promote curiosity about frontier research
  • Strengthen mutual learning of scientists and journalists.

What We Offer

Selected journalists will embark on residencies at European research institutions, pursuing independent reporting ideas or delving into specific frontier research fields. Participants benefit from:

● Fellowship residencies of 3 to 5 months
● Unrestricted access to diverse research areas
● Networking and training activities
● Opportunities for cross-institutional experiences
● Independence and credibility in reporting

Eligibility Criteria

For Journalists

• • • Open to journalists worldwide, residing in or outside Europe
    • Professionals across various media formats producing independent journalistic content
    • Commitment to full-time engagement during the residency

For Host Institutions

• • • Located in EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries
    • Hosts cutting-edge research groups across any scientific field
    • Committed to providing essential support and full independence to resident journalists

Application Structure

• • a) Applicant Journalist
    • Name
    • Nationality
    • Email
    • Phone number
    • Career level application (early career, mid-career, established) – Please see the section above, “Eligibility Criteria”, to determine the level of your application.
    • Gender
    • Country of residence
    • Date of birth

    b) Host Institution(s)

    • Host Institution(s) Name
    • Country
    • Name of FRONTIERS Manager at Host Institution
    • Email of FRONTIERS Manager at Host Institution

    c) Residency Project

    • Length of the residency
    • (Tentative) Project title
    • Project Description
    • Frontier research
    • Impact on the communication of frontier research
    • Names of scientists’ collaborators
    • Scientific Domain (Physical Sciences and Engineering, Life Sciences, and/or Social Sciences and Humanities) and sub-domains;

    d) Budget

    • Budget justification
    • Requested Grant

    e) Documentation

  • Work samples: in a single PDF file, provide up to 10 relevant work samples from the last two years. Choose samples that best illustrate your interests and abilities. For audio and video samples, you may provide links, ensuring they are open. Please include a translation for any work not produced in English.
  • Recommendation letter(s): in a single PDF, provide up to 3 recommendation letters by people familiar with your work.
  • Commitment letter by the science journalist: provide a commitment letter, based on this template signed by the applicant journalist.
  • Commitment letter by the host institution: provide a commitment letter, based on this template, signed by a representative on the letterhead of the candidate host institution.

Evaluation Criteria

• • Relevance and impact of the project
  • Journalistic track record and expertise
  • Quality of frontier research

How to Apply

Eligible journalists should:

• • Find and contact an eligible host institution
  • Complete the application form and submit all required documentation for evaluation, through the online form available on the FRONTIERS website

Evaluation Process

Applications will undergo a two-step evaluation process, focusing on project quality, journalist credentials, and societal impact. The final selection aims for diversity in gender, nationality, and career stages. The evaluation committee will include members of the FRONTIERS consortium and of the Advisory Board. Selection committee members will be invited to disclose all potential conflicts of interest that should arise, and the committee as a whole will deal with them appropriately.

Financial Support

Selected fellows will receive monthly support, based on career stage, covering expenses up to 4,000 EUR (early), 5,000 EUR (mid), or 6,000 EUR (established), adhering to EU rules.

More details about the Financial Support for Third Parties (FSTP) mechanism for the FRONTIERS grants can be found here.

Note: The subgrants are not given by the European Union or by the European Research Council. Neither the EU nor the ERC Executive Agency can be held responsible for them.

For more information:

Further details on the program are available at the FRONTIERS Residency Program Guide and the FAQs page.